Cirrus@Austlit

'The First Peoples lived through the Ice Ages in Australia. They saw many changes in the climate and land surface. There were flood stories that were part of the natural warming of the Earth. This is a reader where science confirms legends.'  (Publication summary)

'The creation beliefs of the First Peoples are introduced in this reader. Totems as part of the spiritual beliefs is also outlined.' (Publication summary)

'The long tradition of oral history amongst Australia's Indigenous peoples shows tens of thousands of years of a culture built on the foundation of storytelling. In modern Australia, Indigenous stories can be told through dance, theatre, song, film, and television. This book looks at the history of Indigenous performing arts, as well as some of the noteworthy figures of these different artistic areas. Aboriginal peoples are famous for their broad range of performing arts talents. This comprehensive teacher resource covers all area of historical cultural arts aspects and the modern. It is divided into sections of music and dance including historical examples, processes and styles, evolving forms, modern examples and Aboriginal musicians today.' (TROVE)

'Prior to European colonisation, there were as many as 600 Indigenous languages present in Australia. Many languages have since been lost due to the displacement and massacre of many Indigenous people. This book looks at the origins of Australia's Indigenous languages, their usage today, and the formation of Creole languages in recent times. There was not an Aboriginal language but a continent of languages and dialects. The actual number is in the hundreds but today there are still distinguishing words that separate the peoples of the continent. This comprehensive teacher resource covers the following: - Background to Language – Communication - what is it? – Communication - the development of society and culture by means of communicating – Communication - the importance of language forms. - Language – The importance of language and its effect on people and culture – Historical aspects of aboriginal languages – The commonality and differences of aboriginal languages – Differences and isolation causing unique languages to form – Examples of aboriginal languages. - Colonising and Aboriginal Languages – Outcomes of moving aboriginal peoples – The imposition of English as the means of communication – The use of Aboriginal words in the English vocabulary – Aboriginal place names. - Modern Aboriginal Languages – Creole and its development – The maintenance of Aboriginal languages. A fascinating look and introduction to a comprehensive aspect of Aboriginal culture and identification. By studying this teacher resource students will have a better understanding of not only the Aboriginal but their language roots. ' (Source: TROVE)

'The myths of Australia's Aboriginal peoples are many thousands of years old, with the Rainbow Serpent being the oldest continuous spiritual belief in the world. The Dreaming ties together most aspects of Aboriginal spirituality. This books looks at the formation and meaning of these stories, offering examples from 'public' Dreaming stories where suitable. Aboriginal peoples have an exhaustive history which is retold in the form of legends, myths and part of their belief systems. A country with many peoples developed over more than 50,000 years a series of stories to explain the natural phenomena, the changing climate, the natural world of plants and animals. The spiritual realm of spirit beings was also comprehensively explained in their belief systems. This teacher resource reviews and gives lessons in all of the areas below to comprehensively introduce and discuss this fascinating part of the aboriginal culture. Areas covered include the following, Understanding why Myths and Legends occur, Myths and legends from around the world - other parts of the world and the Aboriginal peoples' patterns of stories and beliefs, Importance of Myths and Legends in Indigenous Societies, Social cohesions, General topics of myths etc - examples from various tribes. Creation Themes - list of key words, How did the themes develop and differ between people/​tribes and changes through time? Nature themes, Cultural stories - examples, Myth and legends - stories examples, Folklore and stories. Sacred Myths and Customs, Totems and birth signs, Songlines - chant of place, creation and making sense of the world and cosmos. Effects of Colonisation, Modern religions and effects - Aboriginal people today and their beliefs and religions, Dissolution and loss of tribal identity.' (Source: TROVE)