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The
first Australians
Historic
evidence proves that the aboriginees migrated from Asia to Australia
about 70-50 000 years ago, and in a relatively short time settled all
over the continent. They were hunters and gatherers who adjusted their
needs to what available resources were there. They were nomadic in the
sense they travelled long distances, following the quality of the flora
and the fauna
for survival. In good areas they could stay for long periods of time,
whareas under poor conditions they would travel a lot more. They carried
with them only the most necessary belongings and lived directly off the
land.
 The
aboriginal society was being run by a series of complexed and detailed
laws. All family members played a specific role in the the group. There
were no formal positions; the social laws were ruled by what was called
'The Dreaming'. It describes the connection between all things on a
spiritual level, both in life and death. This belief was expressed
through song, dance and art. The Dreaming is still a strong tradition
that has been kept alive through till today, and is being passed down
the generations via stories from 'The Dreamtime', legends about how all
things were created..
The
first aboriginees I met up through Stuart Highway were in Coober Pedy.
They were a bit of a sad sight. They were walking the streets, sitting
in groups beside the roads, and didn't seem to have too much to occupy
themselves with. A few came over and begged for money to buy
alcohol.
Now, Coober Pedy is not the easiset place to live in for anyone, and
alcohol was one of the really bad influences the white settlers brought
over from Europe, next to unknown diseases and various animal species.
Like the American indians, the aboriginees were initially kept under
control with this new and dangerous 'water', and like a lot of people,
they used it to escape from the hard reality which was brought to them
when the Europeans invaded their land.
Excessive
use of alcohol has been a problem among Aboriginals, but from what I
understand, they are now in the process of trying to get to grips with
the problem.The host at my motel told me that the
aboriginees have very strict laws for stopping their people from
drinking these days. The punishment is getting both your thighs stabbed
with speers. And some of the bars I visited had signs saying they were
not allowed to sell beer or alcoholic drinks to guests about to visit
Aboriginal land. Violating this law could lead to loss of liquor
licence.
Tandanya
All
the way up through the outback you will find historic places in nature
and 'museums' showing pieces of art from the Aboriginal culture. In
Adelaide there is a large centre for aboriginal history, art and
culture. Aboriginal culture and art play a very important part in the
understanding of Australian history, and at Tandanya we can follow the
aboriginals from 60-70 000 years back, through the brutal colonization
by the Europeans that robbed them of all their rights, and up until
today. Now they finally seem to be regaining some of the
respect and worth that they as the indigenous people of Australia are
entitled to.
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