This document is a student workbook for Black History Month celebrations. It provides information about the Birrguu Matya board game traditionally played by the Wiradjuri people, including instructions for playing. It also contains sections for students to record their results from playing the game against other students. The workbook acknowledges the traditional owners of the game and references used to include the game instructions and other information about Black History Month celebrations.

1. My School:
___________
___________
Year: _______
Blak
History
Month
Name:
__________
___________

2. Like NAIDOC week, Blak History Month is a celebrations of the sur-
vival of Indigenous culture and the Indigenous contribution to mod-
ern Australia. Historically, the achievements of Indigenous peoples
have not been recognised in Australian life, whether it be on televi-
sion and popular culture, in school books and history books. So Blak
History Month gives us an opportunity to place a special focus on
Blak achievements in all facets of life.

3. This game has been played for centuries by the Wiradjuri people.
Traditionally this game was made with stones & sticks on the ground,
but was transformed into a “board” game by Donna Hensen who is a
Wiradjuri person.
You have to use skill, patience and lateral thinking to master this
game.
How to play.
1. You need to use a nine square grid.
2. Similar to noughts and crosses or tic tac toe, you have to get your 3 pieces
in a row (horizontally, vertically or diagonally), while at the same time,
stopping your opponent from getting their 3 pieces in a row.
3. Placing one stone on the board at a time, play stops when 1 player has
created a row.
My stats (record who you played, won/lost, how many moves did it tke you to win)

4. 1. _____________________________________
2. _____________________________________
3. _____________________________________
4. _____________________________________
5. _____________________________________
6. _____________________________________
7. _____________________________________
8. _____________________________________
9. _____________________________________
10._____________________________________
11._____________________________________
12._____________________________________
13._____________________________________
14._____________________________________
15._____________________________________
My Score: _____ out of 15.

5. Acknowledgements & References
This Blak History Month 2009 booklet was conceived and produced by Leesa Watego.
Blak History Month 2008/2009 was conceived by Ms Sam Cook from Kiss My Blak Arts™.
The Quiz is based on content from Great Moments in Blak History fact sheets produced by Sam Cook.
Front cover adapted of original Blak History Month poster by Lisa Buuxton from Nyumba Learning.
Water holding from by Michael Gilsenan, Blacklines Publications.
Birrguu Matya information is based on the board game created by Donna Henson, and Wiradjuri peoples. The instruc-
tions for the game (in the booklet) are adapted from the Quirindi Handbook (Board of Studies, NSW). The Birrguu Matya
game is available for purchase from a number of online stores including Dreamtime Kullilla art
(http://www.dreamtime.auz.net/)
This booklet is made freely available for copying for educational, cultural and community purposes, but should not be
reproduced for commercial purposes nor uploaded to any website.
Have a great July! Leesa, www.blacklines.com.au