Who are indigenous Australians?

Diversity

Aboriginal people have continuously occupied South-eastern Australia for at least 40,000 years. Thirty-eight distinct groups shared the land now called Victoria, each speaking a different language.

Alliances and enmities operated. Protocols governed interactions between the culturally diverse groups. There were systems of trade and individuals required permission to travel across the land of others. (ATSIC: 1990)

Indigenous cultures in Victoria are vibrant and evolving, incorporating both traditional and contemporary values. Present-day Indigenous communities reflect the wide range of backgrounds, cultures, experiences and viewpoints of their members.

Family and identity

Aboriginal identity was experienced traditionally in terms of tribal, clan and group relationships and was not an issue to be "proved" on an individual basis. Traditional lands are still fundamental to a person's identity.

Complex family and kinship networks continue to reflect identity, mutual obligation and duties of care. This is reflected in the use of kinship terms.

The mission system caused great social stress, because it did not respect kinship and tribal groupings and did not support the maintenance of traditional customs and practices.

Until amendments to the Constitution were made, the rights and liberties of Indigenous people were significantly limited compared to those of other Australians. For a seventy-year period, assimilation laws were in force, based on a government-imposed definition of Aboriginality. Legally, Indigenous children could be taken away from their families at any time, for any reason, without review. This led to the forced break-up of many families. The consequences of this persist to this day, with some people still seeking to re-establish links with country and kin, broken as a result of the child removal policies.

In present times, Aboriginality involves self-identification and being recognised by an Aboriginal community as an Indigenous person. The word 'Koori' is now widely used by the thousands of Aboriginal people living in South-eastern Australia as an expression of shared identity (Koori: 1990). Some Indigenous people prefer different terms, so it is advisable to ask.

Decision-making

Great respect is given to the Elders, who have important responsibilities for making decisions affecting the group. Generally, authority is shared and status is based on wisdom and knowledge. Decision-making is a consensus process in which all points of view are considered. Time frames for community decision-making may be longer than commonly anticipated in a business context.

Education

Traditionally, social and cultural knowledge was transmitted across generations through songs, stories, art and dance. The education of the young was a shared responsibility, with the role of parents and extended family members being equally important. Observation and practice were important ways to learn new skills. Some cultural knowledge is still privileged to either men or women.

The missions discouraged Aboriginal people from using their languages and passing on their culture. 'Koori English' developed as a recognised language in its own right. Many Indigenous languages were lost, but others are now being revived and cultural knowledge protected.

Schooling and educational opportunities for Indigenous children were limited to the standard and type to fit them for domestic and pastoral work.

There are now programs that facilitate the involvement of Indigenous families in their children's education and support the academic achievement of Indigenous youth.

Land and lifestyle

Aboriginal culture revolves around the land. Land has a central, overriding importance, with a physical, emotional and spiritual significance. Duty of care for country is a key responsibility and sharing is a core value.

In traditional times, clan and tribe sizes generally depended on the natural availability of food resources and people practised sustainable land management. Materials were used in creative and efficient ways to provide the necessities of life.

Border disputes did occur. Some borders are now being re-established by groups with native title interests.

Non-Indigenous colonisers with different land-use values were not aware of, and did not acknowledge, the prior occupation of the land or traditional systems of land ownership. Resistance and incidents of violent frontier clashes and massacres marked the arrival of non-Indigenous people. As non-Indigenous people settled land, Indigenous people were excluded from their hunting grounds.

Settlers' livestock and the need to clear land for them also severely affected other food sources for Indigenous people. The transition to the limited nutritional range of European rations supplied to them predisposed people to poor health. Lack of natural resistance to introduced illnesses and diseases caused widespread deaths of Indigenous peoples.

Indigenous people in some areas were removed by force from their traditional territories and relocated to unfamiliar areas. Where possible, they tried to stay close to their land, living in makeshift accommodation.

Surviving Indigenous people have adapted and worked towards the economic growth of the country in non-Indigenous terms, while trying to maintain their culture and links to land. They have increasingly lobbied for management of their own affairs and for equitable access to land.

Past events, policies and practices continue to have a negative influence on the Indigenous population, who experience a lower standard of living, reduced life expectancy, less access to health care, and fewer employment opportunities compared with other Australians.

Reference

VCM (2000) Building Relationships: Working with the Indigenous People of Victoria
Melbourne: VCM