Aboriginalism In Australia
Australian independence from Britain changed little in the relationship between Whites and Aborigines. The occupation of main land and the spread of European livestock over vast areas made a traditional Aboriginal lifestyle less viable, but also provided a ready alternative supply of fresh meat for those prepared to risk taking advantage of it.
As large sheep and cattle stations came to dominate outback Australia, Aboriginal men, women and children became a significant source of labour, usually on a voluntary basis but sometimes under conditions that amounted to virtual slavery. For European workers, life in the outback was harsh, dangerous and ill paid. For Aboriginal workers it was usually even worse, wages often being restricted to food and other basic items, …show more content…
The referendum occurred at a time when Aboriginal activism was accelerating and it was used as kind of historical shorthand for all the relevant political events of the time, such as land right demands and equal pay for pastoral workers. This use as a symbol for a period of activism and change has contributed to the misunderstandings about the effects of the constitutional changes themselves.
The benefits of the referendum began to stand out in 1972, when the Aboriginal Tent Embassy was established on the steps of Parliament House in Canberra. The continuous protest has remained in place for over thirty years to demand self-government for the Aboriginal peoples.
Many Aborigines now live in towns and cities around Australia, but a large number live in settlements, which are often remote areas of rural Australia. Although there are some health and economic difficulties, the life expectancy of Aboriginal people is often 20 years shorter than the average Australian population, and alcoholism is a serious issue. The main causes are poverty and the brutality of individuals towards one
As large sheep and cattle stations came to dominate outback Australia, Aboriginal men, women and children became a significant source of labour, usually on a voluntary basis but sometimes under conditions that amounted to virtual slavery. For European workers, life in the outback was harsh, dangerous and ill paid. For Aboriginal workers it was usually even worse, wages often being restricted to food and other basic items, …show more content…
The referendum occurred at a time when Aboriginal activism was accelerating and it was used as kind of historical shorthand for all the relevant political events of the time, such as land right demands and equal pay for pastoral workers. This use as a symbol for a period of activism and change has contributed to the misunderstandings about the effects of the constitutional changes themselves.
The benefits of the referendum began to stand out in 1972, when the Aboriginal Tent Embassy was established on the steps of Parliament House in Canberra. The continuous protest has remained in place for over thirty years to demand self-government for the Aboriginal peoples.
Many Aborigines now live in towns and cities around Australia, but a large number live in settlements, which are often remote areas of rural Australia. Although there are some health and economic difficulties, the life expectancy of Aboriginal people is often 20 years shorter than the average Australian population, and alcoholism is a serious issue. The main causes are poverty and the brutality of individuals towards one