From the first English arrivals in Australia, the Aboriginal people have lived in the shadow in their own country, with many issues that have not been resolved yet. Noel Pearson is one of the country´s most respected Aboriginal leaders and impressive intellects and powerful orators in Australia. He is a popular defender for Aboriginal rights, especially Aboriginal land. He has changed the approach to welfare, child abuse, child protection, education and economic development. In 2007, together with the Indigenous Affairs Minister Mal Brough, he launched a new welfare scheme for the Aboriginal people at Hope Vale.…
It is encouraging to see that people can still survive the way they used to. However, it is clear that non-indigenous people need to either leave indigenous people alone and let them live they way they wish to or assist them in living the way they wish to without pressures of changing who they are. This is the struggle of people of today; they believe their way is the better way. In actuality, the way we live today is not as efficient as the way we used to live. Ronald Niezen was able to capture the importance of the Cree way of life and share it with the rest of the world.…
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…
Ernie Dingo once said, “Aboriginal achievement is like the dark side of the moon, for it is there but so little is known”. Good evening everyone, it is my privilege today to inaugurate the Australia Day Film Festival. Ernie Dingo’s wise words express the indignation the Aborigines feel for their actions being neglected. This is perfectly highlighted in the two selected films that will assist in the grand opening of the festival. I am honoured today to introduce to you two musical-comedy films, Bran Nue Dae and The Sapphires, which share similar aspects in demonstrating the richness of Aboriginal accomplishments within the Indigenous culture.…
Dale Turner makes the point that, “First Nations have a stronger right to autonomy than other minority cultures because they never sought to assimilate into Canadian culture” (This is Not a Peace Pipe, p. 10). Speaker Mark Podlasly expands Turner’s point by claiming 5% of indigenous people make up British Columbia’s population, and 51% of Aboriginal people are forced to live in urban cities throughout Canada due to the problem that 90% of them are unemployed. Turner shows that Aboriginal people have a right and priority to their land and Podlasly shows what has happened when they are not given it. Since aboriginal people rely on their territory for supplies such as fishing, hunting, and gathering, they are forced into poverty when the government builds on their land because they have nowhere…
Then in the mid-20th century, as many were forced off the reserves and into town and cities, they were expected to leave their beliefs and traditions behind them. In response to this The Aboriginal Protection Board said they had to develop from 'their former primitive state to the standards of the white man'. This serves no rightful purpose as in effect the targeted Aboriginals lost their spirituality and become ‘No…
Aboriginal people lived their traditional way of life, within their natural environment, being rich artistic and sustenance based around gathering and hunting. Broome (2010) described the Aboriginal people as the residents that appreciated a loving extended family, the simplicity of bush tucker and the comfort of singing and prayer times, Aboriginal culture interpreted the spiritual connection they had with the land (Broome 1982). Aboriginal people wanted to be equal and live in peace as most of us do; they wanted to stay in their own lands, their homes that they have been in for years “Aboriginals wanted equality with white citizens in economic, social and legal spheres (Goodall, 1982 p 6). However the Aboriginal Protection Board did the exact opposite, it used its powers to control the Aboriginal people, separated them from their families leaving behind their freedom “Amendments to the Protection Act greatly extended state power over Aboriginals, particularly to restrict Aboriginal domicile” (Goodall, 1982 p 5). The Boards reflected poorly on the Aboriginal lifestyle and environment as Broome (2010) highlights the low status that reflected on their housing, clothing, fod, electricity and water.…
What are some of the theories about how native people populated or first came to the North American continent? Explain some of the evidence that has been used to prove some of these theories. There are many theories about who the native people are and where they came from. Some European theories include saying that American Indians were one of the lost tribes of Israel, that they were descendants of a Welsh prince, or that they descended from early villagers of Polynesia, Phoenicia, the Middle East, or Japan. One theory about how native people populated the North American continent is that they came by sea, moving back the time when they may have migrated.…
One leader in an Aboriginal community suggested that the administration in charge of policy reform needs to shift from the Department of Prime Minister and the Cabinet to a national Aboriginal body in order to maximize change but the suggestion was ignored (Holland, 2018). Instead of involving the voices of the affected, a system for applying for grants was introduced. The process of the application was very competitive which lead many Indigenous people unmotivated and lowered the participation of the Indigenous community with the government even…
Intertwined in the complicated history of the discipline of anthropology are the concepts of primitivism and unilinearism. These concepts appeared in the analysis of many different ethnicities described as less technologically and culturally developed than that of their Western European counterparts. The trouble with this concept being applied to anthropology is that when peoples are labeled as less developed it becomes easy to consider them less than human or primitive, thereby ranking another culture as superior. With these ideas of primitivism and unilinearism arose the concept of the non-adapting native or the native who cannot be taught. Alongside this trope was the development of the nonviolent native or the docile native trope.…
In summation, it is important to be aware of the Aboriginal cultural aspects in terms of axiology, ontology, epistemology and methodology when connecting with an Aboriginal individual or community on such a…
There are many conflicting ideas surrounding pharmaceutical companies going into developing countries to collect samples of native plants. This opens the door for many companies, allowing them to create and patent new medicines from the samples and traditional knowledge. Under the patent law, these companies do not need to share revenues from drugs developed in part from the exploitation of traditional knowledge. Allergan operates on such terms. However, recently it has transferred its most valuable patent back to the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe.…
Intro The emergence of indigenous courts captures the general public’s attention. Not only deploying innovative practices of justice, it acknowledges the devastating and enduring effects that indigenous people suffer since the period of colonization. Indigenous people continue to be disproportionately disadvantaged in the society. Since the early 90s, nations such as Australia and Canada begin to be more aware of the difficulties that indigenous people have confronted such as the effects of colonization, racism and overrepresentation in the Criminal Justice System.…
Aboriginalities essay “How have settler constructions of aboriginal people affected aboriginal peoples?” The settler voice towards aboriginal peoples, has ingrained constructs i.e. stereotypes, into society. These stereotypes have inflicted harm and severely affected aboriginal people throughout history and to this day, but in what ways and through which medians do these coloniser interpretations express themselves in society? And what are the responses of the aboriginal peoples who are concerned?…
One of the key reasons for the general mistreatment of one ethnic group by a larger, more powerful one is that the underrepresented group is seen by the latter as standing in the way of political, social, or economic development. These are all key factors as the mainstream culture attempts to assimilate the lesser and encourage them to “progress” while they refuse to do so. Their refusal causes indignation on the part of the mainstream public, leading to unfortunate social crises. However, the most devastating effects tend to happen to indigenous populations when newcomers begin to take advantage of natural resources and experience an economic boom as a result. This leads to exploitation of the land and, tragically, the people who are closest…