Aboriginal Heritage Essay

The Aboriginal Heritage Office plays a key role in the education of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people (Northern Sydney Aboriginal Social Plan, 2006). The Aboriginal Heritage Office holds free school presentations and actives, which are designed to inform students of the heritage of their local area and to view their local landscape from an Indigenous perspective (Aboriginal Heritage Office, 2006). Other activities that the Aboriginal Heritage Offices operates include community walks and talks, staff training to provide council workers in aboriginal site awareness (Aboriginal Heritage Office, 2006).

Country is precious, vital, and considered home to Aboriginals. To them, country is family, as they often describe it as if shares similar human characteristics. They care for country as they would to their brother or sister, and hold a certain responsibility to nurture country as it provides a sustained, well-nourished life. Each community member plays a role in the protection of country. Every member embraces a different, unique skills and when combined offer a greater life for everyone. Country is key to learning the essential hunting and gathering skills to live, feed and thrive off the land which is embedded in Indigenous culture.

Australian government today recognises that educational policies regarding Aboriginal people cannot be made without considering social and economic policies aimed at improving outcomes for Aboriginal communities in general (TICHR, 2006). Main contemporary issues facing Aboriginal communities are proving land ownership, remoteness, health status, education and employment status and social attitude of Non-Aboriginal population towards the Aboriginal communities (Challenges facing the Indigenous communities today, n.d.). Tackling this issue is not a simple task: the document “National Indigenous Reform Agreement” (2010) which aims to improve outcomes for all Indigenous Australians recognizes that this process needs approach from different aspects, taking into account “seven key building blocks: Early Childhood, Schooling, Health, Economic Participation, Healthy Homes, Safe Communities, and Governance and Leadership” (as cited in DET Queensland,

There are 11 Aboriginal archaeological sites within the City of Boroondara, two of which are Aboriginal historic places that are registered with

I believe this is a step in the right direction for Aboriginal rights. It is crucial to preserve Aboriginal history to create a just nation for Canada. As well, it is equally important to retrieve information from elders regarding their extensive traditions and beliefs and to preserve these traditional stories. The Canadian government should allocate funding towards Aboriginal festivals, museums, and other public events to educate all Canadians about Aboriginal culture and heritage, as well, this would show respect for Aboriginal-Canadians. Therefore, I believe funding allocated to the preservation of Aboriginal history can improve the plight of Aboriginal-Canadians.

Indigenous populations have been the carers and custodians of Australia and the Torres Strait for a period in excess of 60,000 years before being

Aboriginal people, since British settlement, have faced great inequalities and much racial discrimination on their own soil. Aboriginal Australians through great struggle and conflict have made significant progress in the right to their own land. To better understand the position of the Aboriginal Australians, this essay will go into more depth about the rights that Aboriginal people had to their own land prior to federation. It will also include significant events and key people who activated the reshaping of land rights for Indigenous Australians and how that has affected the rights Aboriginal people now have in the 21st Century, in regards to their land.

I have not had a lot of experience with the Aboriginal culture apart from viewing Welcome to Country ceremonies at community events and listening to Acknowledgment of Country within school assemblies and events spoken by non-Indigenous people. I have visited many significant landmarks and historical areas relating to the Aboriginal culture within my area but hope that this critical reflection journal will help me to develop a greater understanding, awareness and knowledge of the first and traditional custodians of the country in which I now live. This journal will analyse the topics of: Acknowledgement to Country, Introduction to the unit and Preparation to teach; Identity culture and stereotypes; and, Indigenous Australian Histories and Policy and how these may impact on my pedagogy and future

Through my life, I have seen several different approaches to Indigenous people’s rights and importance in Australia. I have been fortunate enough to visit Ayers Rock and undertake a tour which allowed me to see Aboriginal culture in art and drawings as well as hearing Dreamtime stories from guides. I have also witnessed family friends who have been severely racist and disrespectful of Indigenous heritage and history. I also was lucky to work with some Indigenous students who were in Reception during my Professional Experience 1, and I was able to see first-hand how a culture clash can affect a student’s behaviour. I feel that even before entering this course, I have had the privilege of being able to observe both positives and negatives

Research an aspect of Australian history (e.g. policy, practice) and outline the ways in which this aspect has impacted on Aboriginal people and Aboriginal education.

As a future educator, it will be my job to continue acknowledging, valuing and teaching Indigenous origins, histories and cultures using the Australian Institute for Teaching and School (AITSL) standard 2.4 and the Australian Curriculum. This will give my future students a better understanding that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were the first custodians of our Australian land and of their origins. They lived in Australia 60,000 years before the British settled in 1788. I will teach an Australian historical time line prior to 1788.

I will consult the Protocols for Consultation and Negotiation with Aboriginal People (1999) and Proper Communication with Torres Strait Islander People (n.d.), these documents include history and its impacts, significant issues, Aboriginality, communication techniques, consultation and negotiation and

Attempts have been made by the Australian government to protect Aboriginal culture, beginning in the late 1920s with the creation of special reserves. Aborigines are now officially recognised as Australian citizens, and

Australian Aborigines are thought to have the longest continuous cultural history in the world. Yet, within a hundred years, the near extinction of the Aboriginal culture almost occurred. This single event, the invasion of the Australian continent by European settlers, changed the lifestyle, the culture, and the fate of Australian Aborigines. Their entire lives were essentially taken away and they were forced into a white, European world where the lifestyle change could not have been any different. Aborigines in Australia today are struggling to deal with a past in which they lost touch with their culture and now are trying to regain some of that cultural identity.

According to the Our Words, Our Ways document (2005) Aboriginal authenticity depends on seven criteria: Aboriginal community recognition, cultural authenticity, historical accuracy, objectivity, accurate and respectful language, terminology, and graphics, and recognized sources. Ideally, resources meeting requirements are considered authentic, but Our Words, Our Ways (2005) also suggests that when a resource fails to meet criteria discussions with local Aboriginal communities can guide whether all or parts of the resource can be used in class (p. 166).