Book review: Meerreeng-an: Here is My Country, edited by Chris Keeler and Vicki Couzens

Most of the stuff that lands in my pigeonhole at work is either administrivia or wasteful paper catalogues for the library, but every now and again there’s a bit of treasure.

So it is with Meerreeng-an: Here is My Country, The Story of Aboriginal Victoria Told Through Art.  It is stunningly gorgeous and every school in Victoria has been lucky enough to receive one.

The Story Cycle is arranged in nine themes arranged to explain central cultural concepts.  There are stories and artworks showcasing

• Koorie Creation myths;
• the transmission of culture and law;
• ceremonies, music and dance;
• cloaks, clothing and jewellery, and
• land management, foods, fishing, hunting, weapons and tools

The experience of invasion and conflict is also explored, and resilience is celebrated in the sections about culture and identity, country and kin.

The book has numerous examples of artworks matched with stories which explain Aboriginal culture and beliefs to non-indigenous Australians like me, but for copyright reaseons I’m not able to share the artwork here.  However you can see some of it at Culture Victoria and there is also a video that shows how a kangaroo tooth necklace was made.  Click these links to get an idea of the contents:

• The Time of Chaos told by Carolyn Briggs and Bunjil the Eagle created by Mandy Nicholson.  This is the creation story that explains how plains along the southern coast of Victoria were inundated to form Port Phillip Bay.  In the book this is also matched with a beautiful kangaroo skin cloak created by Mandy Nicholson.  It is painted to form a map of Port Phillip Bay and all the rivers that flow into it.  Every Melbourne schoolkid should know this story and the role of Bunjil the Eagle who resolved conflict between two warring nations and is the protector of our city.
• How the Murray River Was Made told by Irene Thomas and Snake and Water-lilies created by Ralph Nichollas is another creation story.
• The Possum Skin Cloak designed by Wally Cooper isn’t just gorgeous, it’s also symbolic of the warmth and the safety of belonging and of knowing who you are.
• The Eel Pot created by Doris Paton represents food cycles – hunting and gathering bush tucker.
• Rachel Mullett’s painting ‘Metung’ and poem will touch your heart.

This is a fabulous resource for schools, (and invaluable for the Aboriginal Culture and History Cross-Curriculum Priority in the new Australian Curriculum, but it’s also essential reading for anyone interested in Aboriginal art and culture.

Cross-posted at ANZ LitLovers.

© Lisa Hill

Title: MEERREENG-AN HERE IS MY COUNTRY: The Story of Aboriginal Victoria Told Through Art
Edited by Chris Keeler and Vicki Couzens
Publisher: Koorie Heritage Trust, Melbourne, 2010
ISBN 978-0-9807863-0-9 (Paperback) ISBN 978-0-9807863-1-6 (Hardback); 256 pp, full colour

You can buy it from the Koorie Heritage Trust RRP $49.95 soft cover; $79.95 hardback

Introducing AusVELS

This week I ‘attended’ an online PD which introduced the new portal for Victorian teachers to access the hybrid Australian Curriculum/VELS.

I’ve made a powerpoint to introduce it to staff at my school.

Introducing AusVELS V2

Feel free to download and use it, but please acknowledge its source AND the date that’s on it, and add a comment below so that I know whether you find it useful and would like more of this type of resource.

PS Thanks to Dr Craig Smith from VCAA for his helpful advice about amendments to the PPT – if you downloaded this prior to November 22, delete that one and replace it with the latest version.