Aboriginal Peoples Connection to Country - 3 ARTICLES 2 IMAGES 1 VIDEO 3 WEBSITES For Years 3-5 This Pack contains: Humanities and ...
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Britannica LaunchPacks | Aboriginal Peoples Connection to Country
Aboriginal Peoples Connection to
Country
For Years 3-5
This Pack contains:
3 ARTICLES
2 IMAGES
1 VIDEO
3 WEBSITES
© 2020 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. 1 of 22
Britannica LaunchPacks | Aboriginal Peoples Connection to Country Australian Aboriginal peoples Aboriginal peoples have lived on the continent now known as Australia for at least 45,000–50,000 years. Theirs is believed to be the oldest living civilisation in the world. Aboriginal peoples are one of two Indigenous cultural groups in Australia. The other group is the Torres Strait Islander peoples. Both groups share a close connection to the land, waterways and living things. However, the Aboriginal peoples have their own distinct cultural practices, languages and beliefs. Aboriginal men perform a dance. © Rafael Ben-Ari/Fotolia The flag of the Australian Aboriginal peoples was designed by an Aboriginal artist in 1971. © Premium Collection/Fotolia The rock formation known as Uluru is located in the south-western part of the Northern Territory in… © Goodshoot/Jupiterimages Evidence shows that Australian Aboriginal people have lived on the continent for thousands of years. Archaeologists found two skeletons of people in Mungo National Park in New South Wales. The skeletons were more than 40,000 years old. The archaeologists also found footprints there of humans who walked across the © 2020 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. 2 of 22
Britannica LaunchPacks | Aboriginal Peoples Connection to Country clay ground thousands of years ago. Kakadu National Park, in the Northern Territory, has rock art that was created 20,000 years ago. Also found in the park also were objects that humans had used long before that. In 2005, workers digging a ditch at Narrabeen, near Sydney, New South Wales, found the skeleton and skull of an Aboriginal man. At first people thought that it was the body of a missing person. After they examined the skeleton, however, archaeologists learned that it was nearly 4,000 years old. The skeleton was that of a man who was 1.83 metres (6 feet) tall and 30–40 years old. He was found lying on his side with an arm over his head. Stone spear ends were found in his spine, and he had a wound in his skull. The position of the body suggested that the man’s death may have been the result of a ritual punishment. The skeleton became known as Narrabeen Man. Aboriginal peoples originally lived in all types of areas, including desert, tropical, coastal, bush, mountain and inland regions. At the time the first British settlers arrived in 1788, there were about 600 different groups of Aboriginal peoples throughout the continent. Origins and Beliefs A cave painting from the Northern Territory depicts the meeting of the legendary kangaroo and… Courtesy of AIATSIS; creator, Robert Edwards (collection no. N07706_07) Scientists think that the Aboriginal peoples originally came from Asia. They would have travelled during a time of lowered sea levels, when there were land bridges between Asia and Australia. Some travelled over water, in the earliest use of seafaring in the world. By about 35,000 years ago, all of the continent was occupied. © 2020 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. 3 of 22
Britannica LaunchPacks | Aboriginal Peoples Connection to Country A rock painting represents the Rainbow Serpent. In Australian Aboriginal stories of the Dreaming,… © Rozenn Leard/Dreamstime.com Australian Aboriginal peoples participate in an event called a corroboree. In a corroboree the… Courtesy of the Australian News and Information Bureau, New York The Aboriginal peoples themselves, however, have their own stories about how they came to be. These stories are part of the Dreaming, or Dreamtime. The Dreaming is very important to the Aboriginal peoples. It is the basis for their history, their relationship with the land, and their laws. Dreaming stories explain the Aboriginal peoples’ understanding of how the world and life was created by the ancestor spirits. The land continues to be protected by the ancestor spirits. © 2020 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. 4 of 22
Britannica LaunchPacks | Aboriginal Peoples Connection to Country Society and Culture Aboriginal peoples lived in clans that were made up of family groups. Each clan had their own language, cultural practices and traditional lands. The lands, referred to as Country, were divided up using geographic features such as rivers, lakes and mountains as boundaries. Each group developed different skills to adapt to the environment of their Country. This traditional homeland was central to the survival and well-being of each clan group. The land was a source of food, shelter, medicine and tools. For this reason, each clan group had a responsibility to care for their Country. They made sure to protect the natural resources and use them wisely so that the resources would be there for future generations. One way Aboriginal people hunted kangaroos was by burning small patches of land. The smoke and fire… Joseph Lycett, National Library of Australia, nla.obj-138501179 Kangaroos were an important source of food for Aboriginal peoples. Klaus Hollitzer—iStock/Thinkstock © 2020 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. 5 of 22
Britannica LaunchPacks | Aboriginal Peoples Connection to Country An Australian Aboriginal woman sorts fruit. Her ancestors were traditional hunters and gatherers.… © Guido Amrein/Dreamstime.com The Aboriginal peoples moved around their Country at different times of the year to use the food and other resources that were available. Within the clan, all members had specific roles and responsibilities to ensure the survival of their community. Men hunted animals, such as kangaroos, emus, birds, reptiles and fish. Women collected fruits, honey, insects, eggs and plants. In fertile areas, there were established areas where people always camped at certain times of the year. In desert areas, small family groups moved from water hole to water hole. Ochre, a mineral, was a popular trading item between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.… ©Rafael Ben-Ari/Fototlia © 2020 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. 6 of 22
Britannica LaunchPacks | Aboriginal Peoples Connection to Country Ochre is traditionally used by Aboriginal Australian peoples to create art and to decorate objects… Courtesy of AIATSIS (collection item no. 000125440) Exchange and trade were essential parts of the Aboriginal society. Trade routes connected different clans throughout the landscape of Australia. Items that were traded included kangaroo skin, pearl shells for decorations, ochre for painting, and stone and timber to make axes and spears. Shelter Two Australian Aboriginal men demonstrate how to make a fire. © Rafael Ben Ari/Dreamstime.com In the north, Aboriginal peoples made bark shelters. During heavy rains, they used caves and huts on stilts to protect against flooding and insects. In the desert, people used windbreaks, or shelters made using saplings covered with brush or bark. When the weather was fine, most Indigenous Australian peoples slept in the open with a windbreak. When it was too cold, dogs helped provide warmth. Fires were kept burning. People carried live fire sticks when they moved from place to place. Storytelling and Art © 2020 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. 7 of 22
Britannica LaunchPacks | Aboriginal Peoples Connection to Country A kangaroo is depicted in Aboriginal rock art in the Northern Territory. © Rozenn Leard/Dreamstime.com Aboriginal peoples passed down knowledge through storytelling. Each generation learned about the landscape and surrounding ecosystem through stories that were told to them. This included information about sources of water and the effects of seasons on plants and animals. Deep Gorge, in Western Australia, is an Aboriginal rock art site. There are more than 10,000… © Marco Tomasini/Fotolia Paintings made by Aboriginal peoples can be seen in the Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park in South … © Ilia Torlin/Fotolia © 2020 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. 8 of 22
Britannica LaunchPacks | Aboriginal Peoples Connection to Country Rock engravings made by Aboriginal peoples can be found in central Australia. © Rafael Ben-Ari/Fotolia Each cultural area had its own style of art. These could include sacred object art, body decoration, elaborate headdresses and wood sculptures. Rock art as old as 20,000 years has been discovered in several parts of Australia. Music was used for entertainment and relaxation. Effect of European Invasion The First Fleet reached Australia in January 1788. The ships carried the people who would establish… Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales (a9333001) The lives and land of Aboriginal peoples changed dramatically when Europeans arrived in Australia more than 200 years ago. The first Europeans to land in Australia were Dutch sailors in the 1600s. They did not stay, but they came into conflict with some of the Aboriginal people in the area before they left. © 2020 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. 9 of 22
Britannica LaunchPacks | Aboriginal Peoples Connection to Country In 1788 several ships from Great Britain carrying about 1,000 people arrived in Australia. The British established a colony and started to force the Aboriginal peoples off the land. The colonists cleared land and put up fences. This cut off the native population from their sacred sites, hunting grounds and access to clean water. The British soon expanded further inland, which forced even more Aboriginal peoples from their land. They struggled to survive, but a large number died from starvation. Europeans also brought new diseases to Australia. Aboriginal peoples had never been exposed to bronchitis, smallpox, scarlet fever, chicken pox, measles and whooping cough. This exposure was disastrous for the Aboriginal population. Thousands died from the diseases and from battles with the colonists. In 1856 the colonies began to pass laws to ‘protect’ the Aboriginal peoples. Reserves were set up for them to live on, where they were given food and clothing. These laws, however, kept the Aboriginal people from following their traditional livelihood and led to the near-destruction of their culture. In the 20th century the Australian government started another program that hurt the Aboriginal peoples. They were forced to abandon their traditional way of life and to adopt European culture. Aboriginal children were taken from their parents and raised by white families or in government institutions. These children later became known as the Stolen Generations. Aboriginal peoples protested this mistreatment for many years. Finally, in the 1960s Aboriginal peoples were given the right to vote and were recognised as Australian citizens. By the late 1990s Australian society had begun to acknowledge the horrible treatment Aboriginal Australians had received. In 1996 the country held the first National Reconciliation Week. Two years later, the first National Sorry Day was held. These two events are commemorated every year from 26 May to 3 June. In 2008 the Australian prime minister issued a formal apology for the past mistreatment of Aboriginal peoples. (See alsoIndigenous and European Contact in Australia.) Notable Aboriginal People Today, Aboriginal peoples make up less than 3 per cent of the Australian population. However, many more people are learning about their history and the contributions they have made. The following is a list of some of the people who have been important in Australian history. Faith BandlerBennelongWilliam CooperWilliam FergusonCathy FreemanPearl GibbsVincent LingiariMichael LongEddie MaboJessica MauboySally MorganDouglas NichollsOodgeroo NoonuccalJack PattenPemulwuyCharles Nelson PerkinsLionel RoseTruganiniMargaret TuckerDavid UnaiponJames Unaipon Citation (MLA style): "Australian Aboriginal peoples." Britannica LaunchPacks: Aboriginal Peoples Connection to Country, Encyclopædia Britannica, 14 Nov. 2021. packs-preview.eb.com.au. Accessed 31 Jan. 2022. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. © 2020 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. 10 of 22
Britannica LaunchPacks | Aboriginal Peoples Connection to Country Indigenous Australian Country To the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, every aspect of their lives and well-being is connected to the land and nature. The term Country is used to refer to family origins and to the special relationship or attachment Indigenous Australian peoples have to particular areas of land. Indigenous Australian peoples identify themselves with their territory, or Country. The people of… © Rafael Ben-Ari/Fotolia Within traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander societies, each language group or clan has a defined area of land, or Country, that they are connected to or belong to. The Indigenous peoples identify themselves through their specific territory. Each clan has built a unique body of knowledge and beliefs based on their Country. The people who live in each area have a responsibility to care for their Country by looking after the environment and using natural resources wisely. This is to ensure that the cultural practices are maintained and that natural resources will continue to be available for future generations. These concepts are central to Aboriginal law and spirituality. For these reasons, national parks, such as Kakadu National Park, are important to the Aboriginal peoples. National parks are large areas of land that protect native plants, animals and significant Aboriginal sites. Landscape Map A political map of Australia includes the boundaries that distinguish the Australian states and territories from one another. These political boundaries are not important to Indigenous Australian peoples because their traditional lands are mapped in a different way. Traditional lands are referred to as ‘cultural landscapes’ because they contain the imprint of each clan’s life stories, beliefs and memories. Each cultural landscape is ‘mapped’ and described according to the local Indigenous people who belong to the area. These landscape maps are a way of preserving culture and handing down important information to future generations. Ceremonies In Australia today, there are now rules and ceremonies to recognise Indigenous peoples as the First Australians and caretakers of the traditional land. These ceremonies acknowledge the importance of Indigenous cultures in Australia and ensure that local customs are respected. Two important types of ceremonies that can be performed at special events are ’Welcome to Country’ and ‘Acknowledgement of Country’. © 2020 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. 11 of 22
Britannica LaunchPacks | Aboriginal Peoples Connection to Country Welcome to Country ‘Welcome to Country’ is a ceremony in the form of a speech or performance by local Aboriginal Elders. The ceremony is used to welcome visitors to their traditional land. It occurs at the start of an event or activity. ‘Welcome to Country’ is important because it raises an awareness of the Aboriginal peoples’ connection to place and land and recognises their position in Australian history. Acknowledgement of Country ‘Acknowledgement of Country’ is a way that all people – both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal – can recognise and respect Aboriginal culture and history. This is an opportunity for anyone to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land. It is usually offered at the beginning of an event, meeting or speech. Ngunnawal Country The area that is now known as Canberra is one example of Aboriginal traditional land. This area is called Ngunnawal Country by the Indigenous people who belong to the land. There is evidence that the Ngunnawal peoples have lived in the Canberra area for at least 25,000 years. The traditional Ngunnawal peoples consisted of seven clans who lived in the region. The word Canberra comes from the Aboriginal word Kanberri, which means ‘meeting place’. The Canberra region was traditionally an important meeting place for the Ngunnawal clans as well as neighbouring clans. The different clans came together and socialised, arranged marriages, traded, made laws and held ceremonies. These cultural and spiritual gatherings were important to the Aboriginal peoples. To access the meeting ground, pathways were formed as the clans moved from place to place across Ngunnawal Country. People used the natural features of the region, such as rocks, river corridors, mountains and the stars, to find their way across the land to these traditional meeting places. Over the generations, Ngunnawal people have passed down their knowledge of the landscapes through word of mouth and Dreamtime Stories. The Ngunnawal people believe Budjabulya, a water spirit who lives in Lake Ngungara, created the rivers, valleys, mountains, people, animals and plants in Ngunnawal Country. It is said that when Budjabulya is happy there is plenty of water but when the spirit is not, the water disappears and so does the food supply in the area. The Ngunnawal people survived for thousands of years because of their thorough understanding of the elements of Ngunnawal Country, including the water, plants, animals and their dependence on each other. The traditional Ngunnawal people moved throughout their Country according to the six Aboriginal seasons. Each season determined the various plants and animals available for food and the natural materials available for tools and medicines. Today, the Ngunnawal people continue to be caretakers for the Country. They manage the natural resources and teach others about the importance of their traditions. Citation (MLA style): "Indigenous Australian Country." Britannica LaunchPacks: Aboriginal Peoples Connection to Country, Encyclopædia Britannica, 14 Nov. 2021. packs-preview.eb.com.au. Accessed 31 Jan. 2022. © 2020 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. 12 of 22
Britannica LaunchPacks | Aboriginal Peoples Connection to Country While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Indigenous Australians and the Environment The land and waters of Australia are of great importance to the culture, beliefs, identity and way of life for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This connection to the environment comes from their belief that the land and people were created by ancestor (spirit) beings who continue to protect and care for the land. The land refers to everything within the landscape, including water, air, trees, rocks, plants, animals and landforms. These are all intertwined and essential to their wellbeing, so Indigenous peoples consider the land to be a part of them. Therefore, they have a responsibility to look after their environment and to use natural resources wisely. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures have survived for thousands of years. That is due in part to their knowledge and protection of their Country. Each language group or clan has a defined area of land, or Country, that they are connected to or belong to. They know where to find sources of water and the effects of seasons on plants and animals. They also know how to use and conserve natural resources that provide food, medicine, shelter and tools. Food Kangaroos were an important source of food for Aboriginal peoples. Klaus Hollitzer—iStock/Thinkstock © 2020 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. 13 of 22
Britannica LaunchPacks | Aboriginal Peoples Connection to Country An Australian Aboriginal woman sorts fruit. Her ancestors were traditional hunters and gatherers.… © Guido Amrein/Dreamstime.com A fish-trapping fence in the Northern Territory suggests that early Australian Aboriginal peoples… Courtesy of AIATSIS; creator, Jon C. Altman (collection no. N03211_35) © 2020 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. 14 of 22
Britannica LaunchPacks | Aboriginal Peoples Connection to Country Traditional food from Australia's Outback is called ‘bush food'. Courtesy of AIATSIS (collection item no. 000125299) Traditional Indigenous Australian peoples were hunters and gatherers. Men mainly hunted for larger animals, such as kangaroos, emus, birds, reptiles and fish. Women and children hunted small animals and collected fruits, honey, insects, eggs and plants. They took only the animals and plants that were needed and nothing was ever wasted. Traditional Indigenous food was rich in nutrients and varied according to the seasons and location. Medicine Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples used traditional medicines to treat such ailments as burns, snake bites, jellyfish stings, headaches and eye infections. These treatments were referred to as ‘bush’ medicine because all the ingredients used to make the ointments or remedies were gathered from the natural resources in the bush. Each clan used different medicines depending on which plants and animals were available in their environment. The medicines also varied according to the seasons. Remedies included the use of wild herbs, bark and sap from trees, soil, animal products and leaves. Knowledge of which plants or products treated particular conditions and how to prepare these remedies was passed down through the generations. Shelter Indigenous peoples traditionally lived in simple shelters made by using the materials that were available in a clan’s Country. The types of shelters used depended many factors. These included the climate of the Country and the size and needs of a family. Typically, a shelter was made from a frame of branches and covered with leafy branches or sheets of bark. In areas where the environment was rich with resources, more complex and permanent shelters were built because a family group would live off the local resources for longer. These dwellings (shelters) were built with the strongest materials available, such as hard woods, bark and woven strings and twine. Tools and Weapons Boomerangs were used by Aboriginal peoples for hunting. © S_E/Shutterstock.com © 2020 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. 15 of 22
Britannica LaunchPacks | Aboriginal Peoples Connection to Country An Aboriginal warrior displays his ritual scars and tribal war paint in this photo from 1923. Courtesy of AIATSIS; creator, Commander H.T. Bennett D.S.Q. (collection no. D00029608) Two men demonstrate traditional Aboriginal weapons in Western Australia in 1923. Courtesy of AIATSIS; creator, Commander H.T. Bennett D.S.Q. (collection no. D00029609) Traditional Indigenous societies also created a variety of tools and weapons because of the different materials available in each environment. In areas near the coast, fishbone was used to make tips on spears, while in desert areas, stone tips were used. Although a variety of resources were used to make tools and weapons, all clans had implements such as knives; spears for hunting, fishing and fighting; boomerangs for hunting, ceremonies and musical instruments; bowls for gathering, eating and drinking; and clubs used for ceremonies, fighting and digging. Axe grooves can be seen in a rock in the Kangaroo Valley, New South Wales. Aboriginal people… Courtesy of AIATSIS; creator, Josephine Flood (collection item no. 15262) © 2020 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. 16 of 22
Britannica LaunchPacks | Aboriginal Peoples Connection to Country Ancient rock art of a fish can be seen in Ubirr, Northern Territory. Indigenous Australians used… © Marco Tomasini/Dreamstime.com Wooden tools and weapons such as spears, boomerangs and clubs were made from hardwoods that could be found in each clan’s Country. In central Australia, a type of wattle might have been used. In southeast Australia, she-oak was used. The wood used to make tools varied according to resources in the local environment. It also varied according to the purpose of the tool. For example, people in desert areas used heavy wood to make boomerangs for hunting large animals such as kangaroos. People who lived along the coasts made lighter boomerangs for duck hunting. Spears made for fishing were also made from lighter materials. Indigenous peoples were able to make all of these different tools because they knew the natural environment so well. Sustainable Practices One way Indigenous Australians travelled was by bark canoe. Courtesy of AIATSIS; creator Jon C. Altman (collection item no. N03187_23) From the time they were very young, Indigenous peoples were taught how to respect their local environment. They learned to maintain the land and ensure that the resources would continue to be available for generations to come. They believed that in order to do that, they could only take or use what was needed and that they should not waste anything. They would also only stay in an area for a certain time to make sure they did not over- hunt, fish or harvest the area. They wanted to make sure there would be a steady supply of food. This is known as sustainability. It was the reason Indigenous cultures were able to survive for so long. One example of Indigenous sustainable practices was the care and management of mangrove environments. Mangroves are trees or shrubs that grow in coastal areas. They are a rich source of natural resources. Many sources of food, such as clams, mud crabs, mangrove worms and fish live in and around the trees. Mangrove plants provided traditional medicine, and the timber from mangrove trees was used to build canoes, spears and boomerangs. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who lived in coastal areas effectively managed the © 2020 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. 17 of 22
Britannica LaunchPacks | Aboriginal Peoples Connection to Country mangroves and used them in a sustainable way for thousands of years. For example, they only harvested (collected) crabs when they were in season. After the yearly harvest, the crabs and mangrove area were left alone to recover until the next crab season. This ensured that the crabs and mangroves were preserved for the future. Today, however, mangrove habitats have become threatened by human destruction. The Australian government and Indigenous groups are working together to manage and protect these environments. Two Australian Aboriginal men demonstrate how to make a fire. © Rafael Ben Ari/Dreamstime.com Fire management is another traditional sustainable practice used by Indigenous communities, mainly in rural areas. Fire management is the use of small, controlled fires to keep trees and shrubs from growing too thick. This reduces the risk of major wildfires caused by lightning strikes. Controlled burning was also a way of encouraging new growth in an area that provides food for animals and, in turn, food for local Indigenous communities. The heat from fires causes seeds to germinate (sprout). The growth of plants attracts animals to feed in the area and also renews natural resources. Fire management techniques required a great deal of skill and knowledge. This information was shared between generations of Indigenous families and is still practised today as an effective land management method. Citation (MLA style): "Indigenous Australians and the Environment." Britannica LaunchPacks: Aboriginal Peoples Connection to Country , Encyclopædia Britannica, 14 Nov. 2021. packs-preview.eb.com.au. Accessed 31 Jan. 2022. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. © 2020 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. 18 of 22
Britannica LaunchPacks | Aboriginal Peoples Connection to Country Indigenous Australians: rock art Ancient rock art of a fish can be seen in Ubirr, Northern Territory. Indigenous Australians used spears for fishing. © Marco Tomasini/Dreamstime.com Citation (MLA style): Indigenous Australians: rock art. Image. Britannica LaunchPacks: Aboriginal Peoples Connection to Country, Encyclopædia Britannica, 14 Nov. 2021. packs-preview.eb.com.au. Accessed 31 Jan. 2022. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. © 2020 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. 19 of 22
Britannica LaunchPacks | Aboriginal Peoples Connection to Country Indigenous Australian Country Indigenous Australian peoples identify themselves with their territory, or Country. The people of each Country have their own traditions and ceremonies. © Rafael Ben-Ari/Fotolia Citation (MLA style): Indigenous Australian Country. Image. Britannica LaunchPacks: Aboriginal Peoples Connection to Country, Encyclopædia Britannica, 14 Nov. 2021. packs-preview.eb.com.au. Accessed 31 Jan. 2022. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. © 2020 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. 20 of 22
Britannica LaunchPacks | Aboriginal Peoples Connection to Country Australian Aboriginal peoples Video Transcript NIC MAHER: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised presents that the following program contains images and voices of people who've died. TEACHER: [SPEAKING YAWURU] MAHER: Here at Cable Beach Primary School, these guys are learning things a bit differently. TEACHER: So that first syllable doesn't say "many." It says [YAWURU]. MAHER: This lesson is being taught almost entirely in Yawuru. STUDENT 1: [YAWURU]. These are some plants name that we've learned from our Yawuru teacher. MAHER: Yawuru Is an Aboriginal language that's been spoken by Broome's traditional owners for tens of thousands of years. STUDENT 2: We learn lots of different stuff. We learn about the seasons, the fruit, our family-- STUDENT 3: How to count. STUDENT 4: The family, fishing, the plants. STUDENT 5: My favorite subject is learning about the animals. STUDENT 3: It's just great. MAHER: Some of these guys already speak some Yawuru at home. But for others, it's a whole new set of words and sounds, and a new way of looking at the world. STUDENT 6: It's important for young people like me to learn Yawuru because it's a dying language. STUDENT 2: It makes me feel important because I'm keeping Yawuru alive. STUDENT 5: I think learning about Yawuru is important because we need more younger people to learn it because the language itself is fading. STUDENT 2: When we grow up, we can teach the younger ones. MAHER: There are a number of schools around Australia that teach local indigenous languages. But what sets Broome apart is that every kid in every school in town is learning the same language. They say it's part of a big push to make Broome the first bilingual town in Australia, meaning everybody will be able to speak two languages. It hasn't always been this way for the Yawuru language. DIANE: Good for [INAUDIBLE]. MAHER: Diane grew up in Broome back in the '60s, when things were very different for the indigenous population. She says they weren't treated very well, and for a long time her family wasn't even allowed to speak Yawuru words in public. DIANE: When you think about history, aboriginal people wasn't allowed to speak their language. And that is another discussion. Things have happened that had a negative impact on our culture with all those acts and policies. MAHER: Fast forward to 2006, and the language was close to being lost forever. So Diane and a bunch of elders got together to save it. They helped to set up the Yawuru cultural center, and now the language is coming back in a big way. You can see it everywhere. It's in the parks and on street signs. And with 1,000 kids now learning the language, too, Yawuru culture will stick around for many years to come. An overview of efforts to preserve Australian indigenous languages, especially Yawuru. © 2020 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. 21 of 22
Britannica LaunchPacks | Aboriginal Peoples Connection to Country © Behind the News Citation (MLA style): Australian Aboriginal peoples. Video. Britannica LaunchPacks: Aboriginal Peoples Connection to Country, Encyclopædia Britannica, 14 Nov. 2021. packs-preview.eb.com.au. Accessed 31 Jan. 2022. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. © 2020 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. 22 of 22
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