The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has released a suite of new resources for Australian schools to support their teaching of Indigenous histories and cultures.
An initiative of the Department’s National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Curricula Project, the resources have been developed by an expert team from the University of Melbourne led by prominent Indigenous academic, Marcia Langton.
Professor Langton said the resources focused on three main themes – astronomy, fire and water.
“They showcase Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge systems and provide opportunities for teachers to introduce new and more diverse examples of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories into their classrooms,” Professor Langton said.
Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Nigel Scullion said that to know the history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians was to know the history of Australia.
“Our nation is so proud and privileged to be home to the oldest continuing cultures on earth, yet many Australians today do not have a good understanding or knowledge about the history of our nation prior to European colonisation,” Senator Scullion said.
“It is my sincere hope that resources like this will educate our students to better understand the unique histories, languages, cultures and stories of the First Australians.”
Professor Langton said the resources would ensure students had the opportunity to learn about the sophistication of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures that had thrived and cultivated the Australian landscape for more than 60,000 years.
“It is my wish that all Australian children, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, will grow up with an understanding and appreciation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledges and cultures,” Professor Langton said.
“We have designed freely available teacher resources: Astronomy because Australians have been reading the sky for 65,000 years; fire because Australians have been shaping our country with fire for 65,000 years, and water because water is essential to all life.”
The Curricula Project is supported by an expert panel, consisting of experts in Indigenous knowledge systems.
More information, including access to the first teaching resources, can be found at this PS News link.
