Abori ginal Cultur e

Aboriginal History The word "aboriginal" means "the first" or "earliest known". The aboriginals do not identify themselves as aboriginals but recognize each other based on their clan or tribe or the sub group of their language. Australia may well be the home of the worlds first people. Stone tools discovered in a quarry near Penrith, New South Wales, in 1971 show that humans lived in Australia at least twelve thousand years before they appeared in Europe.

The Aboriginal flag is divided horizontally into two equal halves of black (top) and red (bottom), with a yellow circle in the center. The black symbolizes Aboriginal people and the yellow represents the sun, the constant re-newer of life. Red depicts the earth and also represents ochre, which is used by Aboriginal people in ceremonies. Aboriginal History

It is believed that the Aborigines came over from SE Asia on canoes similar to the ones shown.

Aboriginal Music THE DIDGERIDOO A traditional wind instrument Can be played by men Used to be played for spiritual purposed Now can be played for entertainment

Aboriginal Music The Didgeridoo has a sound that is a low- pitched drone. It has a haunting and mysterious quality that draws the listener into the history, culture and the ancient dreamtime of the Aboriginal people. TRADITIONAL ABORIGINAL MUSIC The didgeridoo is commonly considered the national instrument of Aboriginal people, and it is claimed to be the world's oldest wind instrument

Aboriginal Music The bullroarer consists of a simple wooden slat, 30 to 40cm in length and 5 to 7cm wide that is whirled around in a circle on the end of a length of cord. Australia clap sticks are called bimli. These sticks are used to keep time with the playing of the didgeridoo. Traditional drum

The Dreamtime “Dreamings” are the aboriginal folk tales and myths that teach why things happen the way they do.

Aboriginal Folktales Dreamtime Stories: Australian Aborigines created stories to teach others about Dreamtime-the creation. These stories taught about life, love, marriage, hunting, gathering, warfare, and death. Storytelling, along with art, singing and dancing, was the traditional way to educate about their history, cultures, and laws. The "Dreamtime", the mythological past, was the time when spirit ancestors had travelled throughout the land, giving it its physical form, and setting down the rules to be followed by the Aboriginals. TRADITIONAL ABORIGINAL ART

Aboriginal Art Storytellers were chosen by the Elders. The Dreamtime stories are passed from Generation to generation-they are not owned. It is the responsibility of the group that has the stories to pass them on to the next generation.

Aboriginal Folktales Dreamtime symbols

Apache Indians The Apache are natives of the Southwest deserts (particularly in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas). Some Apache people were also located across the border in northern Mexico. Apache artists are famous for their fine beadwork and basketry.

Hopi Indians

Zuni

Kwakwaka'wakw numbering about 5,500, who live in British Columbia on northern Vancouver Island and the adjoining mainland and islands. The first European contact documented was in Kwakwaka'wakw arts are exemplified in totem poles, masks, wooden carvings, jewelry and woven blankets. Visual arts are defined by simplicity, realism, and artistic emphasis.

Totem poles are an ancient tradition of the Indian tribes of the Pacific Northwest Coast--Washington state in the USA, British Columbia in Canada--and some of the Athabaskan tribes of southern Alaska. Contrary to popular belief, the Southwest Indians, Plains Indians, and Inuit never carved totem poles (think of how there are no trees big enough!) Native American totem poles are not only aesthetically pleasing; they are also culturally significant to the indigenous people who made them. Native American totem poles can be a symbol of the history of a family or of the whole tribe. They can also be a record of traditions, legends, or spiritual stories. Native American totem poles are hand carved from large pieces of wood. They usually contained themes and were covered with pictures of animals. They often sat in the center of a family’s tent and if they had to be moved only a man could carry it. In other cases the poles were placed outside of the tents as a status symbol.

A totem is actually an animal guide that is assigned to an individual; a totem pole is a piece of wood that is carved with a persons totems. Native Americans tradition states a person is assigned nine animal guides that provide spiritual direction both in this life and the next.’ Among these nine is one main guardian spirit that is designated as the totem animal. This guardian can convey wisdom and direction only if a person recognizes the animal and understands how to communicate with it.

WHAT IS YOUR TOTEM ANIMAL? Similes= is a figure of speech that directly compares two things through some connective, usually "like," "as," "than," or a verb such as "resembles How can you use animals in a simile? Brave as a ___________ Sweet as a _____________ Wise as an ___________ What are some of your personality traits? What animals are they similar to?

Bark Painting Bark painting is probably the most well known Aboriginal art form but this could be done only in areas where trees with suitable bark were available. It consists of pieces of flattened bark taken from trees such as the Stringybark. The designs seen on authentic bark paintings are traditional designs that are owned by the artist, or his or her "skin", or clan, and cannot be painted by other artists.

Aboriginal Art

Aboriginal Stone Painting Aboriginal rock art is part of a tradition of painting and engraving that stretches back over 40,000 years! Many elders believe that they were created by spirits to keep records of their history.

There are a wide variety of styles of Aboriginal art. Three common types are: 1.The cross-hatch or X-ray art from the Arnhem Land region of the Northern Territory, in which the skeletons and viscera of the animals and humans portrayed are drawn inside the outline.

2.The Bradshaw, an ancient rock art which appears on caves in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. They are named after Joseph Bradshaw, who discovered them in Traditional aboriginal art is composed of organic colours and materials

3.Dot-painting where intricate patterns, totems and/or stories are created using dots; and stencil art, particular using the motif of a handprint. More simple designs of straight lines, circles and spirals, with the hello of Australian Aborigines. These are thought to be the origins of "modern" Aboriginal Art.

Aboriginal Art The Story of Dot Painting The indigenous people of Australia, or Aborigines, use dot painting as a form of storytelling. With dots of paint traditionally made from natural pigments, they create patterns and images of plants and animals that represent their culture's creation myths, which date back tens of thousands of years.

More dots!

How are these formed? Lines? Dots?

Time for ART MAKING!