This document provides information about a Geyami spear shield artefact from Indigenous Australians located south of the Murray River in Victoria. It describes the artefact's materials, construction using an possum jawbone to engrave designs, and cultural meaning as a symbol of strength, pride and cultural identity for warriors. The document also discusses how studying this artefact can help primary students learn about Australia's history and Indigenous culture by engaging with the artefact's cultural significance and connecting it to the Australian curriculum.
This document provides information about a Geyami spear shield artefact from Indigenous Australians located south of the Murray River in Victoria. It describes the artefact's materials, construction using an possum jawbone to engrave designs, and cultural meaning as a symbol of strength, pride and cultural identity for warriors. The document also discusses how studying this artefact can help primary students learn about Australia's history and Indigenous culture by engaging with the artefact's cultural significance and connecting it to the Australian curriculum.
This document provides information about a Geyami spear shield artefact from Indigenous Australians located south of the Murray River in Victoria. It describes the artefact's materials, construction using an possum jawbone to engrave designs, and cultural meaning as a symbol of strength, pride and cultural identity for warriors. The document also discusses how studying this artefact can help primary students learn about Australia's history and Indigenous culture by engaging with the artefact's cultural significance and connecting it to the Australian curriculum.
This document provides information about a Geyami spear shield artefact from Indigenous Australians located south of the Murray River in Victoria. It describes the artefact's materials, construction using an possum jawbone to engrave designs, and cultural meaning as a symbol of strength, pride and cultural identity for warriors. The document also discusses how studying this artefact can help primary students learn about Australia's history and Indigenous culture by engaging with the artefact's cultural significance and connecting it to the Australian curriculum.
was
used
to
engrave
the
wavy
design.
The
designs
and
incisions
were
completed
when
the
wood
was
fresh.
Ashleigh
Grech
S00129130
Artefact
(relevance
to
learning
in
the
Primary
Humanities
classroom
and
beyond)
The
Geyami
spear
shield
has
been
selected
as
the
artefact
of
focus
for
the
teaching
of
Humanities
in
the
primary
classroom.
This
artefact
is
directly
associated
with
the
historical
context
of
Australia.
Shields
were
a
conventional
form
of
protection
during
the
time
of
the
European
Settlement,
created
and
valued
amongst
Aboriginal
people
and
Torres
Strait
Islanders.
This
form
of
weaponry
was
used
to
hunt
food
supplies
and
as
a
defence
mechanism
when
conflict
arose
between
the
settlers
and
Indigenous
Australians.
Shields
are
considered
important
for
the
defence
of
clan
and
Country.
They
are
made
and
used
by
warriors,
who
take
up
this
role
with
strength
and
pride...they
convey
stories
and
declare
the
owners
totemic
connections
and
clan
affiliations
(Bunjilaka
Aboriginal
Cultural
Centre,
Melbourne
Museum,
2015).
Ultimately,
shields
are
considered
to
signify
cultural
identity.
They
encapsulate
the
beliefs,
values
and
customs
upheld
by
those
who
created
and
used
the
armour.
By
incorporating
this
cultural
totem
as
an
area
of
focus,
students
will
extend
their
knowledge
and
appreciation
for
the
diverse
Indigenous
culture.
Further,
students
will
develop
their
cultural
awareness.
This
being
said,
students
will
familiarise
themselves
with
the
traditions
and
ideals
present
in
the
Indigenous
culture.
The
underlying
custom
of
this
culture
is
to
unite
ancestors
and
other
members
of
the
clan
across
generations.
This
is
achieved
by
passing
on
values,
beliefs,
stories
and
totems,
such
as
this
spear
shield.
Members
of
the
clan
attain
a
sense
of
connectedness
by
commemorating
these
attributes
of
cultural
significance.
Links
to
relevant
AusVELS
curriculum
The
Geyami
Spear
Shield
is
a
totem
belonging
to
the
Indigenous
Australians
who
were
subject
to
mistreatment
and
discrimination
during
the
time
of
the
European
Settlement.
This
content
is
aligned
with
the
Australian
History
Curriculum,
which
is
implemented
from
years
three
to
six.
The
History
component
of
the
Humanities
curriculum
identifies
a
topic
for
each
year
level
associated
with
Historical
Knowledge
and
Understanding,
beginning
from
year
three,
these
are:
Community
and
Remembrance,
First
Contacts,
The
Australian
Colonies,
and,
Australia
as
a
Nation.
Ashleigh
Grech
S00129130
The
artefact
is
relevant
to
the
teaching
of
all
of
these
topics;
however,
this
artefact
will
be
incorporated
at
a
year
four
level
as
part
of
the
First
Contacts
area
of
study.
AusVELS
(2015)
identifies
the
diversity
and
longevity
of
Australias
first
peoples
and
the
ways
Aboriginal
and/or
Torres
Strait
Islander
peoples
are
connected
to
Country
and
Place
and
the
implications
for
their
daily
lives
(ACHHK077)
as
a
content
knowledge
and
understanding
description.
The
elaborations
of
this
descriptor
are
explicitly
associated
with
the
significance
of
the
Geyami
Spear
Shield
as
a
learning
resource.
These
refer
to
studying
totems
in
the
lives
of
Aboriginal
and/or
Torres
Strait
Islander
Peoples
and
examining
the
differences
between
their
totems,
and
understanding
their
sense
of
the
interconnectedness
of
Country/Place,
People,
Culture
and
Identity.
By
incorporating
the
Geyami
Spear
Shield
as
a
learning
resource
in
primary
Humanities,
students
have
the
opportunity
to
engage
with
the
historical
context
and
cultural
significance
of
the
totem.
They
will
examine
the
impact
of
European
exploration
and
colonisation,
and
how
these
experiences
contributed
to
change
in
society
and
cultural
diversity
(Australian
Curriculum
Assessment
and
Reporting
Authority,
2015).
Devise
a
set
of
questions
you
would
pose
to
students
about
this
artefact
to
engage
them
and
to
encourage
critical
inquiry,
and
justify
your
question
choice.
Question-to-promote-critical-inquiry
Justification
Students
will
develop
the
following
skills
References
Australian
Curriculum,
Assessment
and
Reporting
Authority
(2015).
Humanities
and
Social
Sciences
Curriculum-
History.
Retrieved
from
http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/humanities-and-social-sciences/history/curriculum/f- 10?layout=1#level4
Bunjilaka
Aboriginal
Cultural
Centre,
Melbourne
Museum.
Visited
16/4/15
Giesen,
J.
(2009).
Blooms
revised
taxonomy,
from
http://www.niu.edu/facdev/programs/handouts/blooms.shtml
Museumvictoria.com.au,.
(2015).
First
Peoples:
Bunjilaka.
Retrieved
18
April
2015,
from
http://museumvictoria.com.au/bunjilaka/visiting/first-peoples/
Victorian
Curriculum
and
Assessment
Authority
(2015)
AusVELS:
The
Humanities-
History.
Retrieved
from
http://ausvels.vcaa.vic.edu.au/The-Humanities-History/Overview/Rationale-and-Aims
Victorian
Curriculum
and
Assessment
Authority
(2015)
AusVELS
Level
4:
The
Humanities-
History.
Retrieved
from
http://ausvels.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Level4?layout=1&d=H
Wilson,
J.,
&
Wing
Jan,
L.
(2003).
Focus
on
inquiry.
Carlton,
South
Victoria:
Curriculum
Corporation.
