Aborigines (Indiginous Australians)

[sierrabravo]

There are people on here that live in Australia right? I just watched the program series "The First Australians," which documents the plight of the Aborigines, starting in 1788 at Botany Bay when the British landed in Australia, the Stolen Generations and Terra Nullius. I have never been taught about anything regarding the history other than "Australia was colonized by the British in 1788, and they brought along prisoners." That's all that I have ever been taught on the subject of the Aborigines, other than what I learned on my own, or learn through main-stream television. What do you think of the Aborigines? Or your own history? I was certainly not alive when my ancestors took america from the Native Americans, or even when my grandfather's father fought for the germans in WW one. I accept that that's part of my past, and I know people today that still suffer because of the american land-grab... what do you think about your own ancestors? I would also like to hear from the point of view from an Indiginous person, if there are any here.

 

[Meirionnydd]

Uhm, in Australia the education system does teach a lot about Indigenous history. Although we don't learn about really learn much about the concepts of native title or terra nullius in high school. In University however, one of my law courses goes into great depth about the things that I mentioned earlier.

In Australia indigenous Australian's have lower life expectancy rates, higher rates of unemployment, poverty and imprisonment. The previous conservative government didn't really give a shit about indigenous rights, and curtailed native title claims. The current Labor government seems abit more concerned about indigenous issues. Which I think is a good thing.

Also, indigenous Australians are almost constantly negatively stereotyped by most people over here.

 

[kelvin070]

The same goes with the original american natives called indians. They used to be a deprived lot I guess

 

[Lord Stanley]

European colonization of new worlds (N America and Australia both) was not done peacefully nor democratically - people still live in filthy over crowded conditions and those not in jail fare no better - alcohol and drug abuse are widespread.....in an attempt to solve some issues governments have thrown money at reserve/band leaders but mis-management and corruption have often meant little progress for the people

 

[sierrabravo]

The same goes with the original american natives called indians. They used to be a deprived lot I guess

yeah i got an earful from a lady at work that is black foot tribe from montana when said indian.... she was like "fucking indians live under pakistan!"

 

[Keight]

Firstly The Term Aborigine applies to any person Native to their land... Look it up it will tell you no matter which country you are born in if you are a native of the land you are in fact an aborigine.

Secondly British Folk, (mainly) Or European folk lets say for arguments sake arrived in Australia to claim unowned wasteland which they could eventually colonize, Aborigines at this point were perceived as not fully human. They were punished and pushed of the land they were Native of forcing them to live in a way that was not deemed acceptable to the society the surrounded them.
The Settlers made a rule that all Aborigines be assimilated which would eventually replace the policy of protection against their own culture. It was basically a way of saying the aborigines were to loose their own culture and replace it with the White way. They did this with their children as well, taking aboriginal children from their homes and placing them in the typical "white family structured environment" Hence the Stolen generation. Which the prime minister tried to smooth over a few years ago by publicly apologizing to the nation.
Things have changed today though and aren't as bad as they once were, Aborigines are seen as equal to most however some still hold their original opinion which is ignorant to me.

Thirdly, I should know more about this as my family has a history of Aboriginality on my mothers side however i don't and its kind of a let down, I can tell you as many bits and pieces of things that you would like to know however getting them all together is a bit difficult.
I kinda hope i helped lol i most likely rambled on more than anything else lol

 

[sierrabravo]

I kinda hope i helped lol i most likely rambled on more than anything else lol

thats actually what i was hoping for, clear and concise, from a person that actually lives in australia, not just some website or book which god only knows whether or not the info is correct, since most people in school take books to be fact. I'm happy that I found a few people that knew what i was talking about (i had to type quick before it all melted away in my brain this morning! :24

 

[Alien Allen]

I knew little about the Aborigines in Australia. I think the first I heard was when Evonne Goolagong rose to fame in Tennis. I got the impression they were unfairly looked upon as lesser people. It makes sense what has been explained here in that it is a similar plight of the American Indians. The similarities are quite stark it appears.

 

[sophie]

I live in Australia, but am woefully ignorant on our Aborigines. I'm also woefully ignorant on the histories of the countries of my own heritage (Brazil and Poland), so I don't feel *too* bad for being ignorant on Australian history. Though I do wish I knew more about all three.

 

[sierrabravo]

i've always been big on other countries' history, but there are just so many! and you can't really blame someone when the american school system doesnt teach about another country's history... i felt bad that i was so unknowing about something that went on for so long only up until last year

 

[Keight]

thats actually what i was hoping for, clear and concise, from a person that actually lives in australia, not just some website or book which god only knows whether or not the info is correct, since most people in school take books to be fact. I'm happy that I found a few people that knew what i was talking about (i had to type quick before it all melted away in my brain this morning! :24

Ah Good glad i could explain it right, I was thinking by the end of writing it i was rambling on about shit and it wouldn't be understood i even though i may have offended a little, glad it worked out ok though

I knew little about the Aborigines in Australia. I think the first I heard was when Evonne Goolagong rose to fame in Tennis. I got the impression they were unfairly looked upon as lesser people. It makes sense what has been explained here in that it is a similar plight of the American Indians. The similarities are quite stark it appears.

If you actually watch the movie Australia, And Rabbit Proof fence, those are both stories with fact on the Aboriginal community and the way things went down years ago. Both movies good to watch as well you wont be dissapointed.

I've always been big on other countries' history, but there are just so many! and you can't really blame someone when the American school system doesn't teach about another country's history... i felt bad that i was so unknowing about something that went on for so long only up until last year

We dont learn an awful lot in school about our native history either which is stupid I mean most of the history we learn about our own countries is heard from word of mouth or stories that have exsisted for years. Unless our education is taken to another level after highschool we are taught very little about our own stuff and more of that of overseas.

 

[sierrabravo]

it seems nowadays education about history is a bit lacking, i betcha because they put history on tv now

 

[Keight]

Exactly! And when they put it on at the same time as a show that no one wants to miss thats when people tend to choose the lesser. Its a conspiracy i tells ya!