Modul 3
Aborigines
Past – Present - Future
I.
The Dreaming
Aboriginal creative epoch = fundamental
reality
Ungud

Ngarinyin Tribe
Al djerinya

Aranda Tribe
Tjukurpa

Pitjantjatjara Tribe
Wonger

Yolngu
Bugaria

Broome
II.
Functions of The Dreaming
1 Creative epoch
 Preexistent substance 
dormant under the surface
 Formless  combined with
in instances

Human

Fauna

Flora
Timeless  cyclic  every
when
 Origin
 Super beings, tracks and
activities  rocks,
mountains,
trees, coves,
waterholes etc

1 A pattern of life
 Super beings moved the
surface
 Super beings performed daily
activities models for
ways of
life of the Aborigins
 Land  the arena in which the
activities of super beings were
and are enacted  all the
land is a sacred site
 Most social behavior  public
1 Law
 Customary law religious
sanctions
 Rules for living
 For the land and its
inhabitants
 No formal court
 Problems were handled
informally by a council of
elders

The law covered

Homocide

Sacrilege

Sorcery

Incest

Abduction of women

Adultery







Physical assault
Theft
Insult
Care of sacred
objects
Labour division /
gender
Ritual
Kinship rules
III.
The Application of Terra Nillius
British / White
Australia  land
occupied by people
without settled laws
Protection only for
the Whites
· Owning the land
Aborigines
The dreaming / their
law
No law protection
~ Resistance
~ Massacres
~ Genocide
No sovereignty and
rights to the land
British / White
Obtaining their
fundamental human rights
Aborigines
Denial fundamental
human rights :
~ Children were removed
from the parents
~ Limited the right to marry
~ Restricted freedom of
movement
~ Living on the
reservations
~ Controlled marriage,
property and
employment
IV.
The Differences
Aspects
Aborigines
White
Time
Cycle
No present
and past
Linear
Distinguished
present and
past
Land
rights
Communal
ownership
Sacred site
Individual
ownership
Economic
sources
Aspects
Beliefs
Aborigines
No recognition
on dichotomies
White
General
acceptance of
dichotomies
natural = cultural natural >< cultural
material
material =
><spiritual
spiritual
past >< present
past = present
secular = sacred secular >< sacred
subject = object subject >< object
sin >< innocent
sin = innocent
V.
The Impacts of Terra Nillius
Aborigines suffer from
1 Two centuries of invasion
1 Dispossession
1 Racism
1 Sufferings of racism
Creating The Images
Such source include :
1 The writings of early arrivals
1 Diaries
1 Official documents
1 Education and school textbooks and
1 Paintings
The representation of Aboriginal people in
early texts on Australian history has been
categorized in the following ways :
1 The colonial presumption
1 Inadequate treatment
1 Stereotypes and derogatory concepts
1 The exotic stress
1 Objects for study and discussion
1 Distortion and euphemism
Stereotypes and misinformation relating to
Aboriginal Australians such issues as :
1 Aboriginal people and alcohol
1 Whether Aboriginal people are really
lazy
1 The availability of funds in Aboriginal
affairs
1 The “special treatment” and “special
privileges” of Aboriginal people
1 Sacred sites, land rights and
development
Reconciliation
1 Improving health, housing, education &
employment
1 Giving economic development
1 Helping the Aborigines achieve
economic independence
1 Establishing programs in Reconciliation
Australia
Famous Aborigines
Achievement
Cathy Freeman
 Spinter 2 golds medals
Maurice Rioli
 North Territory Legilative
Council
Mark Ella
 Captain in International
Sporting Competition