Remote Tribes

Aborigines

Australia aborigines are a tribe settling down in Australia but originally from somewhere in the land of Asia over 40,000 years ago. The population of Australia aborigines and Torres Straits Islanders in 2001 was approximately 366,000 which was 1.9% of the Australian population. The number was even more than the estimate of the Australia aborigines in the late 18^th century during the time of Europe colonization.

The aborigines created a complicated classification system which regulates marriages and identifies kinship relations. Aborigines keep their intricate systems of totemism, which is the belief that people, plants and animal have a genealogical relationship with one another. They consider the relationship between animals and plants as a symbol of the relations of various people.

In 1788, the aborigines started to contact with British settlers and this led to a loss of political autonomy, economic marginalization and the death of disease. In the late 1880s, the so-called pacification brought about a huge depopulation and extinction for some part of aborigines. During 1940s, most aborigines were absorbed into urban and rural Australia society as laborers who were little paid and limited rights. A number of aborigine children were taken away from their parents and then adopted by foster parents to cultivate civilization.

The aborigines earned their land rights and a degree of autonomy by the Australian government in 1976 and 1993. In 1996 and 2006, the aborigines have been recognised their property and title rights by the court. The population of aborigines has been increasing and this affects their living conditions and also their identity for the government. The standard living of aborigines is much worse than most Australians. Although the Australian government released an official expression of regret for mistreating the aborigines in past, they opposed issuing the apology as they were afraid of the possible claims for compensation by the aborigines.