Education Resources

Primary and Secondary school resources have been created to honour Archie Roach AM’s internationally recognised iconic song, Took The Children Away and the song’s beautiful translation into a picture book. The book features illustrations by Uncle Archie’s late partner and musical collaborator Ruby Hunter.

Secondary schools can access a collection of interviews with Stolen Generations Survivors that have been recorded and developed into four videos on key education themes; Cultural Identity, Stolen Generations, Talking Our Truths & Healing Through Story and Arts.

Why teach Stolen Generations?

Many stories need to be told to deepen perspectives and understanding of all Australians in their role and place in sharing this country’s ancestral stories. Sadly, humanity has a history of many examples of actions against groups of people that are devastating and bring shame and heartbreak when fully understood. These lessons however in Truth Telling shape perspective, heal relationships and bring exposure to actions which require communities to rethink and ensure history does not repeat itself.

Australia’s history of racism, discrimination and genocide to its First Peoples is confronting, however critical lessons to know and understand. The Stolen Generations is a dark chapter in this nation’s history which documents an attempt to assimilate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Stolen Generation survivor and music icon Archie Roach, is one of Australia’s most powerful story tellers. A man whose story and expression of it through music in particular and more recently books, sheds light on the policies and experiences that impacted thousands of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their families.

Music Project

As well as the education resources, a music project was born to include the voices of our young people and allow space to listen, learn and heal with Uncle Archie and established musicians mentoring emerging artists. Singing Our Futures Music Project produced the single ‘Spiritual Heart’, a tribute to our Elders.

Acknowledgements

Culture is Life acknowledges Uncle Archie for his generosity, passion and dedication to our First Peoples and Stolen Generations survivors, and for all the healing work he has done sharing his song stories and spirit with the world.

We deeply honour the strength, knowledge and wisdom of our Elders who shared their stories in these videos and guided the content to be best delivered and learnt from in schools; Aunty Lorraine Peeters, Aunty Eva Jo Edwards, Uncle Jack Charles, Aunty Iris Bysouth & Uncle Syd Jackson.


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👋🏾 Meet Hakon Dyrting, a proud #Aboriginal (Garrawa,NT and Djugun/ Yawuru, WA) man who was born, raised and studied in Darwin.

🌐 Hakon is part of the 2023 #FullashipProgram and is an #Indigenous Enterprise Consultant for the Northern Territory Indigenous Business Network. He also sits on the U.S. Consulate General Melbournes Youth Council Melbourne and has been recently appointed as a Director on Danila Dilba Health Services Board. 

✊🏽 Hakon is passionate about #entrepreneurship for mob. He believes through economic independence, we can create intergenerational wealth which will lead to a surge of positive change and empowerment. 

#Fullaship2023 #BuyBlak #IndigenousBusiness
Can't believe it's December. Feels like yesterday, it was just November 🤣
Happy Australian Music Tshirt Day🎵

Today we want to amplify the voices of Blak artists and encourage people to follow them, catch a show and buy their merch! 🎟️

Also, a big mob shoutout to the Archie Roach Foundation in particular! Their Singing Our Futures program mentors young First Nations musicians to continue Uncle Archie's work of truthtelling and healing through music. Please donate to them directly, so they can continue their important work @archieroachmusic 🖤🦅 #Linkinbio

Tee available via @gamminthreads #buyblak 

#ausmusictshirtday #archieroach #aboriginal #torresstraitislander #australianmusic
Meet Guyala Bayles, one of our fellows from the 2023 #FullashipProgram 👋🏾 

✊🏽 Guyala is a staunch Birri Gubba / Wonnarua woman hailing originally from the Murri Community in Queensland, but grew-up in Redfern and Kempsey before eventually returning to Queensland.
 
🤩 You might recognise her face from her extensive modelling career, but she is also an actress, poet, musician, activist, facilitator, inspirational speaker and tour guide who uses her platform to advocate for her people!
 
Find out more about the Fullaship Program ☝🏽 #Linkinbio
 
#Aboriginal #YoungPeople #Mentorship
Walking Our Songlines with Language is a project created by Coota Girls Aboriginal Corporation for Coota Girls Survivors and their Descendants, in partnership with Culture is Life. Artwork by @balgarra_designs_ and Production by @33creativeaus 🫶🏽

Find out more about the Walking Our Songlines with Language project👆🏽#Linkinbio

#StolenGenerations #AboriginalAustralia #IndigenousLanguages #LanguagesAliveCultureThrives
“Songs from the Kitchen Table" is the ultimate illustrated commemoration of Archie Roach and Ruby Hunter in songs, stories, photographs and tributes. It has lyrics to over 100 of their songs and a QR code to a playlist. To coincide with its publication we have released "I’m Gonna Fly" a very special and brand new, unheard song from Archie Roach and Ellie Lovegrove, co-written back in 2014 - out now on all streaming services. A big shoutout to @simonandschuster and @mushroompublish. To purchase the songbook, hear the new song and enjoy the playlist visit the link in bio via @archieroachmusic 🖤

• Repost from @archieroachmusic 

#AboriginalAustralia #ArchieRoach #Music #Aboriginal #TorresStraitIslander #Indigenous #Australia
Croc lover Donny Imberlong (Jaru) from the Fullaship Program 2022, is featured in the upcoming short film 'Skin Deep' and appearing on a panel at the premiere screening 🐊🤩

• Repost via @defendthewild 

PREMIERE ANNOUNCEMENT: We are premiering our short film ‘Skin Deep’ alongside @worldanimalprotectionaustralia on February 2nd 2024 at Cinema Nova in Naarm (Melbourne).

The premiere screening will feature alongside a panel discussion with Donny Imberlong (@donnydrysdale), Alix Livingstone (@defendthewild), Emma Hakansson (@collectivefashionjustice) and Ben Pearson (@worldanimalprotectionaustralia).

Limited tickets available via Humanitix 👉🏽 head to @defendthewild for more info 🎟️

#Crocodile #Croc #CrocFarming #Australia #CrocWise #CrocCountry #Event #Wildlife #CrocodileFarm #Animals #WildAnimals #Melbourne #Cinema #Premiere #PanelDiscussion
Our mission is to see young mob thrive and we're incredibly honoured and proud to have worked alongside both the Archie Roach Foundation and Koorie Youth Council. This is extra special because two of our Fullaship Program mob are collaborating on this event. So big shout out to Leyla Quartermaine, KYC, Deputy Executive from the Fullaship Program 2022 and Maya Hodge, KYC, Communications Officer from the Fullaship Program 2023 💛

• Repost from @koorieyouthcouncil 

Come celebrate 20 years of KYC with the incredible Singing Our Futures artists!

Indigenous Wemba-Wemba rapper Ridzy Ray is a talented artist who effortlessly incorporates various styles of music into his work while maintaining an authentic sound all to his own. Managing to fly under the radar until recently with notably having played at Groovin’ The Moo ’19, support for the Snotty Nose Rez Kids Tour, Yirramboi Festival inc. Briggs Bad Apples House Party in Melbourne, St. Kilda Festival, Port Fairy Folk Festival and Big Sound ’22 and doing all this while dropping bop after bop. He is the best kept secret in the Australian music scene.
His positive energy is exhilarating and at times a little bit cheeky. Combine that with a slick delivery, alluring wordplay…you won't be disappointed!

See RIDZYRAY perform at 2:10pm this Saturday at KYC's 20th Anniversary celebration at the Aboriginal Advancement League.

Tickets @koorieyouthcouncil ❤️💛🖤

@ridzyray 
@cultureislifeorg 
@archieroachmusic