1. Who are the Aborigines?

2. Aborigines

3. Aborigines Indigenous people of Australia
Have occupied Australia for at least 40,000 years
Arrived from Southeast Asia
The word aborigine means “people who were here from the beginning”

4. Aborigines
Developed efficient ways to adapt to the harsh Australian environment
Built containers for storing water and built wells to collect water underground
They were hunters and gatherers: ate animals, wild nuts, fruits, and berries
They were nomadic – moved from place to place in search of food

5. Aborigines
Archaeologists have found early Aboriginal inventions: rock art, boomerangs, ground axes, and grindstones
There is no written record of prehistoric Aborigines
Kept their history by telling stories that were passed down from generation to generation

6. Social Structure Consisted of a tribe or “language group”
A tribe included bands called “hordes” of 10 to 20 people
Hordes joined for daily food gathering and hunting

7. Where? Settled in the same places as present-day Australians
Climate was mild and water was available
In the tropical north, most lived along the coasts and river
Before Europeans arrived in 1788, around 500,000 people lived in Australia

8. Arrival of Europeans
Aborigines lived on Australia’s coast, which is where the Europeans wanted to settle
Europeans waged war against the Aborigines in order to take their land

9. Advantage of Europeans
Guns, soldiers
Diseases
More than half of the Aborigines in Australia died
Entire population died in Tasmania
(Sound familiar???)

10. What happened to the remaining Aborigines?
Forced to live on reservations in the Outback
Were forced to work for Europeans on sheep and cattle ranches
Laws were made to limit where Aborigines could live and work
The British hoped to end all Aboriginal culture with their policies

12. Aborigines Today… 300,000 live in Australia today
In the 1960s, policies were changed to be in favor of Aborigines
Can hold a seat in Parliament
Can have their own schools which teach their culture, language, and art
Live modern lives, some are teachers, lawyers, nurses, and politicians

13. Aborigines Today

14. Religion Aboriginal religion is called “Dreamtime”
“the Dreaming” is what Aborigines call the beginning of life on Earth
During the Dreaming, spirits created the land, people, and animals
Most of the spirits disappeared, but some live on in objects

15. Religion Believe the earth is a link to the spiritual world
The land itself is sacred to Aborigines
Aborigines have Dreamtime legends that describe how the earth was created…

16. Dreamtime

17. Your Task Create your own Aboriginal Dreamtime Legend
You may choose to write about
Why certain Australian animals look/act the way they do
How one of Australia's physical features was created
Why certain events in nature happen
There is no length limit, but your story must have at least 3 paragraphs. Be Creative!!!!

18. Your Task Create your own Aboriginal Art
Use the symbol charts as a guide
Remember that all Aboriginal Art revolves around nature
Be Creative!
Be Colorful!

19. Credits Google Images http://www.google.com/.
Discovery Education Images
Aboriginal rock painting of a kangaroo..  Image. 17 March 2011. <
The Aboriginals: Australia's First Inhabitants. EMI, 1988. Video Segment. 17 March 2011. <
Three Legends of Australian Aboriginals. EMI, 1992. Full Video. 17 March 2011. <
Mystic Lands: Australia: Dreamtime. Duncan Group, 1997. Full Video. 17 March 2011. <
Mullins, E. R., Jr. (2009). CRCT Test Prep, 6th Grade Social Studies Teaching the Georgia Performance Standards. Clairmont Press, Inc. Lilburn, GA.