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First Australians – Episode 4, No Other Law (2008)

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clip ‘My father used to spear emus’

Original classification rating: PG. This clip chosen to be PG

Clip description

The experience of Tjalkabotta seeing white people for the first time is told through interviews with author Peter Vallee and readings of diary excerpts. In this way, Tjalkabotta recounts his life as a child before white occupation of his country. His impressions of the first buildings on the mission at Hermannsburg are of wonder at the technology. His grand niece, Mavis Malbunka of the Western Arrernte Nation, recalls her knowledge of these events.

Curator’s notes

by Sophia Sambono

Tjalkabotta’s story is a notable illustration of the way the series discusses broader subjects and events through the experiences of individual people. This clip shows how the Arrernte community went from having a simple yet rich culture to a structured, modest and mission-reliant life. Regardless of their choice in the matter, it’s a great example of the remarkable adaptability of Aboriginal people, even in the way they modified their language to describe the newcomers.

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australianscreen is produced by the National Film and Sound Archive. By using the website you agree to comply with the terms and conditions described elsewhere on this site. The NFSA may amend the 'Conditions of Use’ from time to time without notice.

All materials on the site, including but not limited to text, video clips, audio clips, designs, logos, illustrations and still images, are protected by the Copyright Laws of Australia and international conventions.

When you access australianscreen you agree that:

  • You may retrieve materials for information only.
  • You may download materials for your personal use or for non-commercial educational purposes, but you must not publish them elsewhere or redistribute clips in any way.
  • You may embed the clip for non-commercial educational purposes including for use on a school intranet site or a school resource catalogue.
  • The National Film and Sound Archive’s permission must be sought to amend any information in the materials, unless otherwise stated in notices throughout the Site.

All other rights reserved.

ANY UNAUTHORISED USE OF MATERIAL ON THIS SITE MAY RESULT IN CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LIABILITY.

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