Songlines on Screen: Naji (ATOM Study Guide)

This ATOM study guide has been designed to assist you with classroom preparation in relation to the viewing of the short film Naji. This film is one of eight films that have been made to record, celebrate and share precious historic and cultural information from Indigenous groups in remote western, northern and central Australia.

Naji synopsis
Naji is a story from the Bugarregarre time, the dreamtime, where the spirit beings, came out of the ocean and woke up the silent, barren land as they moved from the land of the sunset to the land of the sunrise to source fresh water. On their first attempt, the Naji failed to open up the water. They sent a message stick back to the next generation of Najis for help. They knew that in order to survive, they all needed freshwater. But will the second generation of Najis get there in time? This creation story comes to life through the use of re-enactments as Richard Hunter, an elder of the Goolarabooloo people, recounts the steps of his first people.

Curriculum links
This film provides opportunities for learning activities in Year 7–10 English and Media Arts.