The term called Aboriginals of Australia is related to encompass two groups: Torres Strait Islander people and Aboriginal people. However, the majority of aboriginals and Torres Strait islander do not like to be referred to as indigenous because it is considered as too generic for them. The government of Australia identifies numerous groups like Hinchinbrook Island, Fraser Island, Tasmania, Groote Eylandt, and Kiwi Islands who were the Aboriginal of this country. While the demographic section of Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders are vital in the classification of real Australian Aboriginals. All in all, it is about groups that originated over half a million years ago.
In this article, we are going to discuss western systems and structures impact on aboriginal and torres strait islander cultures. We also are going to talk about the distinctive characteristics of the culture that was followed by the aboriginals.
Who are Aboriginal Australians?
The definition of aborigines has varied from time to time. It is dependent on its significance that has been traced in community acceptance, self-identification, and family lineage. The definition of real Aboriginal of Australia plays a vital role in such an interesting past of Australia. According to the cultural ministry, if the whole community identifies any person as one of them then it becomes a member of the aborigine community.
How do western systems and structures impact aboriginal and Torres strait islander cultures?
When it comes to the population of Aboriginals it has always become a concern from the inception of Australia. The number of policies and schemes implemented by the government of Australia upheld the indigenous form such downtrodden section for the society. All of these policies which were implemented by the government are based on the ideologies like reconciliation, assimilation, protections, self-empowerment, etc. here are some of the major policies that were implemented by the government.
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Impact of western systems and structures aboriginal
As an intention of the things like self-empowerment, protections, etc the government of Australia has always been experimenting with several policies. But because of such policies, Aboriginals had to address many problems like lost their culture and land just because of the invasion of intruders into the country.
On the opposite side, it increases the availability of some basic needs like medical centres, information technology, education centres, etc. help to uphold the life standard of the Aboriginal Australian. Just because of the invasion of Europe the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders could able to get exposure at such a global level.
Sustaining downsides
Still now we just explore the one side of the coin, but by the western influences on the aboriginal communities and cultures had to face some drawbacks too.
Due to the various program and schemes implemented by the Government over different times, the societal gap between the non-Aboriginal and the real Aboriginal of and Torres Strait Islander community has almost vanished. Even the Aboriginals still couldn’t able live as an independent and empowered group. There are still some problems like poverty and unemployment has faced by the majority of aboriginals.
Impact over the Traditional Authority
Due to the western systems and structures and invasion of the Europeans into the land of Australia, it mutilated the customary practices and traditional authority of the Aboriginals. Even in the majority of cases, the whole community has been exploited by intruders. On the other side, the government of Australia is still not aware of the laws and customs followed by the aboriginals that result in huge damage that is not only limited to the influence made by the mass media and intoxicating substances.
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Aboriginal Development commission 1983
In 1983, the government of Australia established the Aboriginal Development Commission to ascertain the current position of the Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders. As per the report of the community, there were more than 6000 people who belong to the aboriginals still not get houses. On the other side, more than 2000 houses were built by the commission for them.
Here are the major things that the commission found in the report:
- The crime rate in the aboriginals has increased dramatically as compared to the non-aboriginals, even it is much higher than them.
- The commission reveals the data that more than 80% of the aboriginals couldn’t provide primary education to their children.
- While the life expectancy of the aboriginals was as much lower than any other resident of Australia.
