James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2023

IA1011 - Indigenous Australians

Subject Description

This subject focuses on the continuity of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, knowledge and traditions across time and place. It explores Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples' traditional understanding of their place in the world. Students will have opportunities to develop awareness of how traditional knowledge, forms of social organisation and cultural practices continue to shape contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge, cultural practices and priorities. As the gateway subject to the Indigenous Studies major, this subject aims to provide introductory insights into the diverse and complex traditional knowledge and social systems, as the basis from which to understand the experience of colonisation and the contemporary priorities of Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander people, in Level 2 & 3 subjects. This is a first year subject.

There are additional charges for this subject; please contact the Academy Division for details.

Learning Outcomes

• acknowledge and describe the continuing presence of older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge and traditions in Australia
• analyse relationships between people and place for the production and organisation of knowledge, language, and cultural practices and values
• investigate, describe and evaluate sources of examples of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge, language, cultural practices and technologies
• describe and analyse examples of the continuing value of traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge in contemporary Australia

Subject Assessment

• Written > Test/Quiz 1 - (10%) - Individual
• Participation > Class participation - (20%) - Individual
• Written > Annotated bibliography - (30%) - Individual
• Performance/Practice/Product > Portfolio - (40%) - Individual

Note that minor variations might occur due to the continuous subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.

Assumed Knowledge:  N/A

Corequisites:  NIL

Availabilities