Traditional way of life
Focus on searching for information from local Aboriginal cultural groups.
Researching task
Learn more about the traditional Aboriginal way of life by completing this group research task with your group.
Think about the keywords you use for your research.
Tip - If your school is located in Gadigal Country, you might use the keywords ‘Aboriginal beliefs’ to find general information and ‘Gadigal beliefs’ to find information relevant to the local clan/ language group. Sometimes it might be difficult to find local information so you may need to rely on more general information.
Your teacher will allocate one of the following topics to your group.
Beliefs
Describe some traditional Aboriginal beliefs.
Keywords
beliefs, spirituality, religion, dreaming, dreamtime, creation, spirits, gods, totems, rainbow serpent
Resources
‘Creation’ within the 12 Canoes online resource
Creation tells of when the people of the area came into being. As there are many creation stories, this is the story of Dog Dreaming and his travels from the swamp to the sea.
Spiritual Beliefs website
Description of basic beliefs and rituals
Aboriginal religion information website
Detailed description with facts about Aboriginal religion
Aboriginal spirituality website
General information with focus on Aboriginal Dreaming stories
Aboriginal Totems PDF download (2 MB) - Rebecca Wilks, Euchareena Public School
Creative arts
Describe some traditional Aboriginal creative arts.
This could include visual art, craft, dance and music.
Keywords
First Nations cultural art, Aboriginal art, rock art, dance boards, Australian Aboriginal craft, rock engraving
Resources
Australian Museum - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander collection
Visit the ATSI collection online.
Bangarra Dance Theatre
Inspired by a brolga plain in Northeast Arnhem Land and stories told by Djakapurra Munyarryun, Brolga Bangarra Dance Theatre Education Resource represents a contemporary rite of passage for a young woman who plays with the birds, mimics their movements and learns to respect their sacred knowledge.
Get adult permission for this resource because it is on YouTube.
Collecting Colour by Dunstan, Kylie
This book describes ways that local materials are crafted into useful products in the Top End of Northern Australia.
Find Collecting Colour on Trove or ask your librarian.
Food and medicine
Identify traditional Aboriginal food sources and medicines.
You may need to find out whether foods were available all year around or just certain times of the year. How did they store food?
Keywords
Aboriginal food, bush tucker, bush medicine
Resources
Tasty bush tucker
View the ABC educational video about understanding bush foods.
Top 10 Aboriginal bush medicines - Australian Geographic
From witchetty grubs to kangaroo apples, these native medicines are used to cure ills the traditional way. FInd out about the top 10 Aboriginal bush medicines at the Australian Geographic website.
First Australians were also the first farmers
View the ABC educational video about eel farming.
Ceremonies and customs
Describe some traditional ceremonies and customs.
Keywords
ceremonies, Aboriginal rites of passage, initiation
Resources
My Place: Ceremonial life
Detailed description of childrens' experiences and ceremonial life within the My Place online educational resource.
Aboriginal baby ritual (video)
View the ABC educational video about Holdimbat Beibi, Smokimbat Beibi: Aboriginal baby ritual.
‘Ceremonies’ within the 12 Canoes online resource
Ceremony is about the rites and rituals that describe aspects of the Yolngu inner life, the ceremonies that bind the community together and keep the people and their traditions strong.
Aboriginal ceremonies - QLD resource PDF download (226KB) - Queensland Studies Authority
Clothing
Describe some traditional Aboriginal clothing.
Keywords
Aboriginal clothing, ceremonial costumes
Resources
Aboriginal clothing
Brief information online about Aboriginal clothing.
Possum skin coats
Find out more about the uses of possum skin cloaks as part of the Australian Insitute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies online collection.
Shell forehead band from Northern Queensland
View the Australian Museum ATSI collection to examine the shell forehead band.
Shelter and transport
Describe some traditional Aboriginal shelter and modes of transport.
Keywords
housing, shelter, canoe, architecture, building
Resources
My Place- Aboriginal Architecture
Detailed description of Aborignial architecture within the My Place online educational resource.
Bark canoe from New South Wales
View the Australian Museum ATSI collection to examine the bark canoe.
Behind the News - Bark Canoe (video)
View the ABC educational video about the process of designing and building a bark canoe.
Tools, weapons and technology
Outline the tools, weapons and technology used by Aboriginal people over time.
Keywords
boomerangs, Aboriginal tools and weapons, stone tools
Resources
Defining Moments: Indigenous stone tools (video)
Ask your teacher's permission to view the National Australian Museum channel YouTube video about stone tools.
Crook Hat and Camphoo (video)
View the Australian Screen video with Elders Crook Hat and Camphoo walking through the bush searching for the right tree to make spears.
Aboriginal inventions: 10 enduring innovations
View 10 enduring Aboriginal inventions at the Australian Geographic website.
Aboriginal stone tools used around Batemans Bay
A small window into aboriginal stone tools used around Batemans Bay PDF download 1.93MB
Toys and recreation
Describe recreation activities, games and toys used.
Keywords
Aboriginal toys and recreation, traditional games
Resources
Aboriginal toys
View the Australian Museum ATSI collection to examine the Aboriginal toys.
Indigenous Traditional Games
View a range of traditional games at the Office of Sport website.