Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and cultural literacy

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples belong to some of the oldest continuing cultures in the world. Although a common perception is that there is one Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, it is important to understand that there are many cultures, characterised by their complexity and diversity. Indigenous cultural literacy involves an understanding of and appreciation for Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge, and peoples, and valuing their unique contribution to an inclusive Australian identity (Anning, 2010).

The Share Our Pride website from Reconciliation Australia offers the following quick tips as "starting points for building relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people":

• 'Get to know us'
• Attend local events
• Visit Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and leaders
• Link to the 'grapevine'
• Begin with a relationship of trust

You can find much information about understanding and working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the Internet. Two recommended websites are:

• Interactive Ochre (opens in a new window): An interactive website that will help you to learn about and work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and peoples.
• Share Our Pride (opens in a new window): The aim of this website is to help your understanding of life from an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspective.

References

Anning, B. (2010). Embedding an Indigenous Graduate Attribute into University of Western Sydney's courses. The Australian Journal of Indigenous Education, 39(Supplementary), 40-52. doi: 10.1375/S1326011100001125