Aboriginal Culture
Lindsey joined us this morning to talk about Aborigine
culture. Aboriginal's have the oldest remaining culture in the world, over 60,000 years. Lindsey was born south of here, but also lived several decades in Alice
Springs. They moved back here when their son won a scholarship to High School. As
parents, they worried that he would get home sick if he was sent here alone. Lindsey
showed us pictures of various family members including his father, who is very
black. Lindsey is much lighter in color with blue eyes and his sons are lighter
still. Apparently, the white skin gene is dominant and future generations will
become lighter. He has seven sons from six different wives. You must marry, you
must marry the correct “skin group”. The tribe in divided into 2, 4, 6,or 8 skin
groups depending upon its size. A person is born into one of these groups, so
in addition to his personal name he has a skin group name. His father belongs
to a different skin group and his mother to another and his wife must come from
the proper skin group (different than any of these). This prevents inbreeding.
Lindsey explained that until 1967, Aborigines weren’t even
considered human according to Australian law. As a child he could not live
within 10 miles of a town. There have been times, when children were removed
from their families, in order to be educated. He related the story of one girl,
who was picked up by a school bus one morning, and didn’t see her family until
15 years later. Many worked for free, but after 1967, when they others would
have to pay them, they became unemployed.
The tribe/family is everything to an aborigine. After a boy
has completed bush camp to become a man, he is a provider – a provider to the
entire tribe, not just his wife and children. Lindsey has had 20 people staying
with him and provided for them all.
There are only 30 members remaining in his tribe, and he is the eldest.
Today, the government does provide them with money and food, but the food is
often the left-overs from elsewhere. Alcohol and suicides are a major problem –
48% of men aged 18-25 commit suicide. The average life expectancy of an
Aborigine is 17 years shorter than other Australians.
Traditions, from the story of creation to the methods to
hunt and fish, are passed down through stories, songs, and dances. Becoming a
man in his tribe involves an 8 week bush camp experience. To begin everything
including their clothes is taken away from them. They undergo circumcision and
various rites and need to provide for themselves from the bush.
Adelaide
 |
Big Red Kangaroo |
In the afternoon, we visited the Cleland Wildlife Park in
the hills above the city. This was a wonderful experience of being with the
animals. We walked from section to section and most of the time you were in the
fields with the animals: potaroos, wallabys, kangaroos, and birds. We had a
chance to pet a Koala again, and feed many of the animals. We met quite a
variety of kangaroos, the most common Eastern Grey Kangaroo, the Big Red
Kangaroo, and the Kangaroo Island Kangaroo. We saw a few in their mothers
pouches and young ones just starting to hop around and explore the world.
We also saw a variety of birds: Australian Pelicans, Black Swans, Emu, Magpies, Kookaburras, and the Rainbow Lorikeet. Everyone really enjoyed the park.
 |
Kookaburra |
After we returned I took a tour around town: the TandanyaAboriginal Art Center, the National Wine Center, the botanical gardens and the
Art Museum. I was somewhat disappointed, nothing really stood out as a must see
in my mind. We finished the day by having a delicious Italian dinner just down
the street from the hotel followed by Swiss ice cream.
No comments:
Post a Comment