Aboriginal Identity In Australia

The end of World War II left the global society in despair. With the amalgamation of new social behaviours being accepted in the very day lives of white Australian citizens, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders culture was being disregarded. With the world modernising ‘White’ society traditions, it was decided that Aboriginal citizens were no more than an accessory to the land and could be alienated, dividing the cultures into a hierarchy of superiority. Within the accessibility of the Aboriginal culture ‘half cast’ children, born to both cultural identities were taken, land was stolen and basic human rights were heeded no extra expense when it came to identifying as an Aboriginal. As Australian are now trying to improve the issues

The need to share with Indigenous Australians was not expected or considered until, self determination driven by powerful Aboriginals fought for their home, their land and their identity. In 1967 the Referendum on 27th may had 90.77% vote yes. It was designed to make the removal of the discriminator sections of the Constitution made by a bias ’White society’ during settlement. Its main focus was to override the racist human rights denying aboriginals of the luxury items such as health care and being included in the census. In 1972 Whitlam Labour government introduced policy of self determination to facilitate and include indigenous people involvement in decisions. Over the years between 1970’s and early 1990’s many organisations were developed. The initial movement was the creation of the Department of Aboriginal Affairs (DAA) which marked the first significant involvement in the Commonwealth. The department brought a formal end to remnants of protection and assimilation showing the indigenous people that it was the beginning of structure. IT provided services between 1970’s-80’s allowing the cultural identity of Indigenous people to control their own affairs. Throughout the years many departments were built up to protect and serve the aboriginal culture. It was an attempt to improve the treatment despite the fact it only changed more ‘White’ Australian views and not

‘We do not own the land, but are apart of it’ is a signature quote that defines the lost and affection that ‘White society’, tore away from them. The indigenous people were castrated, left behind as the world modernised, but they did however unite to overcome the challenges. As the Europeans colonised Australia they constantly pushed the aboriginals into discreet location taking over prime farming location, destroying heritage sites and demolished a culture. On 22 August 1966 was the first land right protest, where 200 Gurindji stockmen, station hand, domestic servants and families. They decided to set up camp on traditional lands at Wattle creek (18kms from start point) to signify the importance of their connection to the land. In 1971 another land rights protest occurred where a case original started in 1963, was finally closed and traditional land was allowed to mined on by ‘white society’, and because of this sacred sites connecting the Indigenous culture to the land was again destroyed. This continued throughout Australia where governments between 1970-90 were passing the land back to the Aboriginals after considering the connection was more important to the overall identity and as the change was to make a united nation without the loss of identity towards the early 2000’s. The need for the Aboriginal identity to reconnect to the land was to access,