Teaching about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in History - CR181 Blog Post 2

Teaching about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in History

Blog Post 2

Uluru

(Banyan Tree, 2013).

Uluru is an amazing natural land formation that we all identify with as Australians. Uluru is one of the great wonders of the world and is an Australian emblem that everyone can identify with.

‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are strong, rich and diverse. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Identity is central to this priority and is intrinsically linked to living, learning Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, deep knowledge traditions and holistic world view’ (ACARA, 2013).

Learning about Uluru we can discover our past histories and how we as Australian share identity within our natural landscape.

‘The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander priority provides opportunities for all learners to deepen their knowledge of Australia by engaging with the world’s oldest continuous living cultures. This knowledge and understanding will enrich their ability to participate positively in the ongoing development of Australia’ (ACARA, 2013).

Teaching History is about teaching contexts; reasons and meanings behind events and decisions. As Australians many of us come from different cultures and nations but being an Australian is not about where you were born or how you got here but about our shared identity.

“The Australian Curriculum: history values Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures. It celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories as part of the shared history belonging to all Australians” (ACARA, 2013).

In the Bible God said:

^“The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him” (Bible Gateway, 2011, Genesis 2:18).

God created us for community; not to be alone but to be a part of something bigger than ourselves. He told us that we are to love and care for one another.

“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves” (Bible Gateway, 2011, Romans 12:10).

While we all have different stories about Uluru and may identify with it in different ways, whether through the dreamtime story or through learning about Sir Henry Ayers discover of Uluru we can all identify as Australians through our shared identity.

Sites for further information and research are listed below:

Uluru Dream Time Story

Sir Henry Ayers

References

ACARA. (2013). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures. Retrieved 17^th May 2013 from http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/CrossCurriculumPriorities/Aboriginal-and-Torres-Strait-Islander-histories-and-cultures.

Banyan Tree. (2013). Ayers rock (Uluru). Retrieved 24^th May 2013 from http://www.banyan-tree.com.au/recommendations/uluru.html.

 Bible Gateway. (2011). New International Version. Retrieved 17^th May 2013.