INDIGENOUS PARTICIPATION IN CULTURAL ACTIVITIES
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people's participation in cultural activities are important elements of traditions and community sustainability, as well as spiritual and social well being. Cultural activities include arts and crafts, music, dance or theatre and writing or telling stories.
The 2008 ABS National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey (NATSISS) found that of these selected cultural activities, arts and crafts was the most popular, with 17% (almost 56,600) of Indigenous persons aged 15 years and over taking part at least once in the 12 months prior to interview. Participation rates were similar for both age groups interviewed, with 28,400 (16%) persons aged 15 to 34 years and almost 28,200 (18%) persons aged 35 years and over having participated in arts and crafts. Participation in writing or telling stories was higher for Indigenous persons aged 35 years and over (20%), compared with 12% for those aged 15 to 34 years.
1.9 Indigenous participation in selected cultural activities(a), By age
- 2008
Female participation rates were higher for arts and crafts (20%) and writing or telling stories (17%) compared with males (14% for both activities). This pattern was evident across both the 15 to 34 year old and 35 years and over age groups. Male participation was higher in music, dance or theatre (12%) compared with females (10%).
1.10 Indigenous participation in selected cultural activities(a), By sex
- 2008
In 2008, participation in selected cultural activities was higher for those Indigenous persons aged 15 years and over living in remote and very remote areas compared to those living in non-remote areas. For arts and crafts, 22% of Indigenous persons living in remote areas of Australia participated in this activity, compared with 16% living in non-remote areas. Similarly, of those Indigenous persons living in remote areas, 21% participated in writing or telling stories (16% for music, dance or theatre) compared with 14% living in non-remote areas (9.0% for music, dance or theatre).
1.11 Indigenous participation in selected cultural activities(a), By remoteness
- 2008
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