Historical Empathy

Empathy requires an understanding of the past from the point of view of a particular individual or group, including an appreciation of the circumstances they faced and the motivations, values and attitudes behind their actions. Empathy promotes deeper understanding of ‘difference’ in the past and, tolerance and acceptance in the present. - ACARA

'Everything that has happened to the Aboriginal people has its roots in this area ...

it impacted on all Aboriginal people across Australia.'

- Dr Shayne Williams, spokesperson for the Dharawal Elders, 2006.

NITV Always Was Always Will Be.mp4

Always Was, Always Will Be

Australia's history did not begin 250 years ago. Aboriginal peoples have been here for over 65,000 years and it is important that we respect them as the traditional owners of this land.

NITV | [0:45 mins] Transcript available in teacher notes.

Activity

Identify the moments in history portrayed in the video. What do they indicate about Aboriginal land ownership?

Arrival and encounters

NITV Sunrise Ceremony before 1770.mp4

Before 1770

Before 1770 the island continent now called Australia was owned and occupied by a population estimated at over 750,000. The Australian Aboriginal peoples are the oldest living cultures on the planet, unbroken over thousands of generations.

NITV | [2:42 mins] Transcript available in teacher notes.

Discussion

Watch this video and read the information in the slideshow.

What do you think would have been the first impressions of the Aboriginal people of Kamay Botany Bay when they saw HMB Endeavour sailing towards them?

Aboriginal peoples - worldview

A statue of an Aboriginal man and woman in a canoe holding spears.

Garth Lena, 'Man and Woman in Canoe', 2011

This artwork by Minjungbul sculptor Garth Lena focuses on the role of fish and watercraft in the daily life of coastal Aboriginal peoples. Fish and watercraft also feature in the encounter story of Kamay Botany Bay. When the Endeavour entered the heads, Joseph Banks observed Aboriginal people fishing from canoes but he was surprised when they just kept on fishing, seemingly ignoring the ship.

Discussion

Why do you think the Gweagal seemingly ignored the Endeavour and its crew until the visitors tried to land?

How do you think the Gweagal would have felt about the crew of the Endeavour landing on their Country without permission?

Read more about the Aboriginal perspective on Cook's arrival from Dr Shayne T. Williams in this article published on the British Library website:

Differing perspectives

Traditional Aboriginal and contemporary Australian cultures exhibit differing systems, values and perspectives. Here are some examples:

Vincent Lingiari given back Gurindji tribe lands by Prime Minister of Australia Gough Whitlam in 1972 after the Wave Hill walk-off. Courtesy of National Archives of Australia.

Land

Traditionally, Aboriginal peoples believe that they belong to the land whereas most contemporary Australians believe in individual land ownership. The Native Title Act 1993 was a landmark piece of legislation recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait land rights.

Has anything changed in the 30 years since the ALRC’s Recognition of Aboriginal Customary Laws report? The Aboriginal flag outside parliament house. Mick Tsikas/AAP.

Laws

Aboriginal laws are customary and spiritual. Contemporary Australian laws are recorded and secular. Australia's contemporary legal system does not recognise many aspects of Aboriginal customary law.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kinship structures. Reconciliation Aus. 31/1/13.

Family

Kinship ties, clans and extended family are of importance for Aboriginal peoples. Most contemporary Australians tend to associate with smaller immediate family units.

Members of the Koori court sitting at a round table.

NSW's first Koori Court. SMH 15/11/14

Conciliation and mediation

Aboriginal peoples have elders who are involved in mediating and resolving conflict. In contemporary Australian society, litigation is used to resolve conflict. Some attempts have been made to include characteristics of Aboriginal dispute resolution methods into contemporary society, such as Koori courts.

Discussion

Consider the different perspectives of traditional Aboriginal culture and the broader culture that exists in Australia today. Why has it been historically difficult for both of these perspectives to be considered, and applied concurrently in contemporary Australian society?

Film study

East Coast Encounter

Jeff McMullen's video trailer records the voices of artists as they discuss their re-imagined encounters with the significant sites and traditional owners along the east coast of the continent during Cook's voyage in 1770.

[2:28 mins] Transcript available in teacher notes.

Activity

After viewing the trailer for the film 'East Coast Encounter' by Jeff McMullen, imagine you are a historian studying the eight days that HMB Endeavour spent at Kamay Botany Bay.

Formulate three questions you would like answered about the event.
Explain the two differing worldviews, and how perspectives change and develop over time as a result of changing societal values and standards. Things to consider:

values and way of life in 18th century Britain
values and way of life of the Gweagal
imperialism
Cook's secret instructions
cultures, customs and language barriers.

Secondary source analysis - Boyer Lectures

There is no righting the wrongs of the past, but we are able to use the past to shape a more positive future - a future that talks of accepting and inclusive cultural dialogues, a future that works towards reconciliation and equality.

Listen to the 2019 Boyer Lecture, delivered by Rachel Perkins, the Aboriginal film-maker, and answer the comprehension questions:

Boyer Lecture 2019: Rachel PerkinsMulti award-winning filmmaker and Arrernte/Kalkadoon woman, Rachel Perkins will address the nation at a time of intensive debate, discussion and consultation over the question of Indigenous constitutional recognition.

Comprehension questions

What is the main message Rachel Perkins is delivering?
What is her opinion of Lieutenant James Cook and the arrival of the Endeavour?
List and describe the main historical events she discusses in the Aboriginal fight for rights and recognition.

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