Aborigine Social Organization and Family Life

The Aborigine  social system can be seen as extremely complex, but incredibly organized. There are three different ways that it is structured: Physical and Geographical structuring, Religious and Totemic structuring, and finally, Social structuring.

Physical and Geographical structure can be explained from the top down. The largest group of Aborigines are known as tribes which can consist of about 500 hundred people. These people do not all necessarily live in the same area however. From this large tribe, bands of 10- 20 individuals are created that include families and extended families. These bands change from day to day as different hordes or hunting groups are created. These groups rely on each other to provide shelter, food, and company. These hordes or bands get their name from an outside, non-aborigine observer. The aborigines form these groups based on clans, totemic group or skin name.

When it comes to Religious and Totemic Structure, it can get complicated because there can be many crossovers and it can become difficult to differentiate between groups. The basic structure consists of two groups called moieties. These moieties divide the tribe based on connections made with different animals, plants, and the environment. An individual is born into a moiety and influences marriage practices as you must marry outside of your moiety, but always remain true to your original moiety. Finally, each individual is divided into groups based on connections to an object called a totem. The totem can come from an animal or plant or piece of nature. These objects are typically related to a person with respect to their ancestors.

The final structure is that from a social aspect. The aborigine people follow a kinship people and follow the rule that everyone is related in some way. In terms of European and Western terms, mother, father, sister, brother do not even begin the cover the different relationships that are formed among these people. They have over 70 different terms used to describe their relationship with another. These relationships determine what kind of obligations and how one should act around each other. However, they all still understand who their biological family is, but still has the support of the entire community.

Family is very important to the Aborigines, as they believe that they are all family in some way. The biggest "family" is ones clan. Each clan has its own name and territory, but often live in vicinity with other tribes to keep marriages together. It is tradition for the husband to reside in his clan, however the wife always belongs to the clan of her father. It would be like a couple in the United States getting married, and the wife keeping her surname.

Family dynamics have changed significantly as a man used to have on average 2-4 wives and sometimes up to 10. Today's aborigines typically have only one wife. A family that lives together can consist of a wife and kids and sometimes a mans parents and in laws. There is a mother in law rule, which states that a man or woman cannot directly communicate to their mother in law. Instead, they must talk using a third person. This rule is to avoid conflict that could arise. The Elders of the family are treated with the up most respect, as they are the storytellers educating the village of the past and present as well as giving advice for the future.

Stories are used by the aborigines to educate children about life as well as entertain them. They can also be used to know how and when to find certain foods, learn about people's heritages and different laws. Also to teach of the past and the origins of where they came from and how they came to be. However, some stories are considered sacred, and are not shared with everyone, only those who have been "initiated" into a certain level of life.

Aborigine children are very innovative and resourceful and make their own toys, and create ways to entertain themselves. They create different things, from boomerangs, spears, boats, model airplanes, torches, and even telephones. The aborigine people are known for their string games that represent people or ideas as a way of expressing themselves. An example of the string game is shown below.

There is a "Stolen Generation" of aborigine children that were taken from the late 1800's to 1969 in an attempt to pull them from their culture and have them raised in a western or European sense. Over one hundred thousand children were stolen from their families and one of three things happened. They were either put in in a government run institution, adopted by "white" families, or became foster children of "white"families. 

When the practice finally ended in 1969, and a program called Link UP was created as a support group for this generation to learn about all the customs, culture, heritage, and names that they never got the chance to learn about. Because, they had little knowledge of how their life could have been, it was difficult to find the families on this lost generation.

References

Australianmuseum.net.au,2012Family-AustralianMuseum.http://australianmuseum.net.au/indigenous-australia-family, accessed June 4 , 2015.

Splash.abc.net.au,2015TheStringFiguresOfYirrkala.http://splash.abc.net.au/digibook/-/c/619169/the-string-figures-of-yirrkala, accessed June 4 , 2015.

Welch,David2015AboriginalCulture-TraditionalLife-SocialOrganisation.Aboriginalculture.Com.Au. http://www.aboriginalculture.com.au/socialorganisation.shtml, accessed June 4 , 2015.

Changes over time

Worldwide change

Aborigine tribes from all over the world are changing. They are either taking in new technologies like agriculture advances or even TV, as seen on the polygyny documental in class or moving to more bigger cities closer to them. By doing this they are looking for a brighter future and a change on their lives. Some of them accomplish what they are looking for, other like Australian aborigines, have a much harder path.

Change in Australian Aborigines

Australia’s aborigines came from Asia 40,000 years ago and settled all over Australia. They made their living out of hunting and gathering. They lived in small groups and control their own marriages and society. They have different groups inside each society, which determines marriages and positions among them. These groups are Karimera, Burug, Palyeri and Banaka. Today some of these people from different tribes are looking for a change in their lifes.

Moving to the suburbs

Some of the aborigines decided to abandon their tribes and move to suburbs. By doing this, they decided to abandon their culture and habits looking for something better for them and their loved ones. Once they moved to the big cities, things were not as easy as they thought it would be. They started suffering all types of discrimination because of their different culture. They suffer discrimination from the people, police, education system, establishments and even from the government. There is a big unemployment among the aborigines, around 40%. This makes aborigines dreams of a better future still far away from them. There are small steps being taken from the government towards aborigines’ rights.

Constitutional changes

The Australian constitution was first created to unite Australia’s people, but the aborigines were never included. Since then they have always been discriminated and the constitution never gave them full rights. The people started to get more concerned about aborigines and started to push more on the government. In 1936 there was an increased Commonwealth control involving aboriginal affairs. In 1980 the Aboriginal Development Commission was established. It provided a solid base for economic sufficiency. In 1976 and 1993 the government returned some land to the aborigines. This supposed a big advance for the aborigines still living their traditional lifestyle. The latest and one of the bigger accomplishments came in 2013 when the first aborigine headed a state-level government in Australia by being elected as chief minister of the northern territory.

Australian aborigines are accomplishing some goals and earning more rights but the way is still long and more changes are to come.

References:

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia. 6th Ed. 2012. Australian Aborigines.http://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/society/australian-aborigines.html, accessed June 3nd, 2015.

Australian Aborigenes. http://siekman.tripod.com/presentday.html, accessed June 3nd, 2015.

Constitutional reform: Fact Sheet - Recognising Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people in the Constitution, 2011. Australian Human Rights Commission. https://www.humanrights.gov.au/publications/constitutional-reform-fact-sheet-recognising-aboriginal-torres-strait-islander-people, accessed 3nd June, 2015.

Aboriginal Societies: The Experience of Contact. Australian Government. http://www.alrc.gov.au/publications/3.%20Aboriginal%20Societies%3A%20The%20Experience%20of%20Contact/changing-policies-towards-aboriginal, accesed June 3^rd, 2015.

Aborigine Religion: A Blend of Mysticism and Cave Drawings

Aborigine religion is a blend of many aspects of the native life in the back-country of Australia. A close comparison of a similar idea is the Americas' own native tribes such as the Cherokee or the Apache. The main focus of the Aborigine religion is that there are many gods and goddesses, and they all have a certain idea, element, or ability associated with them. However, there are differences as well, as most of the aborigine tribes do not believe in Animism. Animism is the belief that inanimate objects such as a rock or mountain have a soul, however, the tribes do believe that a certain grouping of rocks were created by the gods for purposes such as worship and other activities. The most important idea of the aboriginal religion that sets it apart from all other tribal practices, is the focus of importance on Dreams. This Dreaming is considered the most sacred practice, as it is a conduit to be used to communicate with the gods and ancestors, to perfrom certain rituals, and other religious observances. The gods that they communicate are varied in depictions and jobs.

There are generally 3 categories that the aboriginal gods fall under. Some gods may fall under one, more than one, or none at all, however these categories are made for the majority of deities found by archaeologists, and anthropologists.

The first category is the Creation Gods. These are the gods that are believed to have created the land, bodies of water, animals, plants and humans. Each of the gods are seen as primordial beings, as they existed before recorded time.

The second category is the Ancestral Spirits. This category is self explanatory as the ancestral beings are considered to be the ancestors of the tribesman. Their jobs vary in teaching how to make a fire, how to perform rituals and ceremonies, and even teach and sometimes enforce, the rules of the village. The depictions made of the ancestor spirits are varied. The aborigines believed that persons soul could come back to this world not as a person, but as an animal or plant. So the drawings and depictions that we have today show variations between village to village.

The third and final category are the Totemic Gods. The totemic ideology is just as important as the Dreaming, which I will get to soon. The Totem system is derived from the original plants and animals that were created during the Creation Period by the Creation Gods. Examples of the totems are the first wolf that was created, the first vulture, even the first yam has been recorded as a totem. The totem system works by a family member drawing a connection from the Dreaming, and feeling what his previous life must have been. For example, if a young man feels a connection to a vulture, then he must have been a vulture in a previous life, and all aspects are derived from the yam family. Two people may share the same totem, even though they may be from two different families.

The Dreaming is a key point in the Aborigine religion. according to Aborigine myths and belief system, The Dreaming is not an allusion to a state of trance or dream, but rather a time period. The Dreaming refers to the primordial times, where the Creation Gods where just beginning to make the world. Through this connection, the tribesman are able to contact their ancestors from long ago, and learn about themselves, and the world around them. The Dreaming is an important point of ritual for everyone in the tribe, and is held with the utmost importance by the religious leaders.

Fauna and Flora are considered holy in all aspects to the aborigine tribes, as all life is sacred. However, it is not just life that is sacred, but all things. The tribesman in Australia do not believe in animism, however, they do revere many land based objects, such as groupings of rocks, and grove of trees and shrubbery. Many of the most important rituals and ceremonies that the tribes people perform are at these sacred locations. Many totems have also been found to represent these landmarks.




References

Austhrutime.com, 2015Aboriginal Religion. http://austhrutime.com/religion.htm, accessed June 4 , 2015.

Philtar.ac.uk, 2015Australian Aboriginal Religion. http://www.philtar.ac.uk/encyclopedia/westoc/abor.html, accessed June 4 , 2015.

Welch, David 2015Aboriginal Culture - Aboriginal Religion And Ceremony. Aboriginalculture.Com.Au. http://www.aboriginalculture.com.au/religion.shtml, accessed June 4 , 2015.

Technology Implements

History

         No matter what group one study, the technology and implements they have reflect the geographical location of that specific group.  For example, Australian Aborigines that live in the desert tip their weapons with stone, whereas coastal tribes use fishbone tips.  Some common Aboriginal implements include; knives, digging sticks, vessels for eating and drinking, axe-heads, and spears.  Aboriginal people are known for being the first to achieve two world firsts when it came to stone technology.  They were the first come up with the idea of a grounded edge on cutting tools and the first to used stone fish traps. The use of the grounded edge dates back over 20,000 years ago. It wasn’t until the outside world colonized in Australia that the Aboriginal people started to use medals, glass and ceramics.  The new implements were much easier and efficient to use.

Weapons

            Spears are a very popular weapon when it comes to hunting, fishing, and even fighting.  Spears were traditionally made from one single piece of wood.  The length of the spear varies from the different aboriginal tribes.  For example, the Tasmanian tribe had spears with the length of about six meters.

            Boomerangs are a tool used primarily for hunting but are also used in ceremonies.  The boomerang is built so that one side of the weapon is flatter and the other side is more curved.  The boomerang was used to kill small and large animals depending on the geographic location.  For example, heavy wood was used for hunting kangaroos, whereas lighter wood was used to hunt ducks on the coast.

Nets, Bags, and Baskets

            The aboriginal people mainly used different types of fibers from plants to make their nets, bags, and baskets.  The nets are a crucial part when it comes to providing sustenance for ones family or tribe. The fiber made nets, bags, and baskets were used extensively for fishing and hunting.  Some of these bags were woven so tighy and strong that they could transport water or any other type of liquid.  The Aboriginal women are highly regarded basket makers.  Some say the globalization of these tribes might make the unique basket making methods of these people go extinct.

Watercraft

            Canoes provided an easy means of travel and fishing for the Aboriginal people throughout their land.  They also provided the means for traveling and trading amongst tribes.  Tied bark canoes are popular along the east coast of Australia, whereas canoes made of hollowed trees are common within the Murray-Darling Basin.  Once again, the different types of canoes are due to the geographic location of the specific tribe

Shelter

            The type of shelter design and technology is primarily determined on the resources available of the location of the tribe and the current season. For example, on the Atherton Tablelands, shelters, or wiltjas, were made from cane and branches woven together.  They would then cover the main structure with grass and leaves.  On the coast in the Torres Strait Islands, shelters have a beehive shape due to the fact they are made from grass and a framework of bamboo pools.  There are many other different types of shelters, used by varies Aboriginal groups, all rooting back to the recourses of the geographical location.

References-

Australian Government, 2007 Australian Indigenous tools and technology. http://www.australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/austn-indigenous-tools-and-technology Accessed June 3, 2015.

Aboriginal Culture, Introduction to Australia's Aboriginal Culture. http://www.aboriginalculture.com.au/introduction.shtml Accessed June 3, 2015.

 

The Modernized Aborigine

Like many indigenous groups, the Australian Aborigines cultural traditions and practices are slowly being melded with that of the modern world. This process of cultural assimilation is called Globalization. Globalization is the process of international integration that arises from the exchange of various cultural ideas, behaviors, products, and practices. The gradual adaptation of modern practices into Aborigine societies is evident in figures such as education, life expectancies, urbanism, and intermarriage rates.

The rate of Aborigines (18 years or older) that have attained a year 12 or a skilled vocational qualification has doubled since the 1990's. This trend is the result of more Aborigines attending basic schooling in Australia. Although more Aborigines are attending school than ever before, the Aborigines typically score lower on tests and graduate at lower rates than the non indigenous population. A trend similar to the education of Aborigines can be seen in life expectancy. The life expectancy of Aborigines has increased due to the acquisition of medicines and other medical treatment. However, the average life expectancy of an Aborigine is about 10 years less than the un-indigenous Australian. Aborigines are also more likely to abuse tobacco, alcohol, and other substances.

Many Aborigines have left their homelands completely and have moved to urban environments. In a 2006 survey, it was found that around 31% of Aborigines were living in major cities and another 45% were living close to or in developed areas. The remaining 24% of Aborigines live in remote areas and most likely adhere more strictly to traditional customs. The proportion of Aboriginal adults that are married to non-indigenous peoples has also increased from about 50% in 1991 to 70% in 2011.

There have been negative impacts of globalization on the Aborigine community as well. In 2009, the imprisonment rate for Aborigines was found to be 14 times higher than that of non indigenous people. Also, the line between right and wrong for traditional marriages in Aborigine communities has been blurred as a result of contact with 'modern' peoples. In the Jamilmira's case, a 50-year old man was accused of having intercourse with an under aged girl. The man argued that she was his promised wife and that it was within his rights as a husband to do so. The case ended with the man pleading guilty to minor charges.

References

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2014 Life Expectancy. http://www.aihw.gov.au/deaths/life-expectancy/ Accessed June 3, 2015.

Australian Bureau of Statistics, Education and Indigenous Wellbeing. http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/4102.0Main+Features50Mar+2011 Accessed June 3, 2015.

Australian Bureau of Statistics, Imprisonment rates http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Products/CA5ACE72DF796D05CA257687001CDDA8?opendocument Accessed June 3, 2015.

Kimm, Joan 2004 A Fatal Conjunction, The Federation Press. https://books.google.com/books?id=c5CXSAoALn8C&pg=PA72&lpg=PA72&dq=jamilmira%27s+case&source=bl&ots=z-Bnd-ruhF&sig=aNhVbMX8OBQhVeJU1Fxq2ZuK_x0&hl=en&sa=X&ei=_UdvVYeLG-WxsATP64DwBA&ved=0CB4Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=jamilmira's%20case&f=false Accessed June 3, 2015.

Ethnograpic information

Australian aborigines probably came from Asia around 40,000 years ago. They landed in Australia when The Earth was covered by ice. Some of the aborigines that were in Australia crossed to Tasmania trough a land bridge. The groups that stayed in Australia are the ancestors of today’s Australian aborigines. They form more than 500 different groups. There are also more than 200 different languages and dialects. This means that there is a great diversity in cultures and an enrichment of Australia.

The society is organized by a system that defines kinship and controls marriages. Each tribe controls the marriages and they have to get married with certain groups of the tribe. These groups are Karimera, Burug, Palyeri and Banaka. The tribes are divided and organized in these four different groups.

Their religion is based on the Dreaming, which is the Aboriginal creation story. They believed that their mythic ancestors gave shape to a shapeless word. These ancestors also create life, as we know it today.

Aborigines today have moved to suburbs and lost the traditional ways. They suffer all type of discrimination from society and even from the government. Small steps are being taken by the government to help the aborigines improve their situation and just like the African-American situation in America, this is going to take some time.