Resources for learning about Indigenous Australia

This book is good for teaching students about some of the discrimination faced by First Nations people, and the 1967 Referendum. It is written by a non-Indigenous author and illustrated by a Wuthathi and Muralag artist. It demonstrates incidences of discrimination through the friendship of two girls, one Indigenous and one non-Indigenous. It contains photos of real people and events relating to the 1967 referendum. It has information about the discriminatory laws in the back of the book. Good for middle and upper primary classes, and as a stimulus for secondary classes.

This book is useful for teaching students about First Nations people. It is written by non-Indigenous academics and presents information and statistics about First Nations people in non-Indigenous ways and categories, while also recognising some First Nations perspectives. Good for upper primary and all secondary classes.

This book is useful for teaching about past encounters between First Nations people and individual Europeans, and imagining alternative histories for this continent. It is also useful for teaching about how we can interpret the past. It is co-written by Barunggam man Dave Hartley and non-Indigenous writer Kirsty Murray. It has 5 chapters that look at instances in history when a non-Indigenous person was stranded and taken in by First Nations people. Each chapter has a fiction section written from a First Nations perspective, and a section written from the non-Indigenous person’s perspective. It then has some factual, historical information. It has a useful introduction by the authors who explain how they work with this historical information from different perspectives. Good for middle and upper primary classes, and as a stimulus in secondary classes.

This book is good for teaching students about how First Nations people managed land, animals, plants and water to maintain food sources. It is written by Dr Bruce Pascoe who describes himself as Koorie. He uses descriptions from the journals and letters of European settler-colonisers to show that First Nations people managed resources carefully, working with the land to create thriving ecosystems. Good for middle and upper primary classes, and lower secondary classes.

This book is useful for teaching about important First Nations role models, and explaining the sense of community and connection that First Nations people have. It is written by Yorta Yorta rapper Adam Briggs and is adapted from his song ‘The Children Came Back’. It’s about famous Aboriginal people who have done something noticeable, such as activists, singers and sportspeople. It has information about the people at the back of the book. Good for early childhood classes and all primary classes.

This book is useful for teaching students about the cultures and histories of First Nations people. It is written by Yiman and Bidjara academic, Professor Marcia Langton and has chapters on history, how to think about history, languages, kinship, art practices and the future. Good for upper primary and secondary classes.

This book is useful for teaching students about living on Country in a remote First Nations community. It is written by Bardi Jaawi students who attend One Arm Point Community School, under the guidance of the Culture Team, at Ardiyooloon in Western Australia. It explains many different aspects of children’s lives including information about animals and seasons; ‘how to’ instructions such as how to make a bough shelter and how to make an earth oven; there are dreaming knowledge stories; and there are recipes such as Cod fish with pandanus nut butter and Oyster pancakes. Good for middle and upper primary classes, and lower secondary classes.

This book is good for teaching about the Uluru Statement from the Heart and why it exists. Written by Torres Strait Islander man Thomas Mayor and illustrated by Dhungatti man Blak Douglas, it explains the history of colonisation and what the Uluru Statement represents. It is about coming together to work out a better future for Australia. Good for lower and middle primary classes, and upper primary and secondary classes as a stimulus.

This book is good for learning about the impact of policy on First Nations people and the resilience of First Nations people. It is written by two Noongar writers who present a family history that is grounded in places, stories, documents, memories and strength. Good for middle and upper secondary classes.

This series of books is good for teaching students about First Nations understandings, cultures and perspectives. Each book is a collection of poems, stories, songs and artwork by First Nations people, as well as explanations and descriptions of the topic. There are anthologies on Family, Land, Law and Identity. Good for middle and upper primary classes, lower and middle secondary classes, and for stimulus in all year levels.