Aboriginal Experience

Introduction, Smoking Ceremony and Welcome (Altogether): The day kicks off with a meet and greet with our knowledgeable Aboriginal Gumaraa Rangers, before enjoying an interactive and engaging presentation. Students will be drawn into an open discussion about Aboriginal Australians and gain an appreciation for the ancestral culture that has occupied this land for over 40,000 years. They’ll hear stories from the Dreamtime, hear first-hand stories about living on traditional lands, and see, feel and touch Aboriginal artefacts to learn how Indigenous Australians engage with their culture and lands. They’ll be challenged to think critically about the impact that the arrival of colonial settlers had on Aboriginal lifestyles and livelihoods. This insightful and authentic introductory presentation is sure to bolster a strong sense of empathy and connection with students’ home and lifestyle.

Activity 1: Traditional Ochre Ceremony – Students will begin their understanding of Aboriginal traditions by taking part in an Ochre ceremony, where they’ll paint their faces with natural ochre as a sign of initiation and welcome to Indigenous practices and lands.

Activity 2: Dancing – Students will get to partake in traditional and ceremonial dances, which play an important role in the spirituality of indigenous Australian tribes. One of the major purposes was to tell stories that were passed through the generations, about the land, animals, dreamtime, and Aboriginal people. Stories from ancestors on first contacts.

Activity 3: Bush plants and medicines – Students will learn how different plants are used as remedies for common illnesses, and how this traditional knowledge has been passed down for generations. They may even be surprised to discover that western medicine has incorporated and adapted Aboriginal medicine and techniques! They’ll find out how to search for and identify “bush tucker” – plants used as food sources and gain an in-depth understanding of the sacred relationship between the Australian continent and Indigenous Australians.

Activity 4: Artefacts – Students will be shown how to use real traditional artefacts such as boomerangs, spears, shields, dillybags, and many other items, and discover how these items were used by Aboriginal Australians for activities such as hunting, warfare, food preparation and making music or art. They’ll get to try their hand at boomerang and spear throwing, too! Boomerangs are made from a branch or root of a tree or bush (usually found in the mangroves), which is then carved into shape, moistened, bent and re-shaped and then smoothed and greased. Boomerangs are dangerous weapons and very important in Aboriginal culture.