Wurundjeri 
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The Wurundjeri people take their name from the Woi-wurrung words wurun, meaning ‘Manna Gum,’ and djeri, the grub found in or near the tree. Known as the ‘Manna Gum people,’ the Wurundjeri have lived on their land for thousands of years. Wurundjeri Country spans diverse landscapes, including grasslands, volcanic plains, ranges, forests, wetlands, waterways, and the Sea Country of Port Phillip Bay. It stretches north to the Great Dividing Range, west to the Werribee River, south to Mordialloc Creek, and east to Mount Baw Baw.
Explore significant places on Wurundjeri Country, including the Birrarung (Yarra River), scar trees and cultural sites. Travel through time, imagine what these places may have looked like in the past, and use your creativity to design a journey connecting important places across Country, whether by rail, canoe, public transport or an invention of your own.
Students will engage with the Birrarung Multi-touch Book and specifically the Wurundjeri Interactive Map to explore significant places on Wurundjeri Country from pre-contact to today, researching native plants, traditional engineering, and cultural heritage. They will reflect on these insights and create poems, paintings, or stories showcasing their understanding of First Nations perspectives and connections to the land. This unit can be self-directed or taught as a class.
Students engage with the multi-touch book Birrarung and explore First Nations portraits to learn about Wurundjeri Ancestors and their role in shaping identity. They create a personal ancestry map or visual representation, reflecting on how their own Ancestors, wherever they are from, influence who they are today.
In this unit, students explore First Nations Creation stories, immersing themselves in the narratives that describe the origins of the land. They understand the profound influence of storytellers and the interconnectedness of storytelling, language, culture, and Country. Through the Birrarung multi-touch book, story mapping activities, and investigating the Yarra River Protection Act 2017, students develop an understanding of the significance of the Birrarung story in preserving cultural heritage and fostering a connection to Country.
