Aboriginal History
How many Aboriginal languages are there?
250
Oogeroo Noonuccal was inspired by her ___________ who fought for aboriginal rights.
father
What is a Corroboree?
Spiritual or cultural dance
What is gifts about? Say 5 things
This poem is about an Aboriginal boy who loves a girl. He promises to bring her many things to show how much he loves her. First he promises to bring her beautiful things like pendants and feathers . Then he promises to bring her things like stars and rainbows. The girl is not impressed by any of these things as she only wants tree grubs which represents simple love.
What is this poem about? Say 3 things about the poem
This poem is about Willie Mackenzie. He is the last surviving member of his tribe. He used to be powerful and a leader of his tribe, but now he is old and homeless. The poem mourns how Willie became displaced and lonely.
In the Unhappy Race, the poet thinks of the ________ people as the 'unhappy race' because they enslaved _________.
white / european / british
nature / environment / natural surrounding
What did the colonialists call the Australian land?
terra nullius
What was unique about her poems?
They had a strong element of protest
What is the purpose of this poem?
To create an understanding of Aboriginal culture because western society does not have much awareness of this cultural dance.
What human experiences are seen in this poem?
love romance
What human emotions are in this poem?
sadness, melancholy, mournful
The poem talks about how lonely Aboriginal people's lives are as opposed to the rich upper class life of white people.
False
1. The British didn't understand the Aboriginal people and their way of life.
2. Many Aboriginal families lost their lives and homes and families.
3. The Australian government stole Aboriginal children to make them 'white'
4. Aboriginal people were treated unfairly and the government took the land for themselves.
Aside from being a poet, what did Oodgeroo worked in?
Politics and as a teacher for Aboriginal children
Universities
What technique is used in the following line from corroboree?
"Hot day dies"
Personification
What techniqe is used in the following lines?
“I will bring you love,” said the young lover
“A glad light to dance in your dark eye.
Pendants I will bring of the white bone”
And gay parrot feathers to deck your hair"
Dialogue / direct speech
The poem uses second person to enable the audience to...
situate ourselves within the perspective of Oodgeroo. This makes us feel that we are talking directly with Willie
Why is the line "you...made civilised laws" ironic? (doesn't mean what it says)
This line is ironic because the laws were meant to develop a nature and make things better for everyone but reality was that it led to oppression and unfair treatment of Aboriginal people.
Describe the Aboriginal people's lifestyle.
1. They had total kinship with the land and natural environment.
2. They had knowledge of how to use their environment to the maximum.
3. For the Aboriginal people, killing animals for food or building a shelter were steeped in ritual and spirituality, and carried out in perfect balance with their surroundings.
1993
What is this line describing?
"Ghost gums dimly seen stand at the edge of light
Watching Corrboree"
This line describes how the trees are part of the celebration. They are being compared to humans as they watch the celebration - they can feel things and have memories and knowledge.
Explain how the following lines reflect the boy's idea of love.
“I will bring you the still moonlight on the lagoon”
“And steal for you the singing of all the birds”
“I will bring down the stars of heaven to you”
“And put the bright rainbow into your hand”
Hyperbole is used suggesting that the man begins to offer impossible gifts such as the “singing of the birds” and the “stars of heaven”
These are metaphorical images of love, not actual actions.
Explain the metaphor in the following line:
"Change is the law"
Symbolises the nature of the control of power structures – change has been implemented through law, it is written into the fabric of the nation, the metaphor encapsulates the process of transformation
Describe the effect of the tone in these lines: "
Leave us alone, we don't want your collars and ties,
We don't need your routines and compulsions.
We want the old freedom and joy that all things have but you, ... "
The voice of the speaker is very determined; it represents the personal and collective voice of the poet and also reinforcing the combined voices of the Aboriginal people.
The speaker rejects the structures and expectations. It desires independence. The tone is clearly rebellious
What is the historical significance of the poem collection My People?
Noonuccal saw what the Aboriginal people had suffered and how it felt to be exiled in your own land. Her poems
Describe Noonuccal's personal life
In 1942, she married Bruce Raymond Walker, a member of the Gugingin, however by the time their son was born they had separated, and Kath Walker was forced to raise their son and maintain the household on her own. She worked as a household helper to earn money.
What human motivations are found in this poem?
The dance reveals historical events and stories that motivate Aboriginal people to follow the path and behaviours of their ancestors such as hunting and communicating with nature “as naked dancers weave stories of the tribe / into corroboree” (metaphor) “Ghost gums dimly seen stand at the edge of the light / Watching corroboree” (metaphor / personification)
What message about love according to Aboriginal culture, do we get from this poem? (Explain)
The poem allows non-indigenous audiences to re-evaluate the definition of love. While Europeans are often materialistic, Aboriginal people valued culture and relationships. In the Aboriginal culture, simple love means one that is linked to nature and is more functional, as opposed to material love. A love that enables one to survive is more permanent than love based on money and power.
What is the motivation of Oodgeroo to write this poem?
Oodgeroo is motivated to tell the story of Willie to expose the impact of colonisation for her audience - motivated by her own social politics
Willie was motivated by his culture and community to be a leader and a warrior
What anomaly can be seen in this poem?