Dr. Marcia Langton, an anthropologist from Australia of Australian Aborigines descent, spoke at the Berndt’s lecture in 2011. Her article, Anthropology, Politics and the Changing World of Aboriginal Australians, focuses primarily on the works of an anthropologist couple Robert and Catherine Berndt. They had completed many ethnographic studies in various areas around Australia. Langton states that their work has been crucial in order to have a complete understanding of the Australian Aborigines’ society. The indigenous Australian’s society has been thoroughly researched by many social sciences through the decades. Artworks, religion, rituals, economy, politics, and even claims of UFO sightings have been recorded by a multitude of scholars. It could be argued that the Australian Aborigines’ culture has been better documented than any other non-western society. I would like to capture the movement of Australian Aboriginal tradition to a more modern society by incorporating Dr.Langton’s works as well as the work of National Geographic Journalist, Michael Finkel. By researching the society as it is today in the 21st century, I will to analyze how they relate to Australians of European descent. The Australian Aborigines society is relatively well known in Western society. They have been portrayed accurately and inaccurately in media and film. Dr. Langton has attempted to disprove common myths about the infamous Australian society, as has her predecessors, the Berndt’s, and National Geographic author, Michael Finkel; I will attempt to do the same. There are various Aboriginal tribes throughout Australia. The Yolngu, a north eastern Australian Aboriginal tribe, will be the the primary focus of this paper as they are also the primary F... ... middle of paper ... ...rs. National Geographic. June 2013 Haebich, Anna 1998 [1988] For Their Own Good: Aborigines and Government South West of Western Australia. University of Western Australia Press. Langton, Marcia 2013 The Aboriginal Balancing Act. Australian Geographic 115 39. Langton, Marcia 2011 Anthropology, Politics and the Changing World of Aboriginal Australians. Anthropological Forum 21(1)1-22. Langton, Marcia and Judy Longbottom 2012 Community Feature, Legal Architecture: Foundations for Indigenous Peoples in Global Mining Boom. Routledge. Shafer, Jack 2007 The Return of Michael Finkel; The Work of the Disgraced Times Magazine Writer Appears on the Cover of National Geographic. Press Box, Media Criticism. Slate.com. Accessed Nov. 18,2013. Turner, David H. 1987 Transcending War: Reflections on Australian Aboriginal Culture. Anthropology Today 3(4)14-16
According to Keefe (1992:53) “Aboriginality is a complex social reality, only artificially explained by the abstract divisions of resistance and persistence’ and modern history demonstrates the connections between official education policies (or attitudes used by the dominant group) and key events in Aboriginal Australian history.
“Indigenous Australian peoples are people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent, who are accepted as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person in the community in which they live, or have lived” (Queensland Government, Australia, n.d). Indigenous Australians have made considerable contributions in the field of arts, media, sport, education, politics/government, and history. One of the famous Indigenous person is Evonne Fay Goolagong-Cawley, who has gained name and fame for Australia in the field of tennis on world level. Evonne Goolagong-Cowley’s life, opportunities, achievements and contributions and the ability to rise out of the cultural barriers gave her a unique place in Australian society.
Aboriginal art is widely associated with the primitive and primordial nature of the Australian Indigenous culture. However, as it has become more popular globally, one must consider the authenticity of the Aboriginal art sold on the contemporary market. Eric Michaels essay, ‘Bad Aboriginal Art’ (Michaels, 1988) exposes his concerns with how we define certain art as being genuinely ‘Aboriginal’ and questions what external influences exploit and influence the validity and authenticity of Aboriginal art. The essay summons readers to question what they identify with Australian culture and whether or not White Australians have disordered the meaning of Indigenous art.
For over 100 years, Australian poetry has reflected many themes that reveal the changing nature of the Australian identity. The values, attitudes and ideas that were developed about Aborigines have helped reflect the changing nature of Australian society. In the poem, ‘The Last of His Tribe’ by Henry Kendall helps reflect the ideas that were first introduced during the early pioneering era. ‘The Coloured Digger’ by Sapper Bert Beros helps the readers understand the changing nature of Indigenous culture, during the war era. ‘Coming Home Strong’ by Mark O’Connor helps reflect the gradual acceptance of Aborigines during the contemporary era.
Reynolds, H. (1990). With The White People: The crucial role of Aborigines in the exploration and development of Australia. Australia: Penguin Books
The indigenous Australian culture is one of the world’s oldest living cultures. Despite the negligence and the misunderstanding from the Europeans, Aboriginals were able to keep their culture alive by passing their knowledge by arts, rituals, performances and stories from one generation to another. Each tribe has its own language and way of using certain tools; however the sharing of knowledge with other tribes helps them survive with a bit easier with the usage of efficient yet primitive tools which helps a culture stay alive. Speaking and teaching the language as well as the protection of sacred sites and objects helps the culture stay...
Australian Museum. (2009, December 24). Spirituality: Australian Museum . Retrieved from Australian Museum Website: http://australianmuseum.net.au/Indigenous-Australia-Spirituality
For over 200 years Aborigines have endured a long history of suffering due to the adverse effects of western colonisation; in its attempt for cultural assimilation and to which has caused catastrophic consequences within individuals and the community as a whole. The extent and persistence of suppression inflicted upon the indigenous communities have severely disrupted the culture, which has not only made it susceptible to trauma, but can also trigger other catastrophic symptoms, which then lead to the transmission and intergenerational transmission of such behaviours or maladaptive coping strategies amongst its members. To this day, it is still evident that Aborigines continue to experience profound social problems caused by marginalisation with dominant society. In order to understand this, it is necessary to investigate the importance of culture and exactly what in their history has led them to where they are today, as well as, exploring the different theoretical approaches in regards to transmission, through the biological approaches in human development and approached in behavioural and learning theories, reflecting on the likelihood of how genetics or environmental factors can play in the role of transmission.
Parker, H. T. "The Australian Aborigine." The Journal of Negro Education 3.1 (1934): 57-65. Web.
Within Australia, beginning from approximately the time of European settlement to late 1969, the Aboriginal population of Australia experienced the detrimental effects of the stolen generation. A majority of the abducted children were ’half-castes’, in which they had one white parent and the other of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent. Following the government policies, the European police and government continued the assimilation of Aboriginal children into ‘white’ society. Oblivious to the destruction and devastation they were causing, the British had believed that they were doing this for “their [Aborigines] own good”, that they were “protecting” them as their families and culture were deemed unfit to raise them. These beliefs caused ...
The Hornsby Shire is geographically located along the north shore, running down to the coast of Brookyln surrounding up to the area of Epping, Sydney, covering 6000 hectares of public bushland. According to the 2012 Hornsby Council Statistics there is currently a population of 165090. Through the findings of historical culture, markings and landmarks the current society has understood the large existence of Aboriginals on the land. This local tribe of Aboriginals are the: Guringai people. “The Aboriginal heritage of the Hornsby Shire Region was at least 15000 to 20000 years old by the time European Settlers arrived in 1788.” (Hornsby Shire Council, n.d.). The Hornsby Council shows a high respect for this significant group, displayed through the ‘acknowledgment of country’ prior to meetings and public functions and the upkeep of the Guringai peoples traditional heritage and the ways in which there is a conjunction of care and dedication between the Aboriginals and the non-aboriginals.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders were hunters and gatherers back to the time of the Dreaming. The concept of land ownership as it was not a part of their world view. The reason why, is because the land is the Aboriginal peoples ‘Mother’, who has supported and protected the people for many tens of thousands of years. To the indigenous peoples, arguing over who owns the land, was like two fleas arguing over who owns the kangaroo they were living on. The ‘Mother’ or land, was something that cannot be owned. If anything the ‘Mother’ owns the people, and the Aboriginal people are obligated to maintain the lands natural balance.
Australia’s Indigenous people are thought to have reached the continent between 60 000 and 80 000 years ago. Over the thousands of years since then, a complex customary legal system have developed, strongly linked to the notion of kinship and based on oral tradition. The indigenous people were not seen as have a political culture or system for law. They were denied the access to basic human right e.g., the right to land ownership. Their cultural values of indigenous people became lost. They lost their traditional lifestyle and became disconnected socially. This means that they were unable to pass down their heritage and also were disconnected from the new occupants of the land.
This is an incredible paragraph extracted from Bora Ring. This poem depicts perfectly of the European invasion of Australia. It shows how the traditions and stories are gone, how the hunting and rituals are gone and ‘lost in an alien tale’, the Europeans being the aliens. This poem also describes that it seemed as if the tradition of Aborigines was ‘breathed sleeping and forgot’. These are powerful words Judith Wright used to show how they Aborigines were quickly invaded and ‘forgotten’. This poem is an excellent example of why Australian students should study her poetry.
Through binary ideas and the strict duality that is placed between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Australians we are able to distinctly view racial differentiation between the two, and the stereotypes involved. Although the creation of Aboriginality is seen to arise from intersubjectivity creating dialogue between black and white, this contrasts the idea and states the way in which it is not a fixed thing. With a vast amount of conflict, which is observed within Aboriginal communities, arising from notions of public drinking, violence, language, noisiness and even including ways of dressing. Although from a European perspective which is viewed as having 'dominance', this representation of Indigenous communities imposes a view that allows them to see the Indigenous Australians as having poor behaviour and manners. Through Yolngu Boy, Johnson uses the characters of the three adolescent boys (Lorrpu, Milika and Botj) who set out ...