Aboriginal Australia 2[1]

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ABORIGINAL AUSTRALIA

www.aboriginal-art-australia.com/UserFiles/10...


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The Aboriginal Flagred earth, black people, yellow sun


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can claim to be the oldest continuous living culture on the

planet.

archaeological sites on the Australian continent - using

thermo-luminescence and other modern dating

techniques

date for Aboriginal presence in Australia at least 40,000

years

Some evidence points to dates over 60,000 years old.

Indigenous Australians:

an ancient

and continuous heritage


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Culture

The hallmark of Aboriginal culture is 'oneness withnature'.

Prominent rocks, canyons, rivers, waterfalls, islands,beaches and other natural features - as well as sun,moon, visible stars and animals - have their ownstories of creation and inter-connectedness. To thetraditional Aborigine they are all sacred:environment is the essence of Australian Aboriginalgodliness.

Out of this deep reverence for nature Aborigineslearned to live in remarkable harmony with the landand its animals


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Nomadic BrillianceMany traditional Australian Aborigines lived a life of cyclical occupation, following

the seasons and the food.With very few simple tools, used with incredible skill, the Aboriginal learned to live in

the harsh and inhospitable Australian outback.

Their technology was both simple and sophisticated. Above all, it was appropriatefor their way of life.

The modern notion of possessions is alien to traditional Aboriginal culture. Material

things were shared within groups. The idea that an individual could 'own' land was

foreign to Aboriginal thinking.


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Wisdom and skills obtained over thousands of years enabled the Australian

Aborigines to use their environment to the maximum.

The Australian Aborigines were true ecologists.

The only major modification of the landscape practiced by the Aborigines was the

selective burning of undergrowth and dead grass to encourage new growth, whichin turn would attract game.

Seasonal burning is

part of Aboriginal land

management.


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However, contrary to the nomadic image,

some tribes did build permanent dwellings.

Remote tribes were linked by the trade

routes which crisscrossed the country,

dispersing goods and a variety of produced

items.

Along these trading networks, large numbers

of people would often meet for 'exchange

ceremonies', where not only goods but alsosongs and dances were passed on.

Lifestyle


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Language groups

yolngu.net/Copy%20of%20Aus_map_covered_text


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Aboriginal Australia is made up of many different

nations, each nation maintained its own language.

Most people think that there is only one Aboriginal

language in Australia- this is a misconception! Theexact number of Aboriginal languages that existed in

Australia prior to colonisation is unknown but it is

estimated that there may have been around 600.

Aboriginal Oral communication


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Aboriginal Dance: nb. Body markings

http://www.digital-photo.com.au/2006/08/14/aboriginal-elder-cedric-portrait-of-an-urban-aborigine

www.allposters.com/-sp/Aboriginal-Dance-Australia
http://www.allposters.com/-sp/Aboriginal-Dance-Australia-Posters_i3030527_.htmhttp://www.allposters.com/-sp/Aboriginal-Dance-Australia-Posters_i3030527_.htmhttp://www.allposters.com/-sp/Aboriginal-Dance-Australia-Posters_i3030527_.htmhttp://www.allposters.com/-sp/Aboriginal-Dance-Australia-Posters_i3030527_.htmhttp://www.allposters.com/-sp/Aboriginal-Dance-Australia-Posters_i3030527_.htmhttp://www.allposters.com/-sp/Aboriginal-Dance-Australia-Posters_i3030527_.htmhttp://www.allposters.com/-sp/Aboriginal-Dance-Australia-Posters_i3030527_.htmhttp://www.allposters.com/-sp/Aboriginal-Dance-Australia-Posters_i3030527_.htm


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Aboriginal Dot and X-Ray style paintings are called

tales of the "Dreaming", butthese Dreams are extremely different than ours.

Dreaming legends explain

creation and events in Aboriginal history. This

philosophy helps answer

questions about existence and the meaning of life.

X-Ray paintings

illustrate the

skeleton, body

cavities, and

exterior of an

animal that may

be their clan or

individual totem (a

connection to their

identity).

Aboriginal Art

Dot style paintings

reflect the desert

landscape from an

aerial perspective andconnect people to their

Dreaming. They are

marked by the use of

icons.


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Symbols in Aboriginal Art

www.aboriginalartonline.com

www.aboriginalartonline.com


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Rock painting, ca. 6000 B.C.E. Archivo Iconografico, S.A./Corbis

Aboriginal "x-ray style" figure. Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory, Australia.

www.nlm.nih.gov/dreamanatomy/da_g_X-1.html
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/dreamanatomy/da_g_X-1.htmlhttp://www.nlm.nih.gov/dreamanatomy/da_g_X-1.htmlhttp://www.nlm.nih.gov/dreamanatomy/da_g_X-1.htmlhttp://www.nlm.nih.gov/dreamanatomy/da_g_X-1.htmlhttp://www.nlm.nih.gov/dreamanatomy/da_g_X-1.htmlhttp://www.nlm.nih.gov/dreamanatomy/da_g_X-1.html


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www.aboriginalartstore.com.au

www.trueblueaboriginalarts.com.au


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mrsmacadam.com tribalworks.com


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Aboriginal Rock Art: nb. The scale of the pictures to people


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Aboriginal art & craft


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The aboriginal didgeridoo is a long, wooden wind instrument or horn used traditionally by the

aboriginal people of Northern Australia. Rock paintings on caves have established that the

didgeridoo has been used as a musical instrument for at least 20,000 years. It is made from a

tree branch, usually eucalyptus, hollowed out by termites. Branches cut into varying lengths

produce instruments with different pitches. The mouthpiece is usually made of beeswax or

resin.


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Into this sophisticated and settled society came the English

and their civilisation.
mailto:[email protected]


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When Sydney Cove was first settled by the British, it is believed there were about

300,000 Aborigines in Australia. The clan-based, egalitarian nature of their groups

meant that a coordinated response to the European colonisers was not possible.

Despite the presence of the Australian Aborigines, the new arrivals considered theland to be up for grabs because they saw no recognisable system of government,

no commerce or permanent settlements and no evidence of landownership.

Harmonious Disunity
http://www.geocities.com/mrschippy/ABORIGINALS.jpg


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Land Acquisitionbeautifulplacestovisit.com

Seizure of Australia took place under British lawSome traditions with native colonies not used here

Invasion & land theft justified by Terra Nullius (unoccupied)

Lack of land ownership system

Continent progressively stolen over two centuriesAustralian independence in 1901, Aborigines debarred from

being citizens until 1902 constitution

Citizenship granted to Aborigines after national referendum in

1967


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The Mabo Judgement

On the 3rd of June, 1992, after a decade of litigation, the HighCourt ruled that the land title of the Indigenous Peoples, the

Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders, is recognised at commonlaw. This Indigenous Peoples' land title, or native title, stems fromthe continuation within common law of their rights over landwhich pre-date European colonisation of Australia. In theabsence of an effective extinguishment by the crown, this title

presents through inheritance the original occupants' right topossession of their traditional lands in accordance with theircustoms and lore. The judgement has, at long last, rejected the"Terra Nullius " legal fiction, bringing Australia almost in line withremaining common law countries, i.e USA, Canada and NewZealand.

www.indigenous.gov.au


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The effects of White settlement on the native population were disastrous - many

were driven from their land by force, many more succumbed to the numerous

diseases introduced by the Whites, while others drifted to the fringes of settled

areas to obtain useful commodities such as steel and cloth and less useful ones

such as alcohol. The delicate balance between nature and the people was broken

down. Sheep and cattle destroyed habitats and waterholes which had sustainedwildlife and vegetation for tens of thousands of years, and many species

disappeared altogether. Aboriginal acts of defiance were met with violent reprisals,

and for many years very few Europeans were prosecuted for killing Australian

Aborigines, although the practice was widespread.

www.utas.edu.au/.../A/images


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Stolen Generation

Between 1910 and 1970 up to 100,000 Aboriginalchildren were taken under duress from their

families by police or welfare officers.

Most were raised in Church or state institutions.

Some were fostered or adopted by white

families.


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The Stolen Generation

A National Inquiry was set up in 1995. Its 1997 Report Bringing themHome found that forcible removal of indigenous children was agross violation of human rights which continued well after Australiahad undertaken international human rights commitments.

Kevin Rudd officially apologised on February 12th 2008 in thename of Australia and the Australian Government to theIndigenous People.
http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/special/rsjproject/rsjlibrary/hreoc/stolen/http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/special/rsjproject/rsjlibrary/hreoc/stolen/http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/special/rsjproject/rsjlibrary/hreoc/stolen/http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/special/rsjproject/rsjlibrary/hreoc/stolen/http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/special/rsjproject/rsjlibrary/hreoc/stolen/


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History: a matter of perspective.


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Questions for discussion

What is the Stolen Generation?

What are the likely effects of such a

government policy? What are the implications of the apology?


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Apology to stolen generations

1. Who are the stolen generations?

2. How do we know these peoples stories aretrue?

3. Why is it important to apologise for to thestolen generations?

4. Why should Australians today apologise forsomething that were not responsible for?

5. What does an apology mean for anindigenous Australian?

Aboriginal Australia 2[1]

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