Aboriginal Australians Facts for Kids

Introduction – Who Are Aboriginal Australians?

Aboriginal Australians are various indigenous peoples found in the continent of Australia. They have lived in Australia for more than 65,000 years according to archaeologists. The Aboriginal Australians were colonised by the British in 1788 and their land was stolen from them.

Where Do Aboriginal Australians Live?

Aboriginal Australians used to inhabit the entire continent of Australia, but due to colonization their land was stolen. The people now do not have their own protected land in Australia but they live in cities, towns and communities just like you.

Traditional Aboriginal Life

The traditional Aboriginal life revolved around religion and customs, while their daily life was spent hunting, fishing and gathering resources from the land. The people used tools like daggers and spears made out of sharpened stones to hunt animals like:

Kangaroos
Possums
Wild Turkeys
Anteaters

Children were also taught from a young age, on basic survival and hunting skills. As the people did not grow crops nor domesticate animals, hunting and gathering was their main resource.

What Is Aboriginal Dreamtime?

The term Dreamtime describes spiritual beliefs of the Aboriginal people. The first nation believes that the dreamtime was at the very beginning, where the land and people were created by spirits. The Rivers, lakes, plants, animals, everything was created and the spirits gave the people hunting tools and land. The Dreamtime is considered to be a foundation of the Aboriginal peoples culture and religion.

Aboriginal Languages

The Aboriginal people had many languages due to their diverse culture and connections. More than 250 languages were spoken by the people before 1788, the number has fallen to 150 by the year 2021; research suggests that 50 languages are reported with no use. According to a 2021 study the most spoken languages by the native people are:

Yumplatok (Torres Strait Creole)
Kriol
Djambarrpuyngu

Aboriginal Art, Music and Dance

Traditional aboriginal art, music and dance reflected the customs and culture of the people

Art: Dot painting is a technique adopted by Aboriginal artists. Symbolic patterns and geometry are used to express this art style by the people.
Dancing: Aboriginal dances are referred to as “corroboree”, dancing is important in this culture because it is used to pass down stories and traditions.
Music: Didgeridoo is a wind instrument also known as Mako, it is a very old instrument and is associated with the Aboriginal Australians. The instrument is played with vibrating lips to create a continuous sound. To play the wind instrument a special breathing technique is employed by the player.

Important Celebrations and Traditions

There are various important celebrations and traditions by the Aboriginal people. Some of these events take place in solidarity and some are from within the culture:

National Aboriginal and Islanders Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) occurs annually in July (6-13) to celebrate the history and diverse culture of Indigenous people of Australia.
National Sorry Day, also called National Healing Day is an event that is held on 26th May, every single year to commemorate the lives of the Stolen Generation.
Welcome to Country & Acknowledgement of Country is a tradition that is performed by the Indigenous population upon entering someone else’s land. The request for safe passage is then granted with appropriate protocols.

Famous Aboriginal Australians

Just like the rest of the world which creates strong and talented figures, there are many famous aboriginal australians like:

Cathy Freeman (52 years old), former Australian sprinter, is the first aboriginal Australian to become a Gold medalist in the Common Wealth games.
David Unaipon (1872-1976), Australian author, political activist and inventor. He was the first aboriginal Australian to get his work published in English. He is known for his brilliant writing and inventions that are considered major for Australia’s development that he is featured on the 50$ Australian bank note.
Evonne Goolagong Cawley (74 years old) is a former tennis player who was titled “Australian of the year” in 1971. She was a talented tennis player and established her name throughout the world

Challenges Faced by Aboriginal Australians

The Aboriginal Australians have faced many challenges due to factors like colonization, racism, loss of land and language. In this list we will go over these challenges:

The Aboriginal Australians lost their land to the colonisers who did not understand the indigenous population’s culture and history. The people were repressed and killed for following their customs from 1788-1890. This brutal process went on for a long time and the Aboriginal Australians stood fast in demanding their rights.
With colonization the people of the land faced racism from the British, even to this day people face racist remarks and have to stand for themselves against this racism. The government released “The Racial Discrimination Act” in 1975 to counter racism.
The Stolen Generation, children born into Aboriginal families were separated from their families and raised in institutions and the foster care system. An entire generation of children did not know who their parents were due to forced separation. In 1998 the first “National Sorry Day” took place, which was an apology to the families of the generation that lost their children.

Fun Facts About Aboriginal Australians

You probably didn’t know there are over a 100 aboriginal languages.
The last Tasmanian Aboriginal is a myth created by European colonists.
Aboriginal australians history dates back to 65,000 years by archaeologists.
Did you know Aboriginal people use boomerangs for ceremonies?
The Aboriginal flag consists of the colours black, yellow and red.
According to a 2021 census report, the Aboriginal Australians make up 3.8% of Australia’s population.

Conclusion

Aboriginal Australians have a rich history that needs to be protected; The culture and customs of the people are diverse and it is important for all kids to learn and celebrate indigenous heritage. We hope you keep on learning and reading about different cultures like:

Frequently Asked Questions About Aboriginal Australians

Who are Aboriginal Australians?

Aboriginal Australians are defined as the native or indigenous people of the Australian continent.

What is a Didgeridoo?

Didgeridoo also called Mako is a wind instrument that is played with vibrating lips to create a continuous sound. To play the wind instrument a special breathing technique is employed by the player.

Do Aboriginal Australians exist today?

Yes! Aboriginal Australians still exist today, they even make up 3.8% of Australia’s population according to a 2021 census.