Aboriginal in Australia Group 8: April 2014

Background

The word Aboriginal can be translated to mean "first", hinting they are the original settlers of Australia. They are estimated to have arrived to the Australian content anywhere from 40,000 to 80,000 years before European settlements. Specifically in Australia the Aboriginal Australians remain to have a bushman style and many other lives in slums on the outskirts of towns.

Aborigine people are among the earliest human migrations out of Africa. It is unlikely that they directly traveled from Africa to Australia but probably migrated through Southeast Asia.

The Aborigine people were hunter gatherers. They respected the land and the animals. They knew not to over hunt or plant, in order to save their resources for the next season. The Aborigines had such an abundance of resources that they had more time to expand their knowledge and culture, unlike other indigenous tribes. Then, in 1770 Lt James Cook discovered Australia and with him came disease, colonization, and eventually invasion.

Monday, April 7, 2014

Medicine

Aboriginal medicine consists of remedies handed down from previous generations. Being altered along the way because of their dynamic ways due to not having a written language. Prior to European colonization it is believed that the Aboriginals lived pretty healthy lives, only getting minor illnesses. However, the Europeans brought diseases such as measles, tetanus, chickenpox, smallpox, influenza, tuberculosis, syphilis, and other illnesses.

Minor illnesses such as headache, congestion and fevers are treated with remedies. Remedies can involve drinks or topical treatments washes and massages. The drinks are made from specific plants depending on the illness, and lotions used for massages are also made of plants and tree saps.

Major illness may call for a specialized doctor. Similar to other indigenous people, the Aboriginals believed that when someone had a major illness it was not a virus or bacterial infection, but sorcery or spirits. Tribes have healers whom are believed to hold special abilities given from their Spiritual Ancestors who provide them power through the kinship. Healers are expected to diagnose cause of illness, advice certain health aiding remedies and perform healing rituals. Typically the male healers handle sickness, while women are more involved with group healing ceremonies.

Since colonization Australian Aboriginals have accepted western medicines, but still use and prefer their using traditional health remedies.

Vision

The iCross-Cultural Citizen Project’s vision is to create an online cross-cultural space for students, professionals, and youth to learn and exchange cross-culturally sensitive information about contemporary indigenous experiences. From that outsider student’s perspective, we will try to theoretically explore possible collaborative solutions to problems that affect the indigenous populations of our planet. Finally, we hope for the future creation of a space where indigenous youth can share their experiences and their realities with us for real mutual collaboration to take place.