In Case You Don’t Know…
Date: Thursday, 23rd November 2023
Authors: Muyao Zhang & Jake Koh
Hello World! We are proud to be Australians, and we are even prouder to have First Nations Australians whose breathtaking artworks and artefacts always spur our thinking and creating!
As you may come from a different culture, so, in this blog, let us take you to gain some bite-sized knowledge about First Nations’ past and present.
History and Demographics
Australia is made up of many different and distinct Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups, each with their own culture, language, beliefs and traditions. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are the first peoples of Australia, meaning they were here for thousands of years prior to colonisation.
Regarding how long Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have lived on this continent, upwards of 60,000 years is what current research reveals.
According to Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS), in 2016, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples made up just 3.3% of the Australian population, and of that group, the majority were under the age of twenty-five. They live in urban, regional and remote areas and are present in all communities, not necessarily on their traditional lands or islands.
(source: AIATSIS)
First Nations Vocabulary
According to an article published by Australian Public Service Commission (APSC) in 2022, Minister for Indigenous Australians, the Hon Linda Burney MP, advised to use the term ‘First Nations people’ when referring to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
According to Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS), there is a growing preference for First Nations Australians as a more encompassing term, because while it also is generic, it acknowledges the diversity of Australia’s First Peoples.
Languages and Dialects
250 First Languages were spoken around Australia at the time of the British invasion. There were many dialects within each language group. Today, only 120 First Languages are still spoken.
(Source: Britannica)
First Nations’ Culture
Firstly, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are the oldest living culture in the world, and some studies suggest that they can be traced back approximately 60,000 years.
Secondly, the Dreamtime forms an important part of Aboriginal culture and creation, and Aboriginal people believe the whole world was created by their ancestors, who were sometimes in animal form such as the Rainbow Serpent.
Thirdly, many Australian English words, especially some native animal names, are derived from traditional Aboriginal language, such as bilby, kangaroo, wallaby, barramundi, koala, wombat, kookaburra, billabong, boomerang and yakka.
Last but not the least, Aboriginal rock art is believed to be the oldest surviving human art form. There are thousands of ancient rock art sites throughout Australia depicting animals, food, symbols and stories. Did you know that the Aboriginal rock art in Western Australia’s Dampier Archipelago is believed to be at least twice as old as the pyramids of Egypt?
Acknowledgement of Country
We acknowledge the country where first nations have been.
We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging and celebrate the diversity of Aboriginal peoples and their ongoing cultures and connections to the lands and waters of NSW. We also acknowledge and pay our respects to our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people joining us today.
We respect the land on which we share our community together, and make every single piece of land form together, to become a community from our team to countries wide of Australia.
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