Join senior Ngarrindjeri elder Major Sumner on Yarlawa Ruwi, Sea Country, as he demonstrates how to make the Kaiki, freshwater reed spears. All resources are aligned with Version 9 of the ACARA Australian Curriculum.
Welcome to Sea Country
In this short film Ngarrindjeri elder Major 'Moogy' Sumner yarns about what story and Sea Country mean to him, including stories about making the kaiki (reed spears), fishing with the pelicans, spearing flounder at night, and how to find a stingray in the stars!
Sea Country Stories (Complete film)
Download lesson plans
Lesson plans are available for learners in Science, ages 10+Sea Country Stories - Science Years 5&6
Students explore different adhesives that were used by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Learners will then make their own adhesive and determine how much weight it can hold.
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Sea Country Stories - Science Years 7&8
Students explore how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples crafted spears. Learners will then use chopsticks and blue tack to experiment with balanced and unbalanced forces.
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Visit the museum exhibit
Visit the Sea Country Stories exhibit at the South Australian Maritime Museum for a full immersive experience of an enchanting display, featuring a real kaiki spear made by Major Sumner. As part of this exhibit, Ngarrindjeri kuti fishers and artists at Goolwa, who shuffle for cockles in the sand, also share how they practice sustainable fishing using traditional techniques to protect the kuti, pipi cockles, for the future.
Sea Country Stories will be available at the SA Maritime Museum until early 2023.
About Sea Country Stories
Sea Country Stories is an original project by Green Island Creative, which brings together Australian Indigenous knowledge holders, artists and creators with educators, museums and sustainable fishers for the first time. This project addresses unidimensional stories of Australia's oceanic history and a lack of confidence amongst Australian teachers to integrate Indigenous perspectives in the classroom, with an immersive experience of being on Sea Country and a set of Australian curriculum-aligned lesson plans.
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