Children can be supported or encouraged to make their own symbol stones by painting Aboriginal symbols onto stones which can then be incorporate in their story telling.
There are many ways children can use symbols in activities. For example, you could use symbols in artwork to tell or draw a story and have children tell their stories to their classmates. Another idea is to use symbols painted on stones to play games, e.g. tic tac toe.
An ideal introduction to dot painting for children would be from a visiting Aboriginal Elder, Aunty or Uncle. Preferably over at least two visits in a year, so non-Indigenous children can experience a sense of “walking with” Indigenous people as allies, like Geoffrey Bardon.
An Aboriginal artist can only create Aboriginal art.
A non-Indigenous Australian has no authority to paint an Aboriginal work of art. The artist's background will influence the appearance of the work, intertwining a part of their own story within each piece.
Australian rock art has been dated to around 30,000 years ago, although there are possibly much older sites on the continent.
6) Traditional Aboriginal art requires authority, knowledge, association and recognition by the artist who produces the painting. Artists are only permitted to paint the stories and subjects that they are entitled to under traditional law.
Australian Aboriginal dot painting is a fun and creative activity that kids can enjoy. This type of art is inspired by the ancient traditions of the Aboriginal people of Australia. The key to creating a beautiful dot painting is to use vibrant colors and dots of different sizes to create intricate patterns and designs.
Why non-Indigenous people can't do Aboriginal art: Remember a non-indigenous Australian (or any non Aboriginal person around the world) can never create an Aboriginal artwork because only people from specific parts of country can tell the story of that country.
Only an Aboriginal artist can produce Aboriginal art
Where the artist comes from will inform how the painting will look. Since a non-Indigenous artist is not from a particular tribe, that person cannot represent any form of Aboriginal art.
Although copyright law applies to Indigenous works in the same way as it applies to other works, Indigenous works may have additional legal and cultural issues, for instance because they include secret or sacred information, or information obtained without the consent of the relevant Indigenous people.
Taking Pictures
When it comes to caves and rock art sites, don't rush ahead and clamber over the rocks for a photo opportunity. Reproductions and photographs of deceased Indigenous people are absolutely prohibited. This is to protect specific Aboriginal knowledge that may not be open to everyone.
Example 1: Copying Aboriginal symbols
Because these symbols (concentric circles made with dotting, U shapes, etc) have many meanings, are sometimes sacred and are specific to Western Desert cultures, it is considered cultural sacrilege and theft to use them.
There isn't much to stop non-Indigenous people (here or overseas) from creating and selling works that draw from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Copyright law only applies to an individual, not a broader community.
Teaching children about Aboriginal Art
You could explore some common symbols with children like those for campsite and fire, or look at some photos of the ancient art found preserved in Australia. Or try some artwork of Australian landscapes and wildlife.
".... the use of a people's traditional dress, music, cuisine, knowledge and other aspects of their culture, without their approval, by members of a different culture. For Indigenous peoples in Canada, cultural appropriation is rooted in colonization and ongoing oppression.
To make direct eye contact can be viewed as being rude, disrespectful or even aggressive.To convey polite respect, the appropriate approach would be to avert or lower your eyes in conversation. Observe the other person's body language.
White Australian artist is abused online for 'copying Aboriginal art' and 'stealing indigenous culture' by making traditional dot paintings. A young white artist who was abused on social media for selling Aboriginal-style dot paintings has apologised and admitted she was guilty of 'cultural appropriation'.
Red, predominantly sourced from ochre, holds a unique position in Aboriginal art due to its many symbolic associations. It represents blood, which symbolises the ties between family members and the bonds within a community.
Your Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander heritage is something that is personal to you. You do not need a letter of confirmation to identify as an Indigenous person.
Membership of the Indigenous people depends on biological descent from the Indigenous people and on mutual recognition of a particular person's membership by that person and by the elders or other persons enjoying traditional authority among those people.
Aboriginal people perform Funeral ceremonies as understandably the death of a person is a very important event. The people often paint themselves white, wound or cut their own bodies to show their sorrow for the loss of their loved one.
The most common styles of aboriginal art are dot painting, abstract painting, and sand or rock engraving. Each region has its own unique style. For example, in Arnhem Land bark is used instead of canvas to create artworks.
Black represents the earth, marking the campfires of the dreamtime ancestors. Red represents fire, energy and blood - 'Djang', a power found in places of importance to the Aborigines.
The use of symbols is an alternate way to write down stories of cultural significance, teaching survival and use of the land. Symbols are used by Aboriginal people in their art to preserve their culture and tradition. They are also used to depict various stories and are still used today in contemporary Aboriginal Art.