Hi, my name is Gabrielle and I am 10 years old. I live in South Sydney – Australia and I have three brothers. I’ve lived in different countries like India, Cambodia, France and now Australia. I live near a village called Kurnell. Kurnell is the place where the British explorer, Captain Cook first landed when he discovered Australia in 1788. When Cook discovered Australia, there were other people who were already living on the island. They are called Aboriginals and they are Australia’s first people who have lived on the continent for over 50,000 years. That’s a long time ago!
I attend an Australian public school (I am in year 5) and we learn about Aboriginals’ culture. It is very different from what I am used to. I did not even know Aboriginal people existed before I moved to Australia.
Music and dance are important to aboriginal culture. My teacher explained that in their dances, they imitate the behaviour of certain animals and they paint their bodies to call their ancestors. Aboriginals are very close to the nature: trees, rocks, rivers, mountains, stars and animals are inhabited by their ancestors’ spirits. For example, it is forbidden to cut a tree, even in your garden. For Aboriginal people, that would mean you are killing one of their ancestors’ spirit. You can be put in jail if the police catch you!
At every school event and every school assembly, we all have to sing the Australian anthem looking at the Australian and Aboriginal flags placed next to each other. The beginning of the song is in English but there is a part in Aboriginal language. I am learning it and it is fun.
I have made two drawings:
- One with the Australian flag, next to the Aboriginal flag and with my family members.
- One with the Aboriginal flag. You see it everywhere.
Drawing by Gabrielle Barrett, 10 years, living in Australia
