3. Cross-curriculum
priorities in the ACARA History: Sustainability
Our country is trapped in its genocidal history. Henry Reynolds
estimates that, between 1788 and 1920, 20,000 Aboriginal people fell defending
their land in an ongoing war against the invaders. The Indigenous population
dropped from 300,000 at the time of the invasion to 70,000 130 years later.
They died of disease, but they also died as a result of the consequences that
flow from genocide and dispossession in poverty, alienation, loss of social
structure, alcoholism, racism, lack of food, and stolen generations.
In the ACARA History
curriculum label: Sustainability as:
a priority that provides a context for developing students’ historical
knowledge, understanding and skills. It assists students in understanding the
forces that influence continuity and change and supports the development of
students’ world views, particularly in relation to judgments about past social
and economic systems, and access to and use of the Earth’s resources. It
provides opportunities for students to develop an historical perspective on
sustainability. Making decisions about sustainability to help shape a better
future requires an understanding of how the past relates to the present, and
needs to be informed by historical trends and experiences.
Genocide against Aboriginal people is one subject that is through
the history of Australia for over 200 years and now the failure to acknowledge
that genocide is ongoing.
The myth of Australia Day – The 26th January Australia is
not sustainable it has some myth that white people settling here was some sort
of peacefully arrival. It reflects white Australia's amnesia about the invasion
and its consequences. Aborigines were not passive victims of the white
invasion.
“Ninety percent of people are saying Australia day should be
inclusive of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. I firmly believe
that someday we will choose a date that is a compressive and inclusive date for
all Australians”
The 26th January is a day of mourning not celebration
for the Australian aborigine community.
I have found another addition to my summary of
sustainability between white Australia and aborigines, Summarised in a
Midnight Oil song “Beds are
Burning”
“The
time has come
To say fair's fair
To pay the rent
To pay our share
The time has come
A fact's a fact
It belongs to them
Let's give it back”
To say fair's fair
To pay the rent
To pay our share
The time has come
A fact's a fact
It belongs to them
Let's give it back”
The war against Aborigines, is described as genocide, it has
essentially alienated Aboriginal people from their land, their identity, their
culture and themselves. Statistics show life expectancy has a shocking 20 year gap between Aboriginal and
non-Aboriginal Australians. This is reported due
to the indigenous people suffering poverty, poor nutrition, poor housing,
disposition of tradition land, low education, high unemployment, hidden racism
and inability to address aboriginal problems. Aboriginal Australians on average
barely reach the age of 60.
Is the 26th January a “Happy
Australia Day” of celebration, historically sustainable or is it “a day of mourning”? When you look at the lithograph by Albert Scott Broad
(1854-1929). I do not think for one minute Aboriginals have a lot they wish to
celebrate about White Australia’s arrival on this land.
References
ACARA, (2012) Australian National
Curriculum, Taken on the 24 May, 2013 http://www.acara. edu.au/curriculum.html
Australian Government (2013) Australian Indigenous health
Department of Health and ageing taken on
the 19 May 2013 http://www.healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au/health-facts/overviews/the-context-of-indigenous-health
Barry, D. (2008) Wolly Days:
Vita Roma La Dolcetaken on the 19 May 2013. http://nebuchadnezzarwoollyd.
blogspot.com.au/search/label/Bennelong
Cope, D (2011) Day of Deity,
Wordpress taken on the 19 May, 2013.
http://www.onthisdeity.com/26th-january-1788-%E2%80%93-australias-first-fleet/
National Museum (2008)
Investigating the Change and rights and freedom of indigenous Australians
1957-1975 taken on the 19 May 2013 http://www.nma.gov.au/__
data/assets/pdf_file/0018/19440 /Indigenous_rights_freedoms-all-BW.pdf
Passant, J. (2013) Revolutionary reflections on this world of ours.
En Passant Word press http://enpassant.com.au
/2013/04/25/lest-we-forget-the-war-against-aborigines-has-never- ended http://www.nma.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/
Youtube clip (2013) Midnight
Oil: Beads are burning taken on
the 19 May 2013 https://www.youtube.com /watch?v=ejorQVy3m8E
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