Indigenous Australians

Aborigines are Australia's indigenous people. The word “aboriginal” has been in use in English since at least the 17th century to mean "first or earliest known, indigenous" (Latin Aborigines, from ab: from, and origo: origin, beginning).

Australian aborigines migrated from somewhere in Asia at least 30,000 years ago. They mainly lived as hunter-gatherers. They hunted and foraged for food from the land. Aboriginal society was relatively mobile, moving due to the changing food availability found across different areas as seasons changed. The mode of life and material cultures varied greatly from region to region. The population was split into 250 individual nations, many of which were in alliance with one another, and within each nation there existed several clans, from as little as 5 or 6 to as many as 30 or 40.

Although there were over 250–300 spoken languages with 600 dialects at the start of European settlement, most of these are now either extinct or endangered, with only about fifteen languages still being spoken by all age groups. Aboriginal people today mostly speak English, with aboriginal phrases and words being added to create Australian Aboriginal English.

Though Australian aborigines comprise 500–600 distinct groups, they possess some unifying links. Among these are strong spiritual beliefs that tie them to the land; a tribal culture of storytelling and art; and, like other indigenous populations, a difficult colonial history.

British colonization of Australia began in 1788. A consequence of British settlement was appropriation of land and water resources, which continued throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries as rural lands were converted for sheep and cattle grazing.

The indigenous population at the time of European settlement is estimated to have been at least 315 000. In the years that followed, it declined significantly as a result of increased mortality and reduced fertility, and by the 1930s the total Australian indigenous population was estimated to be only 20 per cent of its original size.

In the 2006 census, 455 031 people identified themselves as aboriginal, comprising 2.3 per cent of the total Australian population.

Task 1. Find in the text words with the following meaning:

1. native, original;

1. divided, severed;

2. people, folk;

3. coalition, grouping;

4. threatened;

5. sacred, holy, divine;

6. result, effect;

7. change, transform;

8. decrease, drop.

Task 2. Answer the questions.

1. What is the origin of the word “aboriginal?

2. What was the mode of life of indigenous Australians?

3. What unifying links do Aboriginal nations possess?

4. How did British colonization affect Australian aborigines?

TEXT 6. Read the text and fulfill the tasks that follow it.

Aborigines today

Indigenous Australians experience significant socioeconomic disadvantage compared with non-indigenous Australians.

Following a referendum in 1967, the Australian Constitution was altered to allow the Commonwealth Parliament to make laws with respect to Aboriginal people, and to include them in national censuses, from which they had been largely absent.

The Australian Government is committed to the process of reconciliation between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians. Reconciliation involves symbolic recognition of the honored place of the first Australians and the implementation of practical and effective measures to address the legacy of profound economic and social disadvantage experienced by many indigenous Australians, particularly in health, education, employment and housing.

The Australian Government takes a leading role in reconciliation through its pursuit of practical and symbolic measures that have a positive effect on the everyday lives of indigenous Australians. It is also committed to closing the gaps that exist between indigenous and non-indigenous life expectancy, educational achievement, employment opportunities and housing.

From 1910 until 1970, between 10 and 30 per cent of indigenous children were forcibly removed from their families under state and federal child welfare and protection laws. The removals occurred in the period between approximately 1869 and 1969, although, in some places, children were still being taken in the 1970s. The Australian Government now recognizes that the separation of indigenous children from their families inflicted profound suffering and loss on many indigenous Australians. On 13 February 2008, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd issued a formal apology to the indigenous Australians over the Stolen Generations and pledged to improve indigenous education, health and housing.

Task 1. Find in the text English equivalents for the following:

1. неблагоприятные условия;

2. перепись населения;

3. приверженный чему-л., активно участвующий в каких-л. событиях;

4. восстановление дружественных отношений, примирение;

5. исполнение, осуществление;

6. наследие;

7. устранить ощутимую разницу;

8. продолжительность жизни;

9. законы о социальном обеспечении и защите детей;

10. глубокие страдания;

11. официальные извинения.

Task 2. Answer the questions.

1. What disadvantages do indigenous Australians experience?

2. What process is the Australian Government committed to to close the gaps between indigenous and non-indigenous population?

3. Describe the policy of the Stolen Generations.

4. What was a recent step taken by the Australian Prime Minister to improve the situation?