Integrating Indigenous Knowledges in the Curriculum

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Principles of Teaching Indigenous Culture

1. Koorie and all Aboriginal people are entitled to respect for their culture.
2. Exposure to, and engagement with, Koorie and other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural heritage will enrich all Australians and strengthen our unique identity.
3. Koorie and other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural heritage, including cultural expression, is the intellectual property of Koorie and other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Cultural expression includes stories, poetry, songs, instrumental music, dances, plays, ceremonies, rituals, performances, symbols, drawings, designs, paintings, body paintings, carvings, sculptures, handicrafts, baskets, needlework, textiles, artefacts and instruments.
4. Koorie people are entitled to protect and manage the use of their cultural heritage and expression.
5. Koorie people are entitled to benefit from any activities that use their cultural heritage and expression.

6. Koorie people are entitled to government support in the protection and maintenance of their cultural heritage and expression.

Guidelines

1. The first step in the development of any school activity involving students’ active development of, or production of a replica of, a Koorie cultural expression must be consultation with the Traditional Owners or Custodians of the land on which the school stands.
2. The Traditional Owners or Custodians remain the owners of the Indigenous cultural and intellectual property (ICIP) rights used in the activity, and should be acknowledged as such in any published materials relating to the activity.
3. The activity must not damage Koorie, and more broadly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, cultural integrity.

(Department of Education and Training, 2022) 

Welcome to Country & Acknowledgement of Country

There are two distinct cultural protocols:

• Welcome to Country - can only be made by an Aboriginal Traditional Custodian of the country or land upon which the welcome is made. It is a statement of welcome.
• Acknowledgement of Country - can be made by someone (Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal) who is not a Traditional Custodian of the country or land upon which the statement is made. It is a statement of recognition.

Visit the University's Welcome to Country / Acknowledgement of Country page for more information.

Using Images of Deceased People 

In some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities, hearing recordings, seeing images, or using the names of deceased persons may distress and potentially offend against strongly held cultural prohibitions (AIATSIS, 2022).

Where images, recordings or names of deceased Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander persons have been used it is appropriate to provide a cultural sensitivity warning similar to the following:

“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are advised that the following [presentation, information, article] may contain/contains images, names and voices of people who have died”.

It is necessary that cultural sensitivities are recognised and respected at all times. If it is known that a family or community have expressed their wishes in regards to a deceased member it is important this is respected.

References

Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies. (2022a). Cultural sensitivity. https://aiatsis.gov.au/cultural-sensitivity

Department of Education and Training (2022). Teaching Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture. Victorian Government. https://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/teachers/teachingresources/multicultural/Pages/koorieculture.aspx