SUBJECTS: History
YEARS: 5–6, 9–10
Imagine being told not to speak your own language to your family and friends.
Even worse, imagine being told that your whole culture had vanished, when you know it has not. These challenges were faced by Aboriginal people in the 20th century.
In this clip, discover how Aunty Ida West's background and life experiences forged a her life as an activist, ambassador, and eventually a prominent Elder.
Things to think about
- 1.When you hear the word 'Elder', what sort of person do you imagine? What sort of role would you expect an Elder to play in a community, and how would you expect members of the community to act towards the Elder? Do you have any Elders in your community? If so, who are they and what role do they play?
- 2.What does Aunty Ida say, and what is said about her, during this clip to suggest that she has 'two sides'? How did she use these two sides in her role as a political activist? Why might protesters have 'blamed' Aunty Ida for organising marches that she had little to do with?
- 3.In what way did Aunty Ida's early experiences at school prepare her for the life she would lead? How do you think the school children depicted in this clip might have viewed Aunty Ida, and why might she have been interested in talking to them?
- 4.Use the internet or your local library to research the life of Aunty Ida. Describe where she grew up and explain how her early life influenced the sort of person she became. Investigate Aunty Ida's role within Tasmania's Aboriginal community and how her relationship with the non-Aboriginal community changed over time.
Date of broadcast: 1 Nov 1995
Copyright
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