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First Nations Art Stories

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First Nations Art Stories

First Nations peoples include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, with many different Nations, languages and art practices. Read the story carefully. There can be more than one thoughtful answer to questions about art.

A bush regeneration day

During a bush regeneration day, Lachlan, Omar and Cooper help care for a patch of native plants. A local Aboriginal artist, Aunty Jean, visits with permission from her community to talk about her own art practice. She explains that First Nations art is not all the same: art can reflect a particular Country, family, community and artist. Some artists use marks, colours or images to share stories and knowledge. The meanings belong to the artist and community, so visitors should not guess what a symbol means. Aunty Jean says she asks permission before sharing some stories, and some knowledge is not for everyone to see. She uses earthy colours in her own work to remember the plants and soil of her Country. The children listen, ask respectful questions and notice how art can help people care for places and remember connections.

Read and think

1.Who visits the bush regeneration day, and what does she share with the children?

2.True or false? All First Nations artists use the same styles and symbols.

TrueFalse

3.Choose two things Aunty Jean says art can help people do.

Remember connections to places
Share stories and knowledge
Know what every symbol means without asking
Make every community's art look the same

4.Fill the blanks: The meanings of marks and symbols belong to the artist and their . Visitors should ask rather than guess.

5.Why might an artist choose colours that remind them of plants and soil?

6.Omar wonders what one of Aunty Jean’s marks means. What is a respectful thing Omar could do?

7.Match each idea from the story to the best description.

Permission
Country
Community

A deep connection to place, including land, waters, people and culture
People connected through relationships and shared life
Asking before sharing or using something

8.Lachlan wants to make a picture about caring for the bush. Which is the most respectful plan?

Copy a symbol from an artwork without asking
Invent his own symbols and explain what they mean
Say his picture shows what all First Nations people believe

9.Create an original symbol for caring for a place. Do not copy First Nations designs or symbols. Draw your own idea, then explain what it stands for.

Draw your own symbol here. Make it about caring for a place, and do not copy First Nations designs.