Endangered (ATOM Study Guide)

Endangered is a powerful and engaging documentary, suitable for senior secondary and tertiary students, which explores a wide range of themes relating to Indigenous affairs, relationships, heritage, cultural identity and shared values. The film focuses on a particular problem facing young, urban, Indigenous women – a distinct shortage of suitable Indigenous men.

Made by a 25-year-old Indigenous playwright, actor, radio presenter and arts administrator Tracey Rigney, the issues and stories of six modern Aboriginal women are the focus of the film. it reflects views and attitudes that belong very much to the early twenty-first century and explores the reasons behind this problem and to examine some of the complexities of this aspect of modern Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander life. The film includes animated sequences that add to its complexity.

Issues relating to the difficulties that young women experience finding suitable partners are not exclusive to the Indigenous community – they provide literally millions of column inches in glossy magazines. In one sense there is little that is different in the experiences of the six women whose stories form the backbone of Endangered. Nevertheless, there is an additional, powerful element in this documentary which relates to the desire of these Indigenous women to carry on the racial and cultural mix of their ethnicity. The film is as much about young Aboriginal men as it is about women; with two Aboriginal men discussing relationships and culture from their point of view.

The film and the study guide provide many opportunities to discuss the kinship patterns amongst Aboriginal people, their history before and after white settlement, the issues of the stolen generation, how white culture has influenced young Aborigines and pressures facing urban Aborigines in today's Australia. The study guide has sections for English, Media studies, History and Social education with discussion starters and activities that will engage students.

Curriculum Links:
Endangered is a valuable educational resource for students of:
• History
• Social Education
• Religion
• Psychology
• English
• Media Studies