Drew 8C
The effect of British Colonization on the
Australian Aborigines
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Before colonisation, Aborigines were seminomadic, moving with the food and
seasons within a certain area.
They were hunter-gatherers by tradition.
There was no farming.
The people held the belief that they
belonged to the land.
They tell stories of times long gone, in a time
known as Dreamtime.
There was a very strong focus on family
within their society.
Things were friendly at first.
The Indigenous people of Australia did not
understand the European belief that land
belongs to people, since they themselves
believed the opposite. Thus, they would get
shot by Europeans when they trespassed on
their land.
 The government gave every Aboriginal
legal status as a child, taking control over
their lives. This affected where they could
work, who they could meet, who they
could marry, etc.
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Aborigines were forced to move into cities and towns,
abandoning their beliefs and culture. Children of mixed
Aboriginal/white descent could legally be taken from their
families and forced to assimilate into white society to get rid of
the "unwanted third race".
 A famous example is that of three young girls, Molly Craig, Daisy
Kadibil, and their cousin Gracie Fields. They were stolen from
their home at Jigalong, and brought to a re-education camp
2400 km away. They managed to escape, and Molly and Daisy
return home safely. Sadly, Gracie was re-captured, and never
seen again.
 These stolen children are known as the “Stolen Generation”.
They often had a sense of not fitting in, as they never knew their
own culture and never quite fit into European society either.
 There were large amounts of segregation. Aboriginals were often
banned from going to certain establishments.
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Aborigines were moved into cities
among non-Aboriginal Australian
people. They were allowed to hold on to
their culture, whilst still becoming part of
the greater Australian community.
 This was a slight improvement, but it still
did not grant enough freedom for the
Aboriginals.
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Aborigines are given all of the same
rights as other Australians, and are
allowed to do as they please, practice
their beliefs, speak their language, etc.
They now get to live their lives how they
want to, and have a say in the laws
governing them.
Australians signed "sorry books”
apologizing for the government policies
against the Aborigines.
 In 2000, over 300,000 Australians got
together and walked across the Sydney
Harbour Bridge in what was known as
People Walk for Reconciliation.
 In 2000 Sydney Olympics opening
ceremony honored the culture of the
Aborigines for the whole world to see.
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http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2009/36
4/4/a/Australian_Aboriginal_Flag_2_by_E
mma_Constance.jpg
 The PowerPoints we were given in class
 "10th Anniversary of the Bridge Walks for
Reconciliation." Reconciliation Australia
Bridge Walk Anniversary. N.p., n.d. Web.
19 May 2013.
 Rabbit-proof Fence.
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