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Learning intention – We are learning about Aboriginal Peoples’ connection to Country and Place.
Success criteria – We can name at least one use of ocean resources by the Aboriginal people at Kamay.
What do the Gweagal know about sea resources?
What do the Gweagal know about sea resources?
YouTube | Kamay Botany Bay EEC (7:05min) | TranscriptDharawal ocean resources with Uncle Shayne | Google drive link
Sample of a midden in the museum at KurnellKamay Botany Bay National Park
‘Those middens can tell a story … [a midden] is like walking into a library’
— Gweagal Elder Beryl Timbery Beller, 2006
Fish, shellfish and middens
Fish, shellfish and middens
The Gweagal people harvested many different types of resources from the sea. Collecting shellfish and fishing were an important part of life for the Gweagal and provided a large part of their food source.
Fishing
Fishing
Observations from men on the Endeavour suggests that fishing was conducted by both men and women. Men used fishing spears, known as garrara from both the shore and the canoes. The women used a hook and line and fished only from the canoes.
Shellfish
Shellfish
Shellfish were collected by hand by both men and women from the sand, rock platforms and mud banks in the shallow waters of Kamay Botany Bay.
Shell middens
Shell middens
A 'midden' is a site that was occupied by Aboriginal people where they left the remains of their meals. Shell deposits grew over time, in some cases reaching several metres. After eating a meal the shells were left on the pile so that the next people to visit could see what had just been harvested. They would choose something else to eat so they didn't over-use the resource. The middens are actually a very early example of sustainable harvesting , as well as being a great window into the past.
Many types of shells are found in middens, as well as animal bones. Some middens also contain artifacts and tools made from stone, bone or shell.
Source: Guide to Aboriginal sites and places - Creative Spirits
To do
To do
View the video Dharawal ocean resources.
View the photograph of the midden and refer to the video. What types of shells can you identify?
Do you think that shellfish and crustaceans were important for the Gweagal people's diet? Why?
How important do you think the sea's resources were for the Gweagal people?
Activity 1 – ocean resources
Activity 1 – ocean resources
Recall the ocean resources used by the Gweagal.
Activity sheet
Activity sheet
Complete the Ocean resources activity sheet to label each of the resources.
How did the Gweagal catch fish in 1770?
How did the Gweagal catch fish in 1770?
Indigenous Australians in bark canoes, drawing (cropped) by TupaiaBritish Library | Public domain
Detail of prongs of gararra (fishing spear) made by Rod Mason in 2011National Museum Australia | Copyright
Stages of making shellfish fishing hooks from pieces of turban shellKamay Botany Bay National Park
Bark canoes
Bark canoes
Bark canoes, called nawi or mudgerra, were used by the Gweagal men and women for fishing in the bay.
Cook describes them in his journal on 30 April 1770 –
'...they were about 10 12 or 14 feet long made of one peice of the bark of a tree drawn or tied up at each end and the middle kept open by means of peices of sticks by way of Thwarts'
National Library Australia
To do
To do
View the painting of the people in the bark canoes.
What do you think the Gweagal men in the canoe might be saying to each other?
What method is being used to catch fish?
What types of seafood do you think were eaten by the Gweagal people?
Who used the canoes?
Who used the canoes?
We know from observations made in various places after the British ships returned in 1788 that fishing was conducted by both men and women.
Men used fishing spears from the shore and from the canoes. Women used a hook and line and fished only from the canoes.
Shellfish were collected by hand by both men and women from the sand and mud banks in shallow waters.
Fishing spears
Fishing spears
Men used garrara, spears with three or four prongs, to catch fish from canoes and from the shore.
Cook describes them in his journal on 30 April 1770 –
'...the darts have each four prongs and pointed with fish bones and those we have seen seem to be intend more for strikeing fish than offensive weapons...'
National Library Australia
How do we know?
How do we know?
YouTube | Kamay Botany Bay EEC (1:13min) | TranscriptCook's description of fishing | Google drive link
YouTube | Kamay Botany Bay EEC (1:17min) | TranscriptCook's description of shellfish | Google drive link
YouTube | Kamay Botany Bay EEC (1:07min) | TranscriptBanks' description of bark canoes | Google drive link
Artist's impression of the Gweagal people by the bayArtist - Jo-Anne Breneger | Kamay Botany Bay National Park
Sources of information
Sources of information
Endeavour journals
Endeavour journals
James Cook and Joseph Banks wrote in their journals recording their observations whilst the Endeavour was in Kamay Botany Bay. Their words give us some insight into life for the Gweagal people in 1770.
A Dharawal elder's view
A Dharawal elder's view
Dr Shayne Williams, a Dharawal elder and an Aboriginal language and culture consultant at the NSW Aboriginal Education Consultative Group, Inc., states:
'The fishing image in particular is meaningful to me at a personal level because it shows clearly the use of a garrara spear. The style of this garrara spear is exactly consistent with the way my brother-in-law taught my nephew and myself to make garrara spears. It confirms for us our cultural continuity.'
To do
To do
View the videos that describe what was observed from the Endeavour in 1770.
Examine the painting from the museum.
Read Dr Shayne William's statement.
Click on the button and read the journal extracts.
What can we learn from the journals about how the Gweagal people were living in 1770?
How did the artist know what to paint?
Activity 2 – sources
Activity 2 – sources
Recall what you have learnt about resource use from the primary and secondary sources.
Activity sheet
Activity sheet
Complete the From the sources activity sheet.
How do the Gweagal make nawi or mudgerra?
How do the Gweagal make nawi or mudgerra?
Bark canoe – nawi or mudgerra Australian National Maritime Museum Collection NC702982 | Image by David Payne. Used with permission.
Nawi or mudgerra
Nawi or mudgerra
Bark canoes were very important to the Gweagal people when James Cook arrived in 1770. The canoes were used for fishing and to move around the bay.
The Gweagal people used stone axes and other natural resources to make their canoes. The design used deep technological knowledge passed through generations.
To do
To do
View the video Making a bark canoe.
List the materials used.
List the steps in making a traditional bark canoe.
Activity 3 – procedure
Activity 3 – procedure
Refer to the video Making a bark canoe.
Compose a procedural text that lists the materials and explains the steps in making a nawi / mudgerra. Use the making a bark canoe activity sheet
Go outside and find some natural materials to make your own model bark canoe.
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