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Indigenous Resources

Videos and Films

Australian Rules
Australian Rules is the story of 16-year-old Gary Black - average football player, budding wordsmith and reluctant hero. Gary helps his local Australian Rules football team win the local championship by accident, but celebrations turn to violence when Gary's Aboriginal best friend, Dumby Red, is denied the "Best and Fairest" medal because of the racism of local officials. In a night when the town's racial tensions boil over, Dumby Red is shot and killed and Gary becomes entangled in a conflict with his fellow townspeople, including his father. Australian Rules is the story of the bravery of one young man in a town ready to explode.

Yolngu Boy http://www.yolnguboy.com/directory/htm/index.html

Yolngu Boy is a landmark in Australian filmmaking and an excellent educational resource for teachers of Australian History, Cultural Studies, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, SOSE, English, Personal Development and Media Studies. Yolngu Boy is about the search for identity, making the journey from adolescence to adulthood and the implications of belonging to a larger social group, whether it be a culture, a family or a group of friends.

Caught in a collision between the modern world of rap, football, street red and the oldest living culture on earth, Lorrpu, Botj and Milika are three Yolngu teenagers who once shared a childhood dream of becoming great hunters together. But things have changed and their paths are diverging. Botj is walking on the wild side, a lost soul in search of a place to belong. Milika is more interested in football and girls than any of the traditional knowledge he is being taught. Only Lorrpu seems to care about the dream any more. Their paths are diverging, and he is the only one who can see it.

When Botj goes too far and finds himself on the wrong side of both black and white law, Lorrpu must weigh up he own future against saving his friend. He persuades the boys to trek to Darwin to argue Botj's case with Dawu, a tribal leader. Leaving behind their community, they journey through the unforgiving wilderness of northeast Arnhem Land to Darwin. To survive, Lorrpu, Milika and Botj must draw on the ancient bush knowledge they were taught as boys and most importantly, the bonds of their friendship.

A Study Guide for Teachers has been developed and includes Learning Activities for Upper Secondary students. Key Themes discussed in this Study Guide include: Rites of Passage and Personal Growth; The Search For Identity; Friendship; Rules, Rights and Responsibilities; and Culture.

To receive an order form contact:
Australian Children's Television Foundation
3rd Floor, 145 Smith Street, Fitzroy, Victoria 3065
Tel: (03) 9419 8800 Fax: (03) 9419 0660
Email: info@actf.com.au Website: www.atf.com.au

Rabbit Proof Fence - Set in 1930's in outback Australia. Three young Aboriginal girls - sisters Molly and Daisy and their cousin Gracie are snatched from their mothers' arms in Jigalong, Western Australia and sent to a remote settlement at Moore River. 1500 miles away from home, distanced from their mothers and forced to adapt to a strange new world, the girls attempt the impossible and embark on a daring escape.

There is an article on the 'Rabbit Proof Fence' that looks at the question of 'Intent' in history in 'ozhistorybites', a regularly updated online journal with specially written history articles for teachers and students. This is part of the National Centre for History Education's website for the Commonwealth History project and can be found at: http://www.hyperhistory.org/site/index14.php?option=displaypage&Itemid=322&op=page&SubMenu=

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