WEEK+6+-+My+Story,+My+Voice

='THE OTHER' SPEAKS - MY STORY=

This week, students explore contemporary Indigenous representations of self. Students should understand:
 * the diverse nature of Indigenous peoples and expression (challenging fixed notions of "the other")
 * some of the challenges of self definition/ identity today
 * the challenges of writing in English
 * the ways in which Standard English has been adapted to challenge and define
 * some of the qualities of Indigenous literature

"We, Aboriginal people, come from an oral tradition, where our legends, and laws, were handed down by word of mouth, from generation to generation, it is we, who have always had to conform to the standards of those invaded, learn the Queen's English, so us Mob can write our stories so you Mob can comprehend what we are on about."

Ruby Langford Ginibi in Dhuuluu Yala

Dr Anita Heiss argues that much of the work being penned by Aboriginal writers as present can be categorised as "rewriting history". Poetry and autobiography have been very successful forms for Aboriginal writers because through these forms, the writer can tell his/ her own story.

"...the writing of our stories, our biographies and our autobiographies are our documentation of our histories and stories...for too long we have had other people defining and telling us who we are"

Ruby Langford Ginibi in Dhuuluu Yala


 * WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF VOICES AND EXPERIENCES OF BEING INDIGENOUS IN THE TEXTS BELOW?**
 * HOW DO THESE TEXTS CHALLENGE THE STEREOTYPES DISCUSSED IN WEEK 3?**

FOCUS QUESTIONS
 * How can stories be used as a vehicle for expression?
 * What are some of the issues/ concerns expressed in Indigenous texts?
 * How do the texts highlight the diversity of Indigenous experiences?
 * How has the language of protest been used as a vehicle of expression by the Indigene?
 * What is Aboriginal English?
 * What are some of the differences between Aboriginal English and Standard English?
 * Does Indigenous Literature have a typical style?

RESOURCES & ACTIVITIES How do myths and legends influence the lives of Indigenous people today? 1. //Whale Rider,// Niki Caro 2. Extracts from //The Binna Binna man// and //My Girragundji// from [|Meme McDonald's] website. 3. [|Ten Canoes] Rolf De Heer and the people of Ramingin 4. Website //[|Share Our pride] -// 'Beyond the myths' - (Click on 'The Basics' to bust some myths)
 * Power of myth**

Why do you think so many Indigenous writers choose to write in a very personal way about topics such as racism? What would be the effect of Oodgeroo choosing instead to write generally about racism? 1. Oodgeroo Noonuccal, [|Son of Mine] 2. [|This child, Zita] from //Beyond Sorry// on Australian Screen Why are documentaries like //Beyond Sorry// so important? 3. Tony Birch, //The True History of Beruk// 4. ABC Radio National's documentary [|The Writers Train] (shows diversity of Aboriginal experiences, hybridity, challenges of being an urban Aborigine, non linear, mixes extracts from colonial texts such as //We of the Never, Never//)
 * Personal stories/ conversational style**

How do the characters of the Indigenous texts conceptualise experience differently? Excerpt from [|Maybe Tomorrow] on Meme McDonald's site Excerpt from [|Njunjul- the sun] on Meme McDonald's site
 * A different logic- indigenous literature**

1. Kill to Eat, a short story by Oodgeroo Noonuccal in //Best Ever Stories// 2. Excerpt from [|Maybe Tomorrow] on Meme McDonald's site. 3. [|Beyond Sorry, clip 3], on Australian Screen Education
 * The Individual as a member of a group or community/ human and non-human animals**

Kill to Eat, by Oodgeroo Noonuccal (short story)
 * Aboriginal lore**

Kev Carmody's song "Thou shalt not steal" and the [|Australian Screen Education] clip with background to the song Oodgeroo Nooncuccal's "No More Boomerang" and [|The Coloured Stone's] song version of the poem. Archie Roach's [|Took the Children Away]
 * Language of Protest**

What are the differences between Standard English and Aboriginal English? Extracts from //The Binna Binna man// and //My Girragundji// from [|Meme McDonald's] website.
 * Is there an Aboriginal style? (see also Personal stories/ conversational style)**

RESOURCES > Kev Carmody's song "Thou shalt not steal" and the [|Australian Screen Education] clip with background to the song.
 * Oodgeroo Noonuccal- [|The Past]
 * ABC Radio National's documentary [|The Writers Train]
 * Tony Birch's //The True History of Beruk// in Macquarie Pen Anthology of Aboriginal Literature
 * Wole Soyinka's poem, //[|Telephone Conversation]//-
 * Jack Davis' poem, //'//Aboriginal Australia: to the others'//, Inside Black Australia////: An Anthology of Aboriginal Poetry.// Ed. Kevin Gilbert.
 * Any text by Boori Monty Prior and Meme McDonald
 * [|Beyond Sorry, clip 3], on Australian Screen Education (all three clips useful)

Some of the qualities of Indigenous Literature:
 * contribution of oral tradition, many writers how they speak, Aboriginal speech patterns in written form
 * very visual (images created through language and by using photos/ illustrations as in Boori and Meme's work)
 * repetition (creates rhythm)
 * personal, conversational style, often directly addressing the reader
 * Strong use of metaphor in Aboriginal English- humans compared to animals, the land
 * importance of memory
 * different sense of time- no beginning, middle end
 * individual as a member of a group
 * 'he' often suffices for males, females, young and old
 * How do these characters conceptualise experience differently? A different logic
 * questions using the structure of statements with rising intonation, question tag
 * colloquial language, straightforward style