Introduction

INTRODUCTION

How would incorporating Indigenous issues across the curriculum promote inclusion and cultural respect?

What are Indigenous issues?

Defining perspectives What are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives? • **Perspectives are ways of seeing the world**. **Perspectives affect the way we interact with the environment and the perceptions we have about ourselves, our culture and the way we see others.** • **Personal and family experiences**, **group and religious affiliations**, linguistic understandings, media, text and visual representations, **cultural beliefs and values** all contribute to individuals’ perspectives or standpoints. • Perspectives are not limited to a particular way of viewing or experiencing the world from one specific group or cultural perspective. **Individual and collective identities contribute to the various perspectives we hold**.

In many areas, localised **Aboriginal culture is closely aligned to nature and the environment, with particular emphasis on cycles and patterns and the effect each has on the other**. It is **based on an undeniable link to the land, language and culture**.These links also affect perspectives. For example, close ties to //Country// by some Aboriginal cultural groups affect the way the land is perceived and treated; **not as a commodity or resource, but as an extension of the group and something to be nurtured**.

**In some areas, a unique localised culture and language has developed out of the historical union of many different Aboriginal groups**. Communities developed from missions, government settlement and reserves have a rich cultural heritage and tradition based on oral histories, shared beliefs and values, and individuals. These communities, therefore, may have developed a wider perspective of cultural diversity than other Indigenous communities.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people maintain cultural identity whether in urban, rural or remote locations, and engage in a range of cultural practices. For example, Indigenous housing cooperatives and health services are recognised strength nodes (Dillon & Westbury 2004) in all contexts, from urban to remote.

Within urban settings these sites become safe spaces within a dominant Western society to reconnect and be provided with safe opportunities. These will differ depending on personal experiences and background. **Some collective perspectives and knowledge are shared among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, whereas individual and family experiences and local history also influence individual perspectives**. **Although many books and education materials will provide an ‘Indigenous perspective’, these generalisations are often misleading and inappropriate, causing the homogenisation of Indigenous peoples**.