Aborigine Chief
From SPARK
One-sentence summary
A flipchart true story from the Australian Outback.
Description
Aborigine Chief is a true story from the Australian Outback. It is a fourteen-page flipchart story with black and white drawings. The text is five pages. The final page has discussion questions and some comments.
Wanku was chief of a small aboriginal tribe in the outback of Australia. His group, like most aborigines never settle in one place for long. They go “walkabout” from place to place in the desert outback. They travel from one water-hole to another. They don't plant crops. They eat what they find. This includes birds, animals and insects. They shelter under a bush or tree when it rains. They keep warm at night by building a fire and lying near it.
Dreams are very important to Aboriginal people. In the story, Chief Wanku has a dream telling him that some day a white man would come with a book about God. The dream told him that the book was true and that he should believe it.
Chief Wanku was eager to do all he could to find this book. He sent two of his grandsons off to find the book. After they learned its message they were to return and teach it to the rest of the tribe.
Several years pass and the young men do not return. Wanku was sad since he was becoming old and in poor health.
Finally, one night a light is seen on a distant hill. Wanku leaves with his fastest walkers. They found missionaries who were lost. Wanku asked the missionaries if they had the “Book about God”. The missionaries could not understand his language. A young aborigine was called to interpret the words of the chief. It was one of his grandsons.
Wanku returned to get his group.Together they walked to the place where the missionaries lived. They stayed for many months to learn about God's message. Chief Wanku believed this message and became a follower of Jesus. When Wanku died, others took his place. There are now many Aborigines who follow Jesus.
There are many people like the Aborigines who want to know God's message. Many have never heard because no one has shared it with them. These people who wait to hear, live in many different places. Some live in deserts, some in jungles and some in high mountains.
Considerations
- The drawings are black and white.
- The discussion questions are easy, and some possible answers are given.
Limitations
- Some of the drawings show night scenes and are very dark. These may be hard for some children to see.
Guidelines for Use
- This story could be used as a radio drama if sound effects were added.
- This story could be recorded on audio cassette to go with the flipchart pictures.
Where to Obtain
Link to Producer or Source Organization
Cost
Cost: Will soon be available free on-line
Producer/Owners
Author/Artist/Producer
Authors: Martha Phillips, Grace Watkins Artists: Nona Harlow, Art Rilling
