Teaching Indigenous perspectives in VCE Art and Studio Arts 

Perspectives are about seeing things differently. Different viewpoints are formed by individual experiences, learning, cultural beliefs and values.

 

The perspectives of a group of people are their ways of viewing, or experiencing, the world. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Perspectives are the points of view that Aboriginal and Islander people have which differ by the cultural groups they belong to and their experiences. For example, Aboriginal and Islander people have a different perspective of Australia Day as an event in Australia’s shared history; for many non-Aboriginal and Islander people this is a day for celebrating the birth of a new nation but for most Aboriginal and Islander people it is a day of mourning as it is the time of ‘invasion and colonisation and the start of the erosion of their language, traditions and cultural identity. Similarly, occasions like the Queen’s Birthday may not hold particular meaning of significance. In contrast, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people look forward to acknowledging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander achievements in all facets of life in Australia’s contemporary society. The Queen’s Birthday is a national event still not fully understood and embraced by wider Australia.

 

Traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures are closely aligned to nature and the environment with particular emphasis on cycles and patterns and the effect each has on the other. It is based on an undeniable link to the land, language and culture. These links also affect perspectives. For example, close ties to country by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural groups affect the way land is treated; not as a commodity or resource but as an extension of the group and something to be nurtured.

 

More modern contexts have provided Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with the opportunity for the land to be used as an economic source e.g. mining and development, whilst still maintaining a strong personal and cultural connection to the landscape and geography, shared over generations; through song, stories and dance.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives are an important component of Australia’s history and cultural heritage. All Aboriginal and Islander people maintain their cultural identity whether in urban, rural or remote locations, and engage in a range of cultural  - practices.

 

- Aboriginal Telethon Kids part 1 chapter 3 2015