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IndigenousAustralians

Prior to 1788……

Before the arrival of foreigners (1788), Aboriginal people inhabited the whole of Australia and Torres Strait Islanders lived on the islands between Australian and Papua New Guinea.

There are many different Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities whose people speak different languages with have different cultural beliefs, practices and traditions.

There were approximately 700 languages spoken throughout Australia with an estimated population of

750 000 people.

Cultural Spirituality…….

“Land” is fundamental to the wellbeing of Aboriginal people. The land is not just soil or rocks or minerals, but a whole environment that sustains and is sustained by people and culture.

For Indigenous Australians, the land is the core of all spirituality and this relationship and the spirit of 'country' is central to the issues that are important to indigenous people.

Way of Life……..

Traditional indigenous lifestyle is a hunter and gatherer way of life.

The men hunted the large animals such as kangaroos, emus and turtles and the women and children hunted smaller animals and collected fruits, berries and other plants.

On the coast people caught fish and collected many types of shellfish including mussels and oysters.

Australia was a largely unspoilt country where indigenous people respected the environment around them and made sure animals and plants were never over hunted or over collected.

People only took enough to feed the number of people there at the time and nothing was wasted. This ensured there would be food next time they or someone else needed it.

To maintain the fragile environment and because of seasonal variations people would move from one area to another. This helped make sure they didn't hunt, fish or harvest an area too much so there would be food for the next season. Every part of the animal and plant was eaten or used to make things such as clothing, baskets, tools and weapons.

Aboriginals and Torres Straight Islanders (ATSI)

Who are Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders today?

An Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander is:

• * A person of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent

* A person who identifies as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and

* A person who is accepted by the Aboriginal community in which he or she lives.

Aboriginal Flag

The Aboriginal Flag is divided horizontally into equal halves of black (top) and red (bottom), with a yellow circle in the centre.

Black symbolises Aboriginal people Yellow represents the sun, the constant re-newer of life Red depicts the earth and peoples’ relationship to the land.

Torres Strait Islander Flag

The Torres Strait Islander Flag stands for the unity and identity of all Torres Strait Islanders.

Green is for the land. The dharri or deri (type of headdress) is a symbol for all Torres Strait Islanders. Black represents the people. Blue is for the sea.

The five-pointed star represents the island groups. Used in navigation, the star is also an important symbol for the sea-faring Torres Strait Islander people. The colour of the star represents peace.

Aboriginals and Torres Straight Islanders (ATSI)

Australian Cultural Diversity

Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders together account for

about 1.1% of Australia’s population.

Indigenous Australians

For more information:

•

• “Google” search

Films: “Ten Canoes”

“Walkabout”

“Chant of Jimmy Blacksmith”

“The Rabbit Proof Fence”

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