Australian
Screen

an NFSA website

Representation in the media

The following clips have teachers’ notes related to this topic:

Swamp canoes

from the documentary The Balanda and the Bark Canoes (PG)

Rolf de Heer oversees the construction of swamp canoes that will be used in the film Ten Canoes (2006).

For the future

from the documentary The Balanda and the Bark Canoes (PG)

Against a backdrop of images of the Ramingining community, director Rolf de Heer talks about the unexpected problems in casting Ten Canoes (2006). The kinship laws are so complex that the final choice of cast …

‘Have you ever met an Aboriginal [person]?’

from the documentary Blood Brothers – Freedom Ride (PG)

Black-and-white historical interview footage gets the response of white folk to Aboriginal people. The footage, shot on city streets, and in homes of white folk, reveals how they view Aboriginal people.

Creating a revolution

from the documentary Blood Brothers – Freedom Ride (PG)

Historical footage of Dr Perkins at Sydney University, in the pool halls. Dr Perkins speaks of why segregation must be challenged, and the need for him to fight for the cause of his people.

Out of the darkness

from the documentary Blood Brothers – Jardiwarnpa (PG)

A dancer emerges from the darkness, entering the glow of the ceremonial fire. He moves deliberately, then kneeling by the fire, shakes his shoulders. He takes brushes from the fire, and scatters the embers over …

Trans-Australian Railway

from the documentary The Golden West (G)

A stationary train sits on the tracks while workers carry out maintenance. Intertitles and a map show the route across the Nullarbor, followed by shots of sparsely occupied landscape. From on board the train, Alma …

‘I’m a black Australian’

from the short film Green Bush (PG)

Kenny puts on a cassette tape. He moves through the radio station to the sound of the music. It is a speech by Gary Foley with music playing in the background. Kenny pauses to sing …

Walkabout

from the documentary Gulpilil: One Red Blood (PG)

After a screening of [[Walkabout]] (1971) in a cinema, David is speaking to fans at the cinema. Interviews with Justine Saunders, Gary Foley, Professor Marcia Langton and David Stratton give background information to both Indigenous …

Jedda dreaming again

from the feature film Jedda (PG)

Jedda (Ngarla Kunoth), sitting by an open window, gazes out dreamily. Her adoptive mother (Betty Suttor), eventually comes to stand by her side. Jedda tells her of her desire to go walkabout, to be with …

Survivor

from the documentary Jimmy Little's Gentle Journey (G)

Historical footage of Jimmy Little. Jimmy’s daughter Frances Peters-Little talks about her father, and how their shared passion for music ensured a great family bond. Russell Taylor talks about Jimmy Little overcoming stereotypes.

Long-grassers

from the television program Message Stick – The Long-grassers (G)

Archival images of long-grassers are juxtaposed with contemporary images of homeless Aboriginal people. We also meet an Aboriginal man from Bathurst Island who, for his own reasons, lives as a long-grasser in Darwin.

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