Indigenous Australia: Politics
The following clips have teachers’ notes related to this topic:
Wave Hill walkout from the documentary Blood Brothers – From Little Things Big Things Grow (PG)
Kevin Carmody and Paul Kelly discuss the song ‘From Little Things Big Things Grow’. They also discuss the Wave Hill walkout, when the Gurindji people – led by Vincent Lingiari – went on strike to get their land back from British Lord Vestey. Black-and-white footage of the actual strike is juxtaposed with the interview with Carmody and Kelly.
We Are Going from the documentary Dreamtime, Machinetime (PG)
Aerial views of Minjerriba (Stradbroke Island), and Oodgeroo Noonuccal (Kath Walker) walking along the beach with children. Oodgeroo tells us the inspiration for her poetry, and its role in personal and political resistance to white oppression.
In the beginning from the documentary The Foundation 1963–1977 (PG)
The main characters are introduced: Joyce Clague, Gary Foley, and Chicka Dixon – all were present and instrumental in the creation of The Foundation.
Blair’s marriage from the documentary Harold (PG)
Dorothy Blair recalls how she met and fell in love with Harold. Mixed race marriage was unusual in the 1950s and both families objected. Dorothy’s sister Florence Trevail expresses her views on the marriage, while Harold’s sister Meryl Thompson recalls the controversy on the Aboriginal side.
‘Send a petition to the King’ from the documentary Lousy Little Sixpence (PG)
The clip begins with historical footage of King Burraga who speaks about equal rights and justice for Aboriginal people. William Cooper, an Aboriginal elder, begins the fight for rights by having a petition signed, with the intention of delivering it to the King.
