A Living Culture

How many years have Indigenous peoples been living in Australia?

In A Living Culture students handle and explore a range of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander objects to help them understand the ways in which Indigenous cultures have evolved and adapted in the last 200 years.

Aims

• Consider how Indigenous cultures have adapted and evolved since 1788.
• Discuss aspects of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture including identity, diversity and spirituality.

Structure

• Introductory activity – students investigate a number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander objects, considering what the objects are and their use – both in the past and present.
• Gallery activity – working in groups, students explore objects in the First Australians gallery that represent an aspect of Indigenous Australians’ living culture.
• Reflection – students gather to discuss how the objects represent the continuing cultures of Australia’s Indigenous peoples.