...Indigenous Australian Cultures The Dreaming The Dreaming is the essence of understanding for Indigenous Australians, deeply rooted in the land and all it encompasses; people, flora, fauna and so on. “The Dreaming mythology provides Aboriginal people with answers to the great universal religious questions of humankind- concerning the origin, meaning, purpose and destiny of life” (Clark, 2003, p. 16). Constructions within the Dreaming are as varied as there are language groups, demonstrated in the varying name ascribed to the Dreaming itself, “Ngarinyin people in the north-west of Western Australia refer to it as Ungud, the Aranda of Central Australia as Aldjerinya, the Pitjantjaljara of north-west South Australia as Tjukurpa, the Yolngu of north-east Arnhem Land as Wongar, while in the Broome region it is referred to as Bugari.” (Edwards, 1998, p. 79). (McKay, McLeod, Jones, & Barker, 2001) identify up to twenty or more lessons can be conveyed in one story, including; customs, animal behaviour, land maps, hunting and gathering skills, cultural norms, moral behaviours and survival skills. For example; ‘Alinga the Lizard Man’, a story from Uluru in the Northern Territory, explains the use of the boomerang; or ‘Pikuw, the Crocodile’, from the Cape York Area of Northern Queensland conveys the offence of extra-marital affairs. The Dreaming is as much about informing the history of Creation as it is informing the structure for life itself. “The Dreaming ancestors provided...
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...Assessment 2: “Culture influences an individual’s perception of illness and health.” 1000 wrds There are many definitions for 'culture' with the anthropologist Sir Edward Tylor (1871) cited by Ravalico (2006) defining it to mean 'that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom and any other capabilities and habits acquired by a member of society.' Culture also influences how one perceives their health and the idea of what it means to have ‘good health.’ One community group whose culture strongly impacts on individual’s perception of illness and health is the Australian Aboriginal community. Aboriginal Australians have a shorter life expectancy than others (ABS 2008, Shaouli et al 2011) which threatens Aboriginal culture as ‘elders’are the transmitters of Aboriginal culture. Aboriginal people experience worse health and more disease with the latter being three times more than that for the total Australian population (NATSIS 2008 cited by ABS 2008). Culture is one of the many social determinants of health and affects health (Carson, Dunbar, Chenhall and Bailie, 2007). Some indigenous people are fatalistic about their health (Thackrah and Scott 2011) although most can access medical help when needed providing they trusted their medical practitioners (ABS 2008, DATSIPD 2009). Other obstacles include language, lack of public transport and telecommunications (Shaouli et al 2011). Therefore, the impact of culture on individuals’ health is crucial to...
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...of the cruel nature of colonisation, its impact on Aboriginals and how this colonial mentality is perpetuated through discrimination to the Indigenous Australian disadvantage. It states why the policy introduced by the government does not sound promising, what the Aboriginals wants and human rights implications in the issues facing the Aboriginals. Definition of belonging Belonging is the connection and relationship of individual with the world around him/her. (Jacques Dufresne….) Even though belonging has physical components, it can be felt individually, and develops to diverse stages with time and circumstances. This means that human state of belonging is not permanent. The status of belonging can be explicated by the choices that people make. The concept of belonging Analysing and reviewing sense of belonging I approached it by applying to my own being-that I belong to a family, my mother and fatherland, an ethnic/cultural group, a religious, professional and community groups. Within these groups I have forged good relations. The thrives that keep this profound affiliation going for me is the values we share, that include honesty, caring, sharing, participation, inclusion and respect. (The individual sense of belonging may differ and have the potential to fade away with time and experience. ) Ashanti family and culture In Ghana where I come from we have different tribes. Each tribe has it’s own cultural way of doing things that generate their sense of belonging...
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...This assessment focuses on the issue of Hotel Laeta’s corporate social responsibility and its duty of care towards the Indigenous Australian people. Background Aboriginals Australians are technically the first people who lived in Australia. Australian Aboriginals were basically the hunters who used to eat the animals they caught and were also considered as gatherers of plants which could be eaten. Some of these groups then settled on the islands and are now called as Torres Strait Islander People. 1. Foundational Aspects of Indigenous Australian Cultures (the dreaming and economic organisation) The term dreaming is a spiritual or a regional perception which not only goes back to the creation of the events but it also grasps the present...
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...Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and how the effects can be seen today. This paper aims to discuss how the assimilation policy and forced separation of Indigenous children from their families and culture has affected the mental health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. A significant undertone of the assimilation policy is racial discrimination (Haebich 2001), which is an additional theme explored in this discussion. Racial discrimination is built on a belief of superiority that one race is better than the other (Khalafzai 2009, p.10), which is relevant to the actions of the assimilation policy; the Aboriginal culture was devalued and considered barbaric and inappropriate to the modern colonist nation (Haebich 2001). Victims of the forced separation suffered severe psychological consequences (Petchkovsky et al. 2004), which to this day, haunt and affect the lives of many Indigenous Australians (Koolmatrie & Williams 2000). Furthermore, remnants of the past are still seen present time, through the discriminating treatment of Indigenous Australians, adversely impacting on their health, mentally and physically (Khalafzai 2009, pp.10-11). The forced removal of Aboriginal children from their families derived from an underlying racist judgment that Aboriginal culture was ‘inappropriate’ to the colonial attitude (Haebich 2001, pp.75-76). Aboriginal families were denigrated and deemed to be ‘bad environments’, neglecting the children’s...
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...The Australian legal system has not given the first land owners fair and just human rights but recently Indigenous Australian customary laws have started to be acknowledged. When the British Empire colonised Australia, the sovereignty of Native Australians were not recognised (Mabo v Queensland [1992]). Along with land rights, their right to hunt and fish have also been restricted which could account for the overrepresentation of Indigenous Australians in prison. “[Their] right to pursue a traditional lifestyle, a right recognised by the Commission’s Term of Reference, [which] implies a right to use the land to forage and gather food for consumption,” (Recognition of Aboriginal Customary Laws, 1986) has been overlooked. Aboriginal Australians...
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...Islander peoples have rich and diverse cultures, societies and histories that have been historically overlooked and degraded by other Australians. In 2008 Kevin Rudd made an official apology to Indigenous peoples across Australia for the suffering they had endured. The apology significantly impacted the lives of Indigenous Australians as this recognition acted as a fresh start to Indigenous and non-Indigenous relations. Furthermore, this historical event has been key to transforming educational practices, as Indigenous cultural and historical knowledge becomes more relevant to 21st Century teaching and learning in Australia. This essay will discuss the National Apology, its affects on Indigenous peoples and the...
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...Is the Australian government effectively making alterations within the Australian Legal System for the benefit of Indigenous Australians? Introduction The Indigenous Australian population consists of people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent. Prior to European settlement in 1788, Australia was occupied by over 750, 000 Indigenous Australians who spoke 700 languages between them. However, the number of Indigenous people in Australia has transformed since the devastating impact the European settlers had on Australia’s indigenous Australians. They were exposed to new diseases and violent conflicts resulting in a significant number of deaths. Consequently, today Indigenous Australians make up only 2% of the entire Australian population. In 1788, the European colonists settled into Australia as James Cook enforced the doctrine of terra nullius because he believed that it was, ‘no one’s land’ during his journey around Australia in 1770. The cultures of the Indigenous Australians have changed over the past 227 years, as the European colonists of Australia caused very prompt changes to the Aboriginal society and the ways in which they lived. Whilst a number of alterations have been made to the Australian Legal System for the benefit of the Indigenous Australians, they continue to fight to have their rights documented and acknowledged by the Government and the people of Australia. This paper will evaluate the arguments...
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...knowledge of Indigenous educational practices, and a lack of research into the high rates of detentions, absenteeism and suspensions for Indigenous students, attendance rates across all levels of education are lower for Indigenous students than those of non-Indigenous students. Research and government policy is now attempting to address these issues. Through culturally sensitive policies of inclusion, and focused strategies embedding Indigenous perspectives in education models, progress is possible towards alleviating the current poor state of Indigenous students in the Australian school system. The State of Aboriginal Education All young Australians are entitled to equal educational opportunity. Until Indigenous Australians can choose from the same range of futures as other Australians, we are not achieving our nation’s promise as a democratic society (Kemp, D. in METYA, 2000, pg. 3). Aboriginal people have been described as the most educationally disadvantaged group of people within Australia (ATSISJC, 1995). Their attendance rates across all levels of education are lower than those of non-Indigenous Australia (ABS, 2006). Poverty, health problems, infant mortality, infectious diseases, and a life expectancy that is between 15 to 20 years lower are all major factors adversely affecting their education potential (ATSISJC 1995; ABS, 2006). This essay will review strategies from government and private sectors regarding Aboriginal students in Australian schools...
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...decades. They also affect from a colonisation process that destroyed their culture, tradition, language, politics and economy (Holland, Dudgeon & Milroy, 2013). Their life has been changed suddenly and has devastating effect on their mental and health well-being. This essay will elaborate the reasons including social and cultural factors contributing significantly higher rate of mental illness and suicidal behaviour and mental health plans that the government has adopted to prevent self-harm and increase mental awareness. There have been a few researches conducted about Aboriginal people’s suicidal behaviour and self-harm. The definition of mental illness has been updated and a few times for the last 50 years on a regular basis (Parker &Milroy, 2014). Mental illness is also known as mental health disorder and it is very common in Australia. Mental disorders as defined by WHO (2016) is “comprise a broad range of problems, with different symptoms. However they are generally characterized by some combination of abnormal thoughts, emotions, behaviour and relationship with others. Examples are schizophrenia, depression, intellectual disabilities and disorders due to drug abuse.” Almost relatively half of the population in Australia suffered affective or substance use disorder and anxiety between the age from 16 to 85 in some stage of their life (The Department of Health, 2014). According to Australian government (2013), 7% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people hospitalised...
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...feel comfortable to read. What it definitely does deliver on is giving a better understanding about the aboriginal culture, the difficulties they face from white Australians in this country and how every person in this culture needs to adapt to the way of the ‘white men’. There are many consequences to this manifestation. For example, the fact that alcoholism and suicide is a common factor in the aboriginal culture. It is very sad that several aboriginals try to cope with the struggles they face by consuming excessive alcohol or taking their own life. This transpires very much so in Boori’s life. Three of his siblings committed suicide and alcoholism was around him when growing up. It is very unfortunate that the book does not describe the personal story of his siblings. It would have giving the book a different aspect of why his siblings would decide to take their own life. Boori gives a good description what the most likely reason was but only his siblings truly know. Nobody will ever know what their personal experiences were or what drove them to make this decision. Boori stated that he and his family are not that different from any other, only that their indigenous identity defines the way they life. The positive experiences Boori has of being an aboriginal comes from his family, which gave him the respect for elders, the land and the traditions of his culture. The negative experiences he has is facing...
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...outbreak. Unfortunately the Indigenous Australians were not able to quarantine the European colonists arriving on the first fleet in 1788 and there was no immunisation injections available to protect them from the colds, flus and other infectious disease that arrived with the colonist. In 2015 there are vaccines available to assist people develop a stronger immune system to help prevent some disease and medical technology has progress and people can now live longer than they ever had before. Unfortunately there is still a gap between the life expectancy of an Aboriginal Australian and a non-Aboriginal Australian. In 2010-2012 the average life expectancy for Indigenous Australian male and females were 69.1 and 73.7 while for non-indigenous Australians it was higher, 79.7 for males and 83.1 for females (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2013). This is similar in other indigenous cultures across the world, the United Nations declaration on the rights of Indigenous Peoples makes mention of the health of Indigenous Peoples right to health care “Indigenous individuals have an equal right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. States shall take the necessary steps with a view to achieving progressively the full realization of this right” (United Nations, 2007). What is the Australian government doing to assist the Indigenous Australian population to achieve and attain a longer life expectancy like the non-indigenous population? In 2008 the Council...
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...It is indeed an important date for the entire nation, yet behind the debate underlies more pressing issues that could be done for the indigenous Australians. Despite some of the recent improvements for indigenous populations, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics, the average life expectancy of indigenous people was still approximately 10 years less than that of non-indigenous Australians. Furthermore, the NWMR Koolin Balit PCP Consortium Project had found that the gap had widened for cancer mortality and there has been no improvement for diabetes, suicide or transport accidents in recent years. Incidents of mental health and incarceration continues to be an area of particular concern for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. And among all, a culture that is built to be welcoming and inclusive of all cultures is yet to...
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...Health of Indigenous Australians Name University Details Date of Submission Aboriginal and Torres Strait islanders in Australia suffers from poor health. The poor health is associated with poverty, malnutrition, overcrowding, poor hygiene, environmental contamination, and prevalent infections. Inadequate clinical care and health promotion, and poor disease prevention services aggravate this situation (Gracey & King, 2009). Indigenous Australian women have poor maternal health; higher rates of chronic diseases, poor nutrition and high level of urinary tract infection that contribute to pregnancy complications. Moreover, Mellor, et al., (2015) felt that, these people are facing a challenge to access primary health care because of distance and most of them live in remote areas. They also have a problem of chronic health conditions that require a range of services but not affordable. Lastly, culture contributes to poor access of healthcare services through language barrier; gender based cultural practices and ideals. The health burden among Indigenous people arises in non-remote areas since majority of them reside in non-remote areas (Vos, et al., 2009). Social and emotional wellbeing among indigenous Australians is demonstrated by a number of ways. They are traumatized by abuse, domestic violence family breakdown, cultural dislocation, racism and discrimination, rejection by family social disadvantages and drug and substance abuse. They also have psychological distress, a problem...
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...Assessment2 Essay 1 Indigenous Education and Perspectives Alana Zammit Swinburne Online University WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are warned that the following assessment may contain images and names of deceased persons The Stolen Generations – Assessment2 Essay 1 Indigenous Education and Perspectives Alana Zammit Swinburne Online University WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are warned that the following assessment may contain images and names of deceased persons Assessment2 2 As stated in the Bring them Home Report (April 1997) a national inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander Children from their families. It was first established by state government in Victoria in 1869. Then the other states followed. Later similar legislation is passed in other colonies: New South Wales (1883), Queensland (1897), Western Australia (1905) and South Australia (1911). The Northern Territory Aboriginals Ordinance makes the Chief Protector the legal guardian of every Aboriginal and ‘half-caste’ person under 18. Boards are progressively empowered to remove children from their families. The stolen generations has had a massive impact on Aboriginals throughout Australia. The Aboriginal people of the stolen generations’ lives have been changed and generations of families devastated from this. Children lost their parents and siblings when taken away. They also lost their culture. They were to develop...
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