The deposition of indigenous peoples across the globe through colonisation has informed interactions between indigenous and non-indigenous for centuries. Colonisation occurred for varying reasons from nation to nation and person to person however the outcome for the Indigenous people were similar in many ways. This essay will attempt to explain some of the reasons for colonisation occurring and the effect this had on the Indigenous people. Research shows that colonisation impacted both Aboriginal Australian people and Torres Strait Islander people in ways which changed their cultural landscape significantly. It will be argued in the second half of this essay that the differences experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
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According to Armitage (2000) the English were able to remove lands from indigenous peoples under the belief that the land was vacant (vacuum domicilium) or there was no prior ownership (terra nullius). Ardill (2009) lists other reasons for colonising which came under International law these were that lands could be accrued through three means: conquest, discovery (terra nullius) or cession. The British had rights to conquer a land and its people, discover a land and make the assumption that due to the apparent lack of social organisation they were entitled lay claim provided they made an “Unequivocal act of appropriation” or cession would occur when the lands were formally given up or relinquished to the British. (Ardill, 2009). Coates (2004) also highlights the need for personal gain amongst leaders, people leading the charge into foreign lands were looking for fame, wealth, glory or the grace of god which was a driving force behind individuals actions at the time of …show more content…
The Torres Strait Islanders were subject to exploitation from the ever expanding trade of sea cucumbers and mother of pearl shell, they were recruited as a cheap labour force (Nakata, 2008) however they were still living in enviable conditions when compared with the Aboriginal Australian people. Aboriginal Australian people on the whole were removed from their way of life through dispossession. They were unable to hunt or live on the land as previously was done and as Hemming (1998) states, many were forced onto missions to have any chance of
According to Armitage (2000) the English were able to remove lands from indigenous peoples under the belief that the land was vacant (vacuum domicilium) or there was no prior ownership (terra nullius). Ardill (2009) lists other reasons for colonising which came under International law these were that lands could be accrued through three means: conquest, discovery (terra nullius) or cession. The British had rights to conquer a land and its people, discover a land and make the assumption that due to the apparent lack of social organisation they were entitled lay claim provided they made an “Unequivocal act of appropriation” or cession would occur when the lands were formally given up or relinquished to the British. (Ardill, 2009). Coates (2004) also highlights the need for personal gain amongst leaders, people leading the charge into foreign lands were looking for fame, wealth, glory or the grace of god which was a driving force behind individuals actions at the time of …show more content…
The Torres Strait Islanders were subject to exploitation from the ever expanding trade of sea cucumbers and mother of pearl shell, they were recruited as a cheap labour force (Nakata, 2008) however they were still living in enviable conditions when compared with the Aboriginal Australian people. Aboriginal Australian people on the whole were removed from their way of life through dispossession. They were unable to hunt or live on the land as previously was done and as Hemming (1998) states, many were forced onto missions to have any chance of