RIC-0667 Aboriginal Cult 5-6

Rules and Responsibilities
Rules
The Lost Girl
(pages 89 – 90)
Indicator:
Rules and Responsibilities
Teachers Notes
Identifies that a child’s family is the first place where rules and
responsibilities are learnt.
This section aims to enhance students’ awareness of the responsibility of family
groups and explain how children learn from their family about rules and
responsibilities.
In all cultures children learn from their family. It is the first unit in which they
learn. From learning to walk and talk, to learning morals and values, the family
unit teaches children these at different stages of their lives.
To traditional Aboriginal people, children learning to behave correctly at an early
age was very important. Aboriginal children needed to learn rules and behaviours
to ensure their safety within an often harsh environment. The main means by
which Aboriginal people taught their children were stories and hands-on experiences.
Within Aboriginal societies, different family members are responsible for teaching
children rules and social behaviours. The Aboriginal family unit is often extended.
Grandparents tell the children traditional stories. In many cases there can be aunts,
uncles, grandparents as well as parents all living in the one house. Aunts and uncles
in traditional Aboriginal societies were responsible for disciplining the children.
Parents taught children values and how to behave socially.
Aboriginal people used stories to teach their children. Aboriginal children were
taught not to wander away from their family. This was important for traditional
Aboriginal people to instill into their children at an early age because of the
environment. Respect for elders and the importance of sharing were other rules
learnt by Aboriginal children.
In some Aboriginal societies, children were taught not to be cruel to anything
because they were always being watched by the Great Spirits. Another important
rule Aboriginal children were taught was not to be greedy. Gluttony meant you
were likely to get sick as a result. This also encouraged sharing among children,
which was an important custom within Aboriginal societies. There were also rules
regarding eating. For instance, before you ate a goanna, you were required to break
its tail, or it was believed you would get sick.
©R.I.C. Publications
Low Resolution Images
Display Copy
• Talk about rules and their importance.
• Tell the students that rules are used everywhere. Do they know some places
where rules are used? Accept all answers and discuss them.
• Make students aware that traditional Aboriginal people also lived by rules,
even though they were different from those we have today. They were still
necessary for the smooth running of their lives.
• You may wish to give the students the opportunity to play a quick game,
emphasising how they need to follow a set of rules.
• Discuss the worksheet ‘Rules’ with the students and complete.
• Discuss the worksheet ‘The Lost Girl’ with the students. They could offer
suggestions as to why she became lost and broke an important rule by
wandering away from her family.
88 Australian Aboriginal Culture R.I.C. Publications www.ricgroup.com.au
ISBN 978-1-86311-807-1