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History and culture
History and culture
History and timeline
The Orb is a collection of online resources of Tasmanian Aboriginal histories and cultures. The Orb has been developed by Aboriginal Education Services, Department of Education, Tasmania.
Connection to country
The land links all aspects of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people's being - spirituality, culture, language, family, law and identity. While the land sustains and provides for the people, people manage and sustain the land. The intimate knowledge of a place forms this strong connection to country and is important for the wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Listen to the Tasmanian Aboriginal community & the importance of Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area for their culture in this video.
The Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service and Tasmanian Aboriginal Land and Sea Council and others from the Aboriginal community have created a cultural walk located in the depths of the Tasmanian South West Wilderness, once the homeland of the Needwonnee, that explores both past and present Aboriginal culture through stories and sculpture. See the results and listen to the artists and others talk about the experience of creating the Needwonnee Walk, together.
Ask Away!
The Ask Away! videos share the experiences and ideas of 13 Tasmanian Aboriginal people from across lutruwita/Tasmania. The videos were also made by Tasmanian Aboriginal filmmakers. The videos were designed as a learning tool for Department of Health staff.
View the Ask Away! videos and discussion guide
Language
palawa kani ‘Tasmanian Aborigines speak’, is the language spoken by Aboriginal people in lutruwita (Tasmania) today.
Learn more on the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre website
Learning palawa kani
There aren’t enough words recorded of the original languages to rebuild any one of them exactly as it was. Over the past 20 years, palawa kani has been rebuilt by combining words retrieved from as many of the original languages as possible. Watch this video to understand why it is important to respect the reconstruction of this language.
This place video
"Sharing Indigenous place names honours the ancestors and acknowledges the beautiful language, and the significant part of language that tells the story of country.” – Aunty Patsy Cameron.
Listen to Aunty Patsy Cameron share the importance of using dual names in this short video.
Improving cultural visibility
Improving the visibility of Tasmanian Aboriginal culture within our mainstream health services helps to create a safe environment. Creating a welcoming environment that makes Aboriginal people feel safe is important. They may be more likely to identify as Aboriginal and share any particular requirements they might have.
Below is a short list of ideas that can be used to create welcoming environments in Tasmanian healthcare services.
Examples of how you can help to create a welcoming environment
- Display information about why its important for all patients to be asked if they are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin when information is collected for admission or registration.
- Exhibit Tasmanian Aboriginal artwork, cultural displays and Acknowledgement of Country plaques. Engage with Tasmanian Aboriginal artists to create artwork for health facilities and include Aboriginal themes on cubicle curtains in hospitals.
- Show health promotion posters and brochures featuring local Aboriginal people and Aboriginal imagery.
- Fly the Aboriginal flag, or have it displayed in waiting areas and clinician rooms.
- Purchasing subscriptions to the national fortnightly newspaper, the Koori Mail, for staff and patients. Include Aboriginal books, kids toys and pictures in waiting rooms.
- Playing Tasmanian Aboriginal music in waiting rooms. Consider Aboriginal artists such as Isaiah Firebrace, Dewayne Everettsmith, Archie Roach, Jessica Mauboy, Jimmy Little and Dr G Yunupingu.
See the Improving Aboriginal Cultural Respect Across Tasmania's Health System Action Plan 2020-2026 for more ideas.
