Topic: Recognising Australia’s first peoples ... properly (Read 304 times)
Being a member of a persecuted indigenous minority myself (my family was forced to flee from our village almost two decades back), I want the Australian government to recognize the aborigine community.
Yes, about time they gave some credit and respect to the native people of the continent. However it seems not enough considering they basically stole their land, and it sounds more like a way to lure in more tourists.
You should watch less of Avatar and Dance with wolves and use common sense more. You cannot steal "land" from under somebody, who has no concept of private land ownership. Aborigines were at no point hippies either, they were merely still stuck in hunter gatherer culture, that kept migrating.
I think the aboriginal Australians are perhaps the oldest culture in the world (50,000 years old). When the Europeans first arrived, there were around 1,000 tribes (some numbering just 80 to 100 individuals), speaking their own languages. It is very difficult to believe that these tribes numbering only a few dozen people managed to survive intact for 50,000 years.
Your scepticism is correct, while their core genetics and some customs might indeed trace its origins back to original settlers, tribal identity is quite fluid. Some of those groups might separate and merge again depending on relationships within leading family or enviromental pressures.
The pure-blooded aborigines are very rare in Australia. Especially in states such as Tasmania, New South Wales and Victoria, most of the aborigines are like 95% white and 5% aborigine. Pure bloods and traditionalists are found only in the remote corners, such as Kimberley, Arnhelm Land, Cape York Peninsula and Tanami desert.
Yes, about time they gave some credit and respect to the native people of the continent. However it seems not enough considering they basically stole their land, and it sounds more like a way to lure in more tourists.
I think the aboriginal Australians are perhaps the oldest culture in the world (50,000 years old). When the Europeans first arrived, there were around 1,000 tribes (some numbering just 80 to 100 individuals), speaking their own languages. It is very difficult to believe that these tribes numbering only a few dozen people managed to survive intact for 50,000 years.
Australia will soon take an important step towards potentially recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in its Constitution.
The Referendum Council is due mid-year to report its final advice to the Commonwealth Government and the Opposition on constitutional change. The advice will inform a final model to be taken to a referendum.
https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/q-amp-a-recognising-australia-s-first-peoples-properly
I think this is long overdue. They should have recognized the Indigenous Australians years ago.
The Referendum Council is due mid-year to report its final advice to the Commonwealth Government and the Opposition on constitutional change. The advice will inform a final model to be taken to a referendum.
https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/q-amp-a-recognising-australia-s-first-peoples-properly
I think this is long overdue. They should have recognized the Indigenous Australians years ago.
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