Part 4
Learning Intention:
To understand Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders connection to land, music and their identity. Then, to take that understanding and recognise similarities that
can be utilized in your own composition.
Success Criteria:
• cultural understandings
• deepening understanding of Songlines
• recognising the interconnectedness of songs, stories, culture and identity
• growing consideration of self-identity and connections to other people, places and experiences.
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For this section you are going to reflect on your understanding of Songlines and consider
the importance of music in your own life.
1. Answer the questions below (you can discuss this with the people around you)
What have we learned about Songlines are how aboriginals have communicated with each other and with
Songlines so far? each tribe throughout time. It connects everyone together.
Why are Songlines so important to The songlines are important because they tell Aboriginals where to go, how to
some Aboriginal peoples? treat each other and who to marry. It is also their culture.
What connections can you make I like music and they use it to pass down information and guidelines to each
between your identity and other.
Songlines?
How does music influence your own My grandparents passed down information through all different ways, the same
cultural identities? way Aboriginals passed down information through their own unique way.
Do you agree that music is important I agree that music is important to everyone’s cultural identity, because everyone
to everyone’s cultural identity? Why? has a different type of music that they like. Different cultures also use music to
give messages as well, like some places might dance to music, or have rituals
with music.
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Next you are going to explore how community, history and culture shapes your identity. Watch the YouTube video
Who We Are: Country/Place - YouTube (ReconciliantionAus 2015), which shows young Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islanders sharing stories of their communities, histories and culture in contemporary Australia.
2. Using what you observed from the video, answer the questions below (can be discussed with those
around you)
How did the young people in the They learned about their culture by living there and getting told by their
video learn about their culture? ancestors.
Why is history and culture important It is important because they want to maintain their culture and live where their
to these people? family lived before them. They want to connect to their past.
How does their connection to It effects their lives and decisions because it makes them reflect and think about
country affect their lives and their lives. It makes them feel like they belong.
decisions?
…………………………..
Language is important to cultural identity, as it is through language that we can communicate our thoughts, ideas
and feelings.
3. Reflect on and document answers to the questions below (to be completed individually)
What it is about you that makes you My liking for music, science and death. I like a variety of different things that
who you are? makes me who I am. I like taking about killing and listening t music because it
makes me happy and also gives a tingle in my spine.
Who do you consider to be part of your My family and friends. I have people who help me at school or in the hospitals
community? or shops. Mostly my family is the main part of my community.
Who from your community encourages My mum and dad encourage me the most. My sister also encourages me as
you to be the best version of yourself? well, but sometimes makes no sense. My friends encourage me at school.
Where do you come from, and where I come from Waikerie, Ramco. I have been all over the world, some places
have you been? being Bali, Japan, Nepal, Fiji. I also have places where my family are like my
shack in Port Clinton and Adelaide.
Where is a place you go that makes One of the places that makes me feel happy is Japan. Japan makes me happy
you feel safe or happy? because they have the best food and clothing. It might be busy, but there are
really nice people.
What activities do you enjoy doing, My favourite activity is science, I love doing experiments and making new thigs.
which make you feel as though you are I also love doing netball. My friends do it with me, and they make me feel like I
contributing to the community?
belong. I also love piano; it is one of my top favourite things.
What feelings do you identify with Doing netball, I feel like I belong, because my friends are nice and encourage
when you are a part of these me to keep going. Anytime I play piano, I feel calm and feel like I have done
communities, in these places or doing
these activities? something incredible.
4. Using a printed copy of the pdf document titled ‘About Me’ complete the following:
draw a self-portrait in the centre circle, and then populate each quadrant with words that are
relevant to yourself.
Select 2 words from each quadrant that you most identify with.
Draw a symbol for each of these words, and draw these symbols on the maps on the location that
you most associate with this word.
