Mount St Benedict College acknowledges and pays respect to the past and present Traditional Custodians and Elders of this nation and the continuation of cultural, spiritual and educational practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Ancestors have walked this country and we acknowledge their special and unique place in our nation’s historical, cultural and linguistic identity.
Visitors should be aware that this Research Guide may contain images or documentation relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are deceased.
Uncle Archie explains the story behind ‘Took The Children Away’ and reads the lyrics to the song illustrated through Aunty Ruby Hunter’s drawings.
“It’s important for younger people across this country to hear this song and understand it, because it’s an Australian story. It’s something that happened in this country and it’s still happening.” Uncle Archie Roach.
In 2013 the group changed their name to Djuki Mala – there isn’t a ‘ch’ sound in their language (Yolngu) and ‘dj’ is the closest so Chooky/ Djuki – this is the word used by the locals for a chook in their own language. ‘Mala’ is a word that means a group with something in common – in this case, they all dance. The change of name therefore isn’t really a change of name, but it does reflect that English is not the dancers’ first language.
Read about the group and more about Elcho Island by following this link
How is Djuki Mala’s dance style the same as traditional dance? What are other influences on their style of dance? Look at the following dance clip to see some traditional dances and use of instruments.
What instruments are most commonly used to accompany traditional dances? View DanceSite 2013 at this Link
Traditional Indigenous music varies from place to place, but still serves 3 important purposes. What are these?
LYRICS:
The story’s right, the story’s true
I would not tell lies to you
Like the promises they didn’t keep
And how they fenced us in like sheep
Above are some of the lyrics of the first verse of Took the Children Away. Written by legendary indigenous songwriter Archie Roach, this moving song tells his story – indeed, it is the story of his people during a sorry chapter in our history, the story of the ‘Stolen Generation’.
What are the most commonly used instruments in indigenous music? Hit or blown instruments? Why?
Song in traditional cultures in Australia also linked different tribes across the country. Watch the following clip:
http://fadlmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/firstaust/clips/songlines_pr.mp4
Complete the following:
Yolngu Boy is a contemporary story about teenage boys from this part of Australia. Here are some references to read more about it. The film has an M rating.
Give a brief synopsis of the plot
Who composed the music?
Choose one of the short musical excerpts (found under ‘music/soundsample’ on the website www.yolnguboy.com
Identify the soundsample you have chosen
Musical scores written for films are called soundtracks. They are very important to the success of a film. How has the composer given the soundtrack a contemporary sound, while maintaining the strong cultural identity?
Comment on the use of the concepts of music in your chosen excerpt – pitch, duration, tone colour, texture, duration, dynamics and expressive techniques.
Extension Ideas (choose one or all if you dare!!! Rated easiest to hardest)
Biography Taskette: Archie Roach, The Warumpi Band, Gurrumul, Christina Anu are a few names among a number of legendary Australian Indigenous performers/songwriters
Choose one of the following performers, write a brief biography and find out something about their music and careers
Ruby Hunter Kev Carmody Jimmy Little William Barton Jessica Mauboy Troy Cassar-Daley Casey Donovan Deborah Cheetham
Film Study: Watch the movie Yolngu Boy at home (You will need your parents’ permission or written permission if you are watching it at school)
What does it mean for the characters to be ‘chosen for ceremony’?
Why does Botj not get ‘chosen’?
‘This is the right way’. What does this mean? What is the ‘right way’ in the film?
What is a songline? How does it help the boys?
What is the significance of Botj singing a songline?
‘Time is not a line, it’s a circle’ – what does this mean?
NOTE: This picture book is about the forced removal of Indigenous children from their families. The content is based on fact, but it may cause distress to Indigenous children and children with Indigenous family members. If you are teaching Indigenous children or children with Indigenous family members, please consult with their families before introducing this unit.
The Healing Foundation is a national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisation that partners with communities to address the ongoing trauma caused by actions like the forced removal of children from their families.
The island has been inhabited by the Yolngu people for 50,000 years.
Since the 1960’s, Yolngu people have been at the centre of the fight for land rights. In the 1960’s the Yolngu people sent a petition to the Commonwealth of Australia claiming ownership of their land.
What is so significant about the petition? View document link here
Since colonisation, numerous government laws, policies and practices resulted in the forced removal of generations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families and communities across Australia.
