Indigenous issues in Indigenous issues in Australia Australia

Land, Heritage & cultural identityLand, Heritage & cultural identityA Holistic ViewA Holistic View

Dr Wayne Atkinson Dr Wayne Atkinson Senior Lecturer, Indigenous Studies Senior Lecturer, Indigenous Studies School of Social & Political Science School of Social & Political Science

University of MelbourneUniversity of Melbourne

Change & Indigenous SurvivalChange & Indigenous Survival Last two centuries (non-Indigenous Last two centuries (non-Indigenous

occupation) dominates the timeline occupation) dominates the timeline and highlights the intensity of change and highlights the intensity of change that Indigenous society has endured. that Indigenous society has endured.

Adaption continuity and the survival of Adaption continuity and the survival of Indigenous culture is the outcome that Indigenous culture is the outcome that is still to be fully recognised.is still to be fully recognised.

Recent changes witnessed have been Recent changes witnessed have been sudden with catastrophic sudden with catastrophic consequences.consequences.

Holistic connections with the Holistic connections with the LandLand

Indigenous people see the Indigenous people see the relationship between land culture and relationship between land culture and identity, as one, the heart of which identity, as one, the heart of which ‘is deeply rooted in our traditions, our ‘is deeply rooted in our traditions, our knowledge's, and the lands which we knowledge's, and the lands which we have inherited from our ancestors’. have inherited from our ancestors’.

Take away land, and you take away Take away land, and you take away our soul and identity as a people’ our soul and identity as a people’ (Dodson, M. 1994: 7).(Dodson, M. 1994: 7).

No Generic View of Indigenous No Generic View of Indigenous CultureCulture

Indigenous communities are extremely Indigenous communities are extremely diverse. Not one view but a diversity of views diverse. Not one view but a diversity of views that articulate themselves in different ways. that articulate themselves in different ways.

No one kind of Indigenous Australian or No one kind of Indigenous Australian or community which has an ’Indigenous community which has an ’Indigenous culture’- real and not real myth. culture’- real and not real myth.

There are There are regions regions which can be characterised which can be characterised by reference to their histories, politics, by reference to their histories, politics, cultures and demography's. These are:cultures and demography's. These are:

Regions: Settled Australia Regions: Settled Australia Stretching south from Cairns around to Stretching south from Cairns around to

Perth in a broad arc. This area is where Perth in a broad arc. This area is where most provincial towns and all major cities most provincial towns and all major cities and institutions are located, and where a and institutions are located, and where a myriad of small indigenous communities myriad of small indigenous communities and populations reside with a range of and populations reside with a range of histories and cultures.histories and cultures.

The impact of the particular frontiers in The impact of the particular frontiers in this arc and the outcomes for Indigenous this arc and the outcomes for Indigenous Australians are described in Mabo 1992 as Australians are described in Mabo 1992 as the ‘darkest aspects’ of our history as a the ‘darkest aspects’ of our history as a Nation Nation (Mabo, 1992 175 CLR 1, Dean & Goudran,JJ.(Mabo, 1992 175 CLR 1, Dean & Goudran,JJ.

Regions: Remote Regions: Remote AustraliaAustralia

Is where most of the tradition-Is where most of the tradition-oriented indigenous cultures are oriented indigenous cultures are located. They likewise have located. They likewise have responded to particular frontiers and responded to particular frontiers and now contend with various types of now contend with various types of Australian settlementAustralian settlement..

In a very general sense, the cultural In a very general sense, the cultural practices in these regions are quite practices in these regions are quite different. They are grounded in different. They are grounded in different cultural bases, histories and different cultural bases, histories and socio-political conditions.socio-political conditions.

Understanding Indigenous Understanding Indigenous cultureculture

Many non-Indigenous people have Many non-Indigenous people have attempted to bridge the divide of cross-attempted to bridge the divide of cross-cultural understanding. cultural understanding.

In his portrait of the Dreaming, In his portrait of the Dreaming, Professor Stanner argues that a greater Professor Stanner argues that a greater appreciation can be achieved by appreciation can be achieved by unlocking ourselves from western unlocking ourselves from western categories of understanding and viewing categories of understanding and viewing Indigenous culture and land relations Indigenous culture and land relations from the Indigenous perspectivefrom the Indigenous perspective

The Holistic Approach to The Holistic Approach to Understanding Indigenous CultureUnderstanding Indigenous Culture

The holistic approach to understanding natural and The holistic approach to understanding natural and cultural values is driven by a world view that sees cultural values is driven by a world view that sees everything being related and interdependent on each everything being related and interdependent on each other.other.

There is a need for a more holistic view in There is a need for a more holistic view in understanding land relations and health issues as one understanding land relations and health issues as one rather than separating them into separate categories rather than separating them into separate categories and classifying them in order of their priority which is a and classifying them in order of their priority which is a western construct.western construct.

Requires a paradigm shift in ideologies that have Requires a paradigm shift in ideologies that have proven to be not working in land, water management proven to be not working in land, water management practices and in general health care and well being- practices and in general health care and well being- change is a slow a generational shift or a chipping away change is a slow a generational shift or a chipping away process. process.

Land & Identity is the Land & Identity is the bedrock of Aboriginal Culturebedrock of Aboriginal Culture

–The significance of land to Indigenous people is the The significance of land to Indigenous people is the belief in its creation which is described through the belief in its creation which is described through the concept of the Dreaming. concept of the Dreaming.

–In the beginning, the spirit ancestors roamed the In the beginning, the spirit ancestors roamed the land creating the rivers, mountains and all other land creating the rivers, mountains and all other living entities. living entities.

–The spirit ancestors mapped the borders of the land The spirit ancestors mapped the borders of the land and endowed it with the laws and customs that had and endowed it with the laws and customs that had to be followed. to be followed.

–The spirit ancestors and their powers live today The spirit ancestors and their powers live today within the lands and are the essence of Indigenous within the lands and are the essence of Indigenous identity and culture.identity and culture.

Images of Creation: In

the Beginning

Lin Onus: Site where painting of Jimmy’s Billabong was created,1988

Key factors that need to be considered in Key factors that need to be considered in understanding Indigenous Issues in understanding Indigenous Issues in

AustraliaAustralia An awareness of the extent to which imported An awareness of the extent to which imported

constructs have been used to categorise, and to constructs have been used to categorise, and to create stereotypical notions of Indigenous identity create stereotypical notions of Indigenous identity and culture.and culture.

Aboriginal culture in its proper time perspective-Aboriginal culture in its proper time perspective-past & present as one holistic continuumpast & present as one holistic continuum

The concept of change adaption & continuity - an The concept of change adaption & continuity - an evolving process familiar to any cultural systemevolving process familiar to any cultural system

The existence of an ongoing-living culture that The existence of an ongoing-living culture that continues to survive and maintain its connections continues to survive and maintain its connections with the ancestral lands (Beattie,J. Other Cultures: with the ancestral lands (Beattie,J. Other Cultures: Aims, Methods & Achievements, 1964:241-264).Aims, Methods & Achievements, 1964:241-264).

Moving Forward with a Moving Forward with a Vision for a More Inclusive Vision for a More Inclusive

FutureFuturePride, Respect, Cultural Integrity, Shared Identity & Solidarity.