I lived in an inland rural area of New South Wales, and after finishing school I moved to Kununurra, a northern remote area in Western Australia. This was a place where my knowledge and understanding of the Aboriginal people their culture, history and identity was largely developed. I was exposed to so many dimensions of the different ways they lived, whether it was traditionally in remote communities or within the township. This exposure tested and challenged my thoughts, it lead me to further question some of the reasons why the Aboriginal people had vastly different ways of living. During the 3 years I lived in Kununurra I gained much repect for their culture and…
This is because all aspects of Aboriginal spirituality and life such as their belief systems, rituals, totemic responsibilities, traditions and laws are rooted in the stories of the Dreaming which are intimately connected with the land. Therefore, the religious and political Land Rights movement that aimed to regain access and ownership to sacred sites and traditional lands was paramount in attempting to re-establish ceremonial life, reconnect the Dreaming and preserve Aboriginal spirituality which was lost as a result of European settlement. Regaining access to sacred sites was especially important so balance rites and rituals could be fulfilled. Aboriginal people believe they are custodians of the land, which is the resting place of ancestral beings and totems which form the foundation of beliefs and traditions, so land rights promoted conservation of their culture and fulfilment of their role. Connection to the Dreaming was, therefore, an inextricable driving force for the Land Rights…
Eddie Mabo had great significance in the role of campaigning indigenous land rights and to help make a change of the struggle for rights and freedom of the Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people. The Mabo case was a significant legal case held in Australia to the High court of Australia, that recognized land rights of the indigenous people. Eddie Koiki Mabo was born on the 29th of June 1936, on Murray island located in the Torres Strait. His mother had died giving birth and because of this, he was adopted by his uncle Benny Mabo and he changed his surname from Sambo to Mabo. Eddie was taught about his family's land from a young age and the importance of taking care of it.…
Aboriginal sites are as significant and essential today, as they were thousands of years ago. The sites will continue to play a fundamental role in the lives of Aboriginal people and Western Australian heritage. These places and the grounding beliefs they give expression to, will continue to be of great significance in contemporary social and spiritual life. In conclusion, one has to experience and go through the ways of Noongar traditional customs to get a better grip of what’s Noongar country truly means.…
Writer Roderick Nash argues that wilderness is the antithesis to the human paradise in satisfying our interests (Nash, xii). Henry David Thoreau advocates that “in wilderness is the preservation of the world” (Cronon, 471). Environmental activist Gary Snyder believes wilderness to be “a person with a clear heart and open mind can experience the wilderness anywhere on earth. It’s a quality of one’s own consciousness” (Cronon, 495). Author Bill McKibben believes there is no wilderness and “we must accept the fact that no area on earth remains pristine or fully free of human influence” (Waller, 545).…
Controversy – Australians travelling to Bali The picturesque natural landscape of Indonesia’s tourist hotspot Bali, has become a dumping ground for the filth flown in by the hundreds daily. Now am I talking about carbon emissions from those underwhelming Jetstar 737’s? I wish. No, unfortunately not.…
In this article, Nelson discusses indigenous traditions and explains the connection between them and the environment. Nelson uses personal examples of how traditions benefit the survival of indigenous groups. He also uses examples from his stay with indigenous tribes to show the connection between indigenous people and nature. The article is written well with a clear objective and good supporting details. His argument is also properly supported with evidence.…
Aboriginal Spirituality is inextricably amalgamated to the Dreaming, in which the adherent is provided with grounding in the past, present and future- a vehicle for posterity in finding meaning and purpose. Here, “the Dreaming can be seen as an embodiment of Aboriginal creation which gives meaning to everything”, exemplifying the importance of Dreaming in determining Aboriginal Spirituality. Furthermore, the Ku Ring Gai people’s rainbow serpent creation story of Ku Ring Gai National Park accentuates this inextricable connection as it provides sacred sites and a sense of identity for the tribe. Dreaming also dictates kinship of tribes, a significant aspect of spirituality with the Kinship group subtending from Dreaming as well as the territory…
As Australians we are proud of our culture we deem fair and just. Yet we often forget the prosperity of Australia was in great part the result of dispossessing the Aboriginal people of their lands. The Aboriginals lived peacefully, their culture and society sacred and complex. The land, a fundamental component of their spirituality and identity. However with the arrival of the British, Australia was declared Terra Nullius, a land that belonged to no one.…
The struggle for land rights that occurred over 213 years ago has made a mark in history as one of the most racial inequality events of all time and Indigenous Australians have continued to fight for their land ever since. The first Aboriginal political organisation was formed in the 1920’s. Two of the most well known aboriginal organisations would be the Australian Aborigines League (AAL) and the Aborigines ' Progressive Association (APA). These organisations played a massive role in the movement for Indigenous Australian rights. As many of these Indigenous Australians fought for what they believed was fair this caused multiple different problems for them whether they were bashed, taken from their homes and discriminated everywhere they went.…
The issue of Indigenous Land Rights raised by tourism and why indigenous people and their land rights are fundamental for sustainable tourism. Canadian Indigenous issue. The Inuvialuit community in Arctic Canada sees their land as caretakers of their territory and land rights enable indigenous individuals to settle in an area that has a place with a country state as a result of a constant use and occupation all through time authority is called ‘ancestral title.…
Dispossession of Indigenous People The dispossession of indigenous people in the United States and Australia during nation-building effectively removed them from lands indigenous people thought no one could own. Through unfair acts of legislature the nations were effective in corralling the natives into reserves and in the case of the Aboriginals creating laws to govern and control every aspect of their lives. It is a detriment to a new nation to enter a new land, claim dominion and to then exclude its native peoples from becoming an integral part of a new nation and society.…
The Aboriginal Crisis: This is not a party problem; this is a Canadian problem Lack of health care, widespread poverty, employment barriers, high suicide rates, drug abuse, segregation, and lack of drinkable water. These are conditions commonly used to describe developing countries, yet they describe a majority of Canada’s Aboriginal reserves. For a country who have cities on several, notable “Most Livable” lists, these conditions seem foreign. Varying political parties have tried to blame one another for this problem, however, the lack of urgency to solve these issues have been apparent in all ruling parties over the years. This is not a party problem; this is a Canadian problem.…
Canada is such a diverse nation, its physical diversity, people, natural resources and global connections all demonstrate this. Latitude, evils of society, Alberta oil sands, and the UN affects Canada physically and culturally. Physically, latitude affects the climate. Culturally, the evils of society affect the way people think about Canada. However, Canada does have some positive factors; such as the oil industry and being apart of the UN.…
Good morning, tourists, you are now sitting in front of the most famous rock in Australia—if not the world—Uluru. Just look at this gigantic sandstone monolith. Doesn’t its burning red colour give you thrills? It is the heart of Australia. Whenever you look at the rock, it is always there, radiating its fiery passion.…