CHILDREN'S BOOK WEEK 2002 - BOOK FEAST - ACTIVITY PACK

JIRRABAL, DREAMTIME STORIES - Maisie Barlow

Nominated for: Eve Pownall Award for Information Books
Reading age: 5 to 10
Themes: Aboriginal peoples – dreaming, Aboriginal peoples – North Queensland

Jirrbal includes four different rainforest dreaming stories, a beautifully illustrated dictionary of jirrbal words used in the story and some interesting anecdotal information about the authors’ life, Queensland Indigenous writer, Maisie Barlow. The stories themselves stand alone and are a good length and simplicity to read aloud in a storytelling session. The book itself is historic in that it records the Jirrbal language, Maisie being one of the few surviving elders of the Jirrbal people of Ravenshoe North Queensland. Many extension activities can be planned to further enhance the enjoyment of the book both for the stories individually and the book as a whole. The following are only a few suggestions.

The story of Narool (Grass), the Gargarra (New Moon) and the Meedin (Possum).

In the story the new moon tries to get the animals to help him get honey from a tree but ends up climbing up himself and hurting his legs. The possum gets the grass to help him with special medicine and in return the new moon promises to send the dew at night to give the grass a drink.

Activities

Try to learn the names for some of the characters in the story with children and test each other in remembering them. At the back of the book is a dictionary of the words used in the stories. Flash cards could be created to help the activity.
Draw multiple characters on pieces of card and play a game of ‘snap’.

The Buni (Fire) Story

In this story the birds try to steal fire from the snake by various ways including camouflage, thus accounting for their colourings today. The spangled drongo finally is successful and in getting the fire creates the North Queensland landmark Split Rock. A classic dreaming story with explanations on how the birds came to be different and reinforcing the need to share resources.

Activities

Invite a local Indigenous storyteller in to share similar local Indigenous stories (contact local Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander groups for suggestions).
Look at some photographs/pictures of the birds mentioned in the story (or enlarge drawings from the story) and discuss why they are like that, according to the story.
Ask the children to make up a story of their own on how a certain bird came to be like it is. For example show a picture of a parrot and ask the children to describe how it got it’s colours
Explain that other groups of Indigenous people from different areas of the country have similar stories explaining how they think the birds got their colours. Read other Indigenous dreaming stories. (See below)

Fishing Story About Us – A story of being obedient

The story is about two children who are told to wait for their parents to return from hunting. They become impatient and one calls out for her mother, only to be tricked and eaten by a monster. Her brother tells his parents on their return and the father cuts the tree containing the now sleeping, monster and rescues the girl. The children learn the importance of obeying their parents.

Activities

Talk about the where it is safe to play and where not.
Ask the children what they would do if they couldn’t find their parents Eg In a shopping centre. Talk about the police/safe houses.

The Water Story

The animals try to get the water from the lizard unsuccessfully until the mouse finally releases it onto the land to make the rivers and waterways that we know today.

Activities

Ask the children to draw a picture of the animals in the story or create a mural
The story has a strong moral about sharing and water as a precious resource. Talk to the children about where our water comes from, water restrictions and how we can help to preserve it. Share morning tea with the children where they help to serve out drinks and food equally.

Extra Ideas

The sections at the rear of the book detailing Maisies life are very interesting especially for older children to compare and contrast to their own experiences of growing up. Older children could take turns in reading sections out aloud to younger children. Talk about how different it is attaining food today, the availability of food and types of food eaten. Talk to the children about the fact that Maisie wasn’t able to go to school and had the responsibility of looking after her brothers and sisters. Explain that at that time things were very different for Aboriginal people than today and that many of the old ways of living for Indigenous people have changed.

It is important that children realise that most stories were passing on orally from generation to generation and that the children learnt and passed on these stories. Talk about family stories with the children, that they are a bit like ‘show and tell’. Ask the children if they can remember something that their parents, grandparents or uncles and aunties have told them about when they were young. It is important to keep the stories being told and although that can be in a book it can also be in community memory.

Play a game of Chinese whispers and explain how stories are a bit like that, they can change and get muddled up being passed on and that sometimes it is a good idea to write things down. Play a game of writing stories by getting one child to write a sentence of a story on a piece of paper and then pass it on to the next person to write a line, see how the story develops. Alternatively give the children different characters and a setting and ask them to go round in a circle making up a story involving these characters. Maybe someone could record the story and display in on the library notice board or draw a picture of the story.

Why not read other stories written by Indigenous authors. There are a large selection of both traditional and contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander books and included is a list of a few that libraries could access and use in storytelling sessions.

Arrange a display of Indigenous books on a table covered with Indigenous print material and surrounded by Indigenous artwork.

Last reviewed and updated 1 September 2004