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The Aborigines of Australia

The Aborigines of Australia. Who are the aborigines?. The term aborigines refers to the indigenous (native) people of Australia. The Aborigines are thought to have migrated from Asia about 30,000 years ago, although some scholars think it may have been earlier than that (60,000 years ago).

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The Aborigines of Australia

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  1. The Aborigines of Australia

  2. Who are the aborigines? • The term aborigines refers to the indigenous (native) people of Australia. • The Aborigines are thought to have migrated from Asia about 30,000 years ago, although some scholars think it may have been earlier than that (60,000 years ago). • The Aborigines are one of the oldest groups of humans on the planet.

  3. Pre-colonial • Before the settlement of Australia by the Europeans, the Aborigines were hunter/gathers and live semi-nomadic lives. • They used throwing weapons such as spears, and boomerangs to hunt prey, and gathered wild plants as food.

  4. History and Culture • The Aborigines did not have a written language all their history and learning was passed down by stories and through art. • Storytelling was one of the ways the older generation taught the younger. • Art included cave, and bark paintings, dot and body painting. Aboriginals used symbols to represent natural surroundings.

  5. Pictographs / Symbols Kangaroo Tracks Goanna lizard Snakes Women’s Ceremony Men Hunting

  6. Aboriginal Art Dot painting - Traditional dot paintings were made in sand Rock Art Bark Painting

  7. Body Painting • One of the earliest forms of Aboriginal art • Used in traditional dances and ceremonies • Designs represented clans and ancestors

  8. Music • Music also played a large part in the culture with one of the most famous instruments being the Digeridoo. • It was made from bamboo or eucalyptus that was hollowed out by termites. • It is played by buzzing the lips and using a technique called circular breathing. It was only allowed to be played by men. • How to digeridoo

  9. Music • The bullroarer,or turndun, is an ancient ritual musical instrument and means of communicating over extended distances. • Bullroarers were used in conjuction with didgeridoos in initiation ceremonies and to keep away evil spirits during funerals • It was taboo for women, children, non-initiated men and/or outsiders to even hear a bullroarer. • The sound they produced was considered to represent the sound of the Rainbow Serpent or the voice of Daramulan. • Communicating with a bullroarer

  10. Spiritualism • The aboriginal religion is based on nature, humans and nature were on the same level. • The beginning of time in Aboriginal beliefs is called “The Dreamtime” or “Dreaming” • In Dreamtime, “Ancestors” came from below the earth to form various parts of nature, some became men, others animals, still others became rivers, plants, or the sky. • This is why one of the central beliefs is a deep respect for nature and all its parts.

  11. Modern Population • There are about 400,000 aboriginal people in Australia or about 2% of the population. • There are about 500 – 600 distinct groups inside the population.

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