1. Aboriginal belief systems and spirituality

2. Use of ‘Aborigine’ and ‘Aboriginal’
‘Aborigine’ is a noun meaning from the beginning, given to the indigenous Australians by the Europeans.

3. Use of ‘Aborigine’ and ‘Aboriginal’
The word ‘aborigine’ refers to an indigenous person of any country
When referring to a particular group of people it should be spelt with a capital ‘A’, that is, Aborigine

4. Origins of Aboriginal People
Certainly been in Australia for at least years.
Reliable evidence up to years.
Controversial evidence suggests up to
to years.

5. Survival of Aborigines
Required intimate knowledge and understanding of the environment and
The capacity to interpret and adapt to the changing nature of the environment.

6. Diversity
Has always been a feature of Aboriginal society.

7. Common features of Australian Aboriginal cultures
Highly developed social systems
Deeply spiritual
And closely associated with nature and the land.

8. At the time of colonisation the Aboriginal way of life was still:
Nomadic or semi-nomadic
Hunting and gathering
Using stone tools

9. An apparent simple lifestyle resulted in two misconceptions
Aboriginal people were culturally uniform.
Aborigines had little attachment to the land and made little use of it.
This lead James Cook to describe the continent as terra nullius

10. Two separate groups make up the original Australians
Aborigines
Torres Strait Islanders