Introduction
For thousands of years prior to the First Fleet arriving in Australia, Indigenous Australians inhabited the land. They did not live in houses like many other people around the world, but made homes out of bark, leaves, twigs and grass. The Indigenous Australians appetite consisted of plants and animals, which they hunted and gathered themselves. In order to ensure their food supplies never ran out, the Indigenous Australians would move from place to place quite often, which allowed supplies to be naturally replenished, and only ever took the minimum amount of food required to feed their families. However, in 1788, Captain Cook, along with the First Fleet, arrived in Australia and claimed ownership of the land on behalf of Britain. The decision to claim the land was made in 1770 when Captain Cook declared Australia 'terra nullius,' which means land belonging to no one. Although Captain Cook knew that the Indigenous Australians did actually live on the land, he decided that because they did not show ownership of the land through the use of things, such as fences or markers, that Australia’s interior was empty. As a result, the Indigenous Australians lost ownership of their land and their lives changed dramatically.
Task
You will be complete a webquest in order to explore the nature of contact between the European Settlers and the Indigenous Australians during colonisation. You will also explore the various impacts that colonisation had on Indigenous Australians and their way of life.
Process
How exciting!!!!!
I am going to supply you with various questions, web pages and an answer booklet and you are going to go on a journey of discovery as you explore the nature of contact between the European settlers and Indigenous Australians during the period of colonisation. I wonder what the Indigenous Australians thought of the Europeans settlers when they first arrived on Australian land? Were they excited for these new visitors or did they feel frightened? I wonder what the Europeans thought about the way the Indigenous Australians lived? Why did Captain Cook even bring the convicts out to Australia on the First Fleet? Couldn't they have just stayed in the prisons in England? After this webquest, you will have answered many of these questions and will hopefully be able to understand both the reasons for British colonisation from the perspective of Britain, but also the effects that colonisation had on Indigenous Australians.
Good luck and have fun. I can't wait to read all your great responses!
WAIT! Please read this before you start. The booklet you have been given has space for you to add illustrations that match your responses. Please complete all the written work in your booklet before you begin adding illustrations.
Task One
Open your booklet and find the first question to be explored.
Why did Captain Cook bring the convicts out to settle in Australia?
I have provided two links that will help you explore this question.
[video:http://sydneylivingmuseums.com.au/stories/why-were-convicts-transported…]
[video:https://www.australianhistorymysteries.info/resource-zone/primary-first…]
Task Two
Turn to the second page of your booklet and answer the following question:
How do you think the Indigenous Australians felt when they saw the arrival of the First Fleet?
The following videos will help you explore this question:
[video: http://aso.gov.au/titles/documentaries/first-australians-episode-1/clip…]
Task Three
Turn to the third page of your booklet and answer the following question:
Describe some of the feelings that existed between the Indigneous Australians and the European settlers.
I have provided a few questions that you could consider when exploring their feelings towards each other.
Were the Indigenous Australians and European settlers friends during colonisation? Why/why not?
What did the Indigenous Australians and European settlers think about each other's way of life?
The following links will help you with your answers.
[video:https://youtu.be/OjN9-Rgsvr8?list=PLQ6y3qf062ehxw9T9QlotwYBUjjtkYwIe]
http://www.aboriginalheritage.org/history/history/
Task 4
How did the actions of the European settlers impact Indigenous Australians way of life and country?
The following links will help you to answer this question.
[video:https://youtu.be/d2G8SsBBkuM]
http://www.aboriginalheritage.org/history/history/