The world of Mickey of Ulladulla
Featured Content
To download the Mari Nawi: Aboriginal Odysseys transcript, click here.
Content summary
The role that people of diverse backgrounds have played in the development and character of the local community (ACHHK062)
Students
- focusing on ONE group, investigate their diverse backgrounds and outline their contribution to the local community using a range of sources.
Student Activities
Activity 1
Mickey of Ulladulla
Activity 2
Aboriginal (Dhurga) word list
Activity notes for teachers
Activity 1
The changing world of Mickey of Ulladulla
This is a drawing by an Aboriginal man known as Mickey of Ulladulla. Mickey was born on the south coast of New South Wales nearly 200 years ago. He was a member of the Dhurga people. People who knew Mickey described him as being disabled; he probably needed to use sticks or crutches to help him walk. The first European settlers came to the area around 1828 when Mickey was a young boy. When Europeans came to live in this area they changed the way Aboriginal people lived. Mickey drew this picture in about 1880 when he was around 60 years old. Mickey’s drawing shows how Aboriginal life changed during his lifetime. Aboriginal people are shown wearing European-style clothes and hats. They are fishing from European-style boats, cooking in European pots and making items for Europeans to purchase. This picture is Mickey’s way of telling the story of how Aboriginal life changed after European settlement.
Mickey of Ulladulla
Location list
Mickey | The man holding the broom for sale is probably Mickey. He was disabled and needed sticks (held in one hand in this picture) to help him walk. |
Kangaroo |
There are about seven kangaroos. The three smaller ones amongst the trees in the upper left of the drawing are thought to be wallabies. |
Wallaby | Smaller than kangaroos (among trees on the left) |
Lyre bird | (Right) has a large coloured tail. |
Echidna | Two (top centre and right) with spiky backs. |
Koala | Has big ears and is in the tree on the left. |
Goanna | One is middle right and the other is climbing a tree (middle, top) |
Possum | Has a curly tail and is in the tree on the right. |
Snake | On the ground below two kangaroos (top left) |
Horse | Middle left and wearing a saddle and bridle - does it belong to the Europeans? |
Dog | In the centre of the drawing below the house. |
Men fishing | You can see the fishing lines and hooks hanging from the boat. The man on the right is hooking the shark into the boat and the man on the left is beating it with a stick. |
Different types of fish | Mickey has drawn different kinds of fish in the water. It's difficult to tell how many different types, but Mickey shows that they are a variety of fish. This indicates that he must have had good knowledge of the range of fish in the area. |
Sharks | Two sharks are visible, one in the water and the other is being drawn up into the boat. |
Objects introduced by the Europeans | The house and the boat. You can tell the boat is not a native canoe because it has a rudder on one end. The boat was given to the Aboriginal people by the Aboriginal Protection Board. There are also pots, brooms, a saddle on the horse etc. |
Activity 2
Information for teachers:
Note: This activity is more challenging. It requires students to use higher order thinking to cross-reference information in Source B with objects they have identified in Source A.
Aboriginal word | Australian English word | Information for teachers |
---|---|---|
tuggi | no | |
nawa | yes | |
ji | come | |
nobard | go | |
nonaga-weyou | What is your name? | |
tewg-ah | bread | Could describe European bread |
mondagai | meat | |
marrah | fish | Write the Aboriginal word on drawing |
burroo | kangaroo | Write the Aboriginal word on drawing |
koona | duck | Ducks could be introduced by Europeans or native |
ka au dee | tobacco | Introduced by Europeans |
yau yee | fire | Write the Aboriginal word on drawing |
boanbal | wood | |
warrang | child | |
niara | look there | |
yookun or coonjee | hut | Could describe Aboriginal hut or European hut |
cumboo gullock | bullock | Introduced by Europeans |
Euroka | The sun | |
Indeko | The moon |
NSW Syllabus for the Australian Curriculum History K - 10
Outcomes
A student:
- HT2-2 describes and explains how significant individuals, groups and events contributed to changes in the local community over time
- HT2-5 applies skills of historical inquiry and communication
Historical Skills
Students:
Comprehrension: chronology, terms and concepts
- sequence familiar people and events (ACHHS065, ACHHS081)
- use historical terms (ACHHS066, ACHHS082)
Analysis and use of resources
- locate relevant information from sources provided (ACHHS068, ACHHS084, ACHHS215, ACHHS216)
Perspectives and interpretations
- identify different points of view within an historical context (ACHHS069, ACHHS085)
Research
- pose a range of questions about the past (ACHHS067, ACHHS083)
Explanation and communication
- develop texts, particularly narratives (ACHHS070, ACHHS086)
- use a range of communication forms (oral, graphic, written) and digital technologies (ACHHS071, ACHHS087)
Historical Concepts
- Significance: importance of an event, development or individual/group
- Perspectives: people from the past will have different views and experiences
LAC
Learning across the curriculum
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures
Culture
- OI.4 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander societies have many Language Groups.
- OI.6 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples have lived in Australia for tens of thousands of years and experiences can be viewed through historical, social and political lenses.
People
- OI.7 The broader Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander societies encompass a diversity of nations across Australia.
- OI.9 Australia acknowledges the significant contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people locally and globally.