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Introductory notes for readers of this thesis - Theses - Flinders ...

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The film Kanyini demonstrates the contrasting desolate scenes <strong>of</strong> Australian Aboriginalcommunities ravaged by the effects <strong>of</strong> hopelessness, petrol-sniffing and alcohol abuse.Paradise is lost; Eden is <strong>for</strong>ever disrupted.Randall draws his narrative to a close by suggesting that it’s time <strong>for</strong> the two cultures tolearn from each other in a mutuality <strong>of</strong> giving and receiving. He <strong>notes</strong> the reality thatthere is no going back <strong>for</strong> his people. They need specific help from the Europeans to learnthe ways in which the new system works so that they can begin to make it work <strong>for</strong> theirbenefit. He also suggests that there is so much that Europeans could learn from his peopleabout living closely to the things that really matter and about sustainable lifestyles. One<strong>of</strong> the statements on the back cover <strong>of</strong> the DVD version <strong>of</strong> the film provides the mostfitting footnote summary <strong>of</strong> the essential meaning <strong>of</strong> <strong>this</strong> story: a ‘tale <strong>of</strong> Indigenouswisdom clashing against materialist notions <strong>of</strong> progress. Kanyini is not only a story <strong>of</strong>one man and his people but <strong>of</strong> the human race’ 56 .The Kanyini study guide produced by the Australian Teachers <strong>of</strong> Media seems to havecompletely missed <strong>this</strong> final point. The weight <strong>of</strong> the focus <strong>of</strong> the study questions seemsto be on understanding the historical context and thinking about the plight <strong>of</strong> theAustralian Aboriginal people, rather than focusing on what the mainstream culture maylearn from the story in terms <strong>of</strong> its own beliefs and practices. This seems typical <strong>of</strong> theinability, described by Tacey, <strong>of</strong> the secular educational authorities to lead the culture inexploring and expressing spiritual meanings <strong>of</strong> existence. The study guide, <strong>for</strong> example,asks students to discuss how the loss <strong>of</strong> the four pillars <strong>of</strong> belief system, spirituality, landand family ‘has resulted in the situation many Indigenous Australians are in today’ 57 .The focus <strong>of</strong> <strong>this</strong> question raises concerns about the situation <strong>of</strong> the young mainstreamAustralian population today: research suggests that between 20% and 30% percent are56 Ibid.57 Kanyini study guide, 7.200

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