Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Australia and it was through these commonalities that Aboriginal people were able to
communicate and interact with each other. In post colonial Australia, it is also the shared
history that binds Aboriginal people. Here is a brief description of the major events of
that history.
First Australians
Although academics believe Aboriginal people came from somewhere else, there has
never been enough evidence to verify these claims. Over the years, various theories have
been presented but have always been challenged. Scientific evidence places Aboriginal
people on the continent at least 40,000 to 50,000 years ago. This means that Aboriginal
people were here during the ice age and in the megafauna period.
At the time of European contact the Aboriginal population was grouped into 300 or
more different nations with distinct languages and land boundaries. Most Aboriginal
people did not have permanent shelters but moved within their territory and followed
seasonal patterns of animal migration and plant availability. The diversity of landscapes
in Australia meant that each nation varied in their lifestyles and cultures. Although these
nations were distinct cultural groups, there were also many common elements. Each na-
tion had several clans or family groups who were responsible for looking after specific
areas. For thousands of years Aboriginal people lived within a complex kinship system
that tied them to the natural environment. From the desert to the sea Aboriginal people
shaped their lives according to their environments and developed different skills and a
wide body of knowledge on their territory.
After many years of lobbying to have their language and culture reflected in the media
landscape, NITV hit the airwaves with the launch in 2007. The TV channel broadcasts
news, views and current affairs but also produces programs for children, documentaries
and sports programs. The channel is free to air on the SBS network.
Colonisation
The effects of colonisation started immediately after the Europeans arrived. Right from
the start was the appropriation of land and water resources and an epidemic of diseases.
Small pox killed around 50% of the Sydney Harbour natives. A period of resistance oc-
curred as Aboriginal people fought back to retain their land and their way of life. As vi-
olence and massacres swept the country, many Aboriginal people were pushed further
and further away from their traditional lands. In a period of 100 years, the Aboriginal
population was decimated by 90%.