THE PEARL SHELLERS OF THE NORTH WEST COAST OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA - A CHEQUERED HISTORY

Here is a unit that cuts across many areas. It has aspects of environment. It deals with Aboriginal people in the landscape.It mentions the early unfavourable reports of William Dampier. It includes the impact of European pastoralists on Aboriginal culture and survival. It looks at the evolution of pearl shelling collection from Aboriginal gathering to enforced labour of Aboriginal groups to skin diving and finally to deep sea diving using pearl luggers. It is a history of fortunes made by a few and the victimisation of others. It has aspects of racial discrimination and segregation. Take your students on this journey and you will come across a history that happened but one that is not comfortable to relate. There are two sets of attachments to assist. The first set allows your students to see the trials faced by deep sea divers. The second attachments provide question sheets provided in black and white that will test the level of understanding. This is a history, geography, landscape, social issue unit. Part 2 entitled "The Pearl Shellers of Broome 1912" is a reconstruction by maps and photographs of the settlement in the heyday of the Pearl Luggers.