This interactive SBS resource provides an excellent opportunity for students to examine perspectives on the effect of European settlement on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. A stunning interactive visual learning experience where students can gain rich knowledge about two historical accounts that are vastly different. K’gari tells the story of one of the first alleged ‘fake news’ stories to be circulated across Australia. It is about the perceived ‘capture’ but actual ‘rescue’ of British woman Eliza Fraser by Aboriginal people on Fraser Island (K’gari) in 1836. This media is well resourced and supported with several learning resources provided.
Structure and features
Get students to access the K'gari website.
This resource provides:
- visually stunning media, using a creative approach to storytelling
- an interesting way of interacting and learning about a significant event in Australia’s history
- information regarding stereotypes and perceptions of the same event
- an examination of the reliability of evidence and caution around its trustworthiness.
This is an interactive resource the helps students to understand the inaccuracies and lies created and fostered about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in colonial Australia. This is the story of Eliza Fraser’s experience of being shipwrecked on Fraser Island, a story that supported negative stereotypes of the people that came to her aid.
For teachers
Teachers can shape learning using a range of support material which allows students to explore different skills and content. There are several opportunities to elaborate on learning. Students can be asked to explore the creation of misconceptions about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and the consequence of these mistruths on colonial attitudes at the time. Two very different perspectives are provided of the same event, one from Eliza’s account and the other from the Butchalla people.
Included are links to teacher notes, resources, storyboards of the interactive documentary as well as an ABC news story which could allow teachers to unpack the story and elaborate or explore concepts around:
- significance (impact of this story, particularly the untrue account on peoples perspectives)
- cause and effect (effect of this story on popular belief)
- place and space (importance of Fraser Island to the Butchulla people)
- perspectives and action (how we can shape our view and use it as an instrument of change).
