Teaching First Peoples Histories, Reflection and Editorial

Indigenous knowledge holders across Australia provide accounts of Cook’s encounters that contrast with the journals of those who sailed on board the Endeavour.

Often we only have one side of the story, but additional sources of evidence allow us to infer the perspectives of Australia’s First Nations peoples when they encountered early explorers like Matthew Flinders and William Dampier.

Some evidence-based recommendations can help overcome ‘epistemic inertia’ when it comes to learning about, interrogating and integrating First Nations content.

Frontier conflict is a significant part of Australian history, with profound impacts on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. How should you teach such a sensitive topic?

Wikipedia’s representation of Australian places tends to delegitimise Australia’s First Nations history through a very particular application of its rules by its editors.

A Ngarigo Elder and a History teacher discuss the collaboration that took place when they developed an engaging and authentic unit on Australia’s deep time history.

The study of deep time history in Year 7 is an opportunity to make learning more meaningful through place-based learning.

Two teachers discuss the approaches they have adopted when developing a Deep Time unit.

While history is complex, understanding our positionality and its relationship to the discipline is even more so. This yarn looks at three different personal and disciplinary perspectives on Australian Indigenous history.

While prominent academics at the University of Melbourne were proponents of the worst excesses of race science, steps have been taken to support Indigenous students and communities.

Eight principles for teaching Australia’s Frontier Wars are re-evaluated in the aftermath of the Voice referendum and the emergence of artificial intelligence.

Ditch deficit narratives with ready-to-use strategies that centre First Nations voices, spotlight resilience, and teach Australian history with accuracy, respect and rigour.

A simple advertisement for lamb perpetuates colonial mythologies, but critical engagement can help students to engage with historical truth-telling.

Lake Mungo’s ancient footprints offer a relatable way for students to appreciate continuing Aboriginal culture from deep time to today.

A unit comparing Australia’s Indigenous civil rights movement with the United States also allows students to consider changes in modern Australian society as a whole.

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