What do you know about Australian Aborigines?

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R67 Australian Aborigine Culture

a. Describe the origins and culture of the Aborigines. Review Standard SS6H8 The student will describe the culture and development of Australia prior to contact with Europeans. a. Describe the origins and culture of the Aborigines.

Intro to our……. “Essential Question(s)” How did Aborigines migrate to Australia? What impact did the migration of the Aborigines have on the development of society and culture in Australia? How are the origins of the Aborigine people explained? How have the traditions and beliefs of the Aborigine people shaped their cultures over time?

Aboriginal Australians

The Aborigines Historians believe the first humans arrived in Australia between forty thousand and sixty thousand years ago. They traveled from Southeast Asia. They first settled in northern Australia. They may have used boats or walked across land that once connected Australia to Asia.

Europeans later called these people Aborigines, which means “from the very first”. Aborigines formed many different groups that lived in different parts of Australia. They spoke different languages. They developed their own cultures.

Most Likely Southeast Asia Where did the 1st Inhabitants of Australia Come from? How did they get there? When did they get there? Economy Government (Organization of Society) Beliefs Cultural Expression(s) Most Likely Southeast Asia Possibly by watercraft (small rafts) *Some areas may not have been covered in water as they are today (New Guinea & Australia may have been one landmass) Approximately 40,000 years ago

Aboriginal Australians

Early Aboriginal Culture Aborigines usually lived and traveled in small groups called clans. Clans included one to five families. They shared a common language and religion. Neighboring clans often traded food, tools, and other goods. (Traditional Economy)

Hunters and Gatherers Early Aborigines were hunter-gatherers, They hunted kangaroos, possums, turtles and seals. They used bones, wood, and stones, to construct tools and weapons for hunting. They used nets and harpoons to catch fish.

In the Outback, Aborigines used spears and boomerangs to hunt. A boomerang is a piece of carved wood thrown by hunters at their prey. Many Aboriginal tribes also gathered edible fruits and plants.

Most Likely Southeast Asia Where did the 1st Inhabitants of Australia Come from? How did they get there? When did they get there? Economy Government (Organization of Society) Beliefs Cultural Expression(s) Most Likely Southeast Asia Possibly by watercraft (small rafts) *Some areas may not have been covered in water as they are today (New Guinea & Australia may have been one landmass) Approximately 40,000 years ago Traditional – Hunting & Gathering

Aboriginal Australians

Religion and Art The religious beliefs of the Aborigines centered on the environment. Their myths explained the creation of the world and the origin of plants and animals. Aborigines used dances and songs to pass stories from generation to generation. Early Aborigines valued art.

They added charcoal and colored dirt to paint their bodies. They painted pictures on rocks, trees, and other surfaces too. Their ceremonies features dances, songs, and instruments. They also liked to tell stories to entertain and pass down their beliefs and history.

Most Likely Southeast Asia Where did the 1st Inhabitants of Australia Come from? How did they get there? When did they get there? Economy Government (Organization of Society) Beliefs Cultural Expression(s) Most Likely Southeast Asia Possibly by watercraft (small rafts) *Some areas may not have been covered in water as they are today (New Guinea & Australia may have been one landmass) Approximately 40,000 years ago Traditional – Hunting & Gathering Visual – Dot Art Musical – Didgeridoo Oral Storytelling

Aboriginal Australians

Most Likely Southeast Asia Where did the 1st Inhabitants of Australia Come from? How did they get there? When did they get there? Economy Government (Organization of Society) Beliefs Cultural Expression(s) Most Likely Southeast Asia Possibly by watercraft (small rafts) *Some areas may not have been covered in water as they are today (New Guinea & Australia may have been one landmass) Approximately 40,000 years ago Traditional – Hunting & Gathering Tribal (varied from group-to-group) Autocratic- Ruled by a chief Oligarchic- Ruled by a group of elders Democratic- group made decisions by consensus Animism – Interconnected w/ nature Origin Mythology – “Dreamtime” Visual – Dot Art Musical – Didgeridoo Oral Storytelling

What is “Dreamtime”? Aboriginal spirituality entails a close relationship between humans and the land. Aborigines call the beginning of the world the "Dreaming," or "Dreamtime." In the "Dreamtime," aboriginal "Ancestors" rose from below the earth to form various parts of nature including animal species, bodies of water, and the sky.

Animism= the belief that all things in nature have a soul. Unlike other religions, however, aboriginal belief does not place the human species apart from or on a higher level than nature. Aborigines believe some of the Ancestors metamorphosed into nature (as in rock formations or rivers), where they remain spiritually alive. Read more: Aboriginal Australia: History, Culture, and Conflict http://www.infoplease.com/spot/aboriginal1.html#ixzz3XBdYNE00

Australian Aboriginal “Dot Art”

What is “Dot Art”? The traditional aboriginal dot paintings usually represent a story, generally regarding hunting or food gathering. These symbols, when explained, give a whole new meaning to the painting. As the Australian Aboriginals never had a written language, these traditional dot paintings are in reality, the aboriginals way of writing a short story, which has not changed for over 50,000 years.

“Koobor the Koala and Water” Australian Aboriginal Legend The art of storytelling

“Didgeridoo”

What the heck is that guy playing? Aboriginal music is often recognizable for its most famous instrument, the didgeridoo. A wind instrument typically made from bamboo, it extends about five feet and produces a low, vibrating hum. Aborigines use didgeridoos in formal ceremonies at such events as sunsets, circumcisions, and funerals. Read more: Aboriginal Australia: History, Culture, and Conflict http://www.infoplease.com/spot/aboriginal1.html#ixzz3XBe718iG

Return to our……. “Essential Question(s)” How did Aborigines migrate to Australia? What impact did the migration of the Aborigines have on the development of society and culture in Australia? How are the origins of the Aborigine people explained? How have the traditions and beliefs of the Aborigine people shaped their cultures over time?

Cool Video on Australia’s Gold Coast (Brisbane and south) http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/short-film-showcase/spectacular-views-of-australias-gold-coast-in-time-lapse?source=searchvideo (4:20)