Investigating Heritage

What steps took place leading to the recognition of land rights and native title? Why was there a Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody? What is meant by self-determination and reconciliation?

Tranby and Mutawintji National Park are linked to investigations focusing on issues confronting Aboriginal peoples, including questions of reconciliation and self-determination.

• Examine the images and text information relating to Tranby Aboriginal College and Mutawintji National Park. What can the buildings, artefacts and landforms tell us about the past? Look for evidence of Aboriginal occupation, environment, pastoralism and education.
• Now look at the oral accounts of people associated with Mutawintji National Park and Tranby. What attitudes and values come through in these accounts? Can you identify any issues connected to reconciliation? What do the materials tell us about approaches to reconciliation that indigenous people favour and advocate?
• Focus on the participation of Aboriginal peoples in environmental and heritage management. What attitudes and values to heritage and environmental issues are conveyed in the materials? Is there any evidence of connections between heritage and environment in Aboriginal perspectives?
• Look at the key discussions participated in by indigenous people and the changes that have occurred as a result. How have indigenous and non-indigenous communities responded to these changes?
  History M5.10
• What can Tranby Aboriginal College and Mutawintji National Park tell us about the reconciliation experience for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians?

Investigating Heritage and Citizenship

• Look in your school library or local library for examples of oral testimonies and histories.
• Identify the key themes covered in these histories and testimonies. Why do you think the people interviewed were selected to take part?
• Focus on an environmental or heritage issue involving Aboriginal people. What can you say about the perspectives of indigenous participants towards the issue? Can you identify the key perspectives and main arguments that are being put forward? Are there any central ideas that could be used as a starting point in discussing the issue?
  History M5.15
• Look at the guidelines provided for interviewing Aboriginal people. What are the key points recommended in accessing the views, opinions and stories of Aboriginal Australians?
• Examine a range of interviews with Aboriginal people. Look at the ABC web-site (link) for some examples.
• Consider the questions asked by interviewers. Look at the approach taken in interviews and the influence of perspectives, attitudes, types of questions and meanings associated with words and phrases.
  Values and Attitudes — develops skills to participate in society in an informed way as individuals or members of a group.
  
• Develop a set of questions to ask an Aboriginal participant on the issue you are investigating. Include questions that display empathy to cultural background and others that demonstrate lack of empathy.
• Use your questions to conduct simulated interviews. What links can you identify between your approach to communication and the responses you gain in an interview?
• Reflect on the cultural meanings that Aboriginal peoples bring to heritage and environmental issues. How do Aboriginal communities identify what is worth preserving?