Indigenous Australian Music PART 1

CORE KNOWLEDGE
1. What are the three important ways we can show respect to Australian Indigenous
people and culture?
- Welcome to country for gatherings
- Warning of deceased people
- Acknowledgement and awareness of out white privilege and laws

2. What language group is the City of Melton Council in?

- The Kulin Nation
3. What do Aborigines think it means to live?
- It means to have spirituality and having connection to their culture
4. Why is music important to Indigenous people?
- It is important because it is a vital part in preserving their tribal culture
5. Is all Indigenous music traditional? Why/why not?
- No because not all music is related to the indigenous culture/tradition
CONTENT KNOWLEDGE
6. Name three indigenous Australian instruments

7. What elements make up a traditional Aboriginal Music dance?

8. Read the lyrics (BLEOW) of Archie Roach’s “Took the Children Away”

a. What significant event is the song referring to?

b. What is the song describing?

c. In your opinion, why is it important to know about Aboriginal culture?

FURTHER KNOWLEDGE
9. Read this article about Took the Children Away: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-
07-31/archie-roach-took-the-children-away-indigenous/9810730

a. Why did Archie write the song?

b. Has he written other songs about the Stolen Generations?

c. Do you think the music had an impact on Australian government?

 Teach them how to And gave us gifts to
really live" ease the pain
"Teach them how to Sent us off to foster
live, " they said homes
Humiliated them As we grew up, we felt
instead alone
Taught them that and 'Cause we were acting
taught them this white
And others taught them Yet feeling black
prejudice One sweet day all the
You took the children children came back
TOOK THE away The children came
CHILDERN AWAY The children away back
Breaking their mother's The children came
BY ARCHIE ROACH heart back
Tearing us all apart, Back where their hearts
This story's right, this took them away grow strong
story's true One dark day on Back where they all
I would not tell lies to Framingham belong
you Came and didn't give a The children came
Like the promises, they damn back
did not keep My mother cried, "Go Said the children came
And how they fenced get their dad" back
us in like sheep He came running, The children came
Said to us, "Come, take fighting mad back
our hand" Mother's tears were Back where they
Set us up on mission falling down understand
land And Dad shaped up Back to their mother's
Taught us to read, to and stood his ground land
write and pray He said, "You touch my The children came
Then they took the kids and you fight me" back
children away And they took us from Back to their mother
Took the children away our family Back to their father
The children away Took us away Back to their sister
Snatched from their They took us away Back to their brother
mother's breast Snatched from our Back to their people
Said, "This is for the mother's breast Back to their land
best, " took them away Said, "This is for the All the children came
The welfare and the best, " took them away back
policeman Told us what to do and The children came
Said, "You've got to say back
understand Taught us all the white The children came
We'll give to them what man's ways back
you can't give Then they split us up Yes I came back
again