Damon Mcknight
Australia's Indigenous population, consisting of Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders, has endured centuries of oppression and violence at the hands of colonial powers and continues to face discrimination and marginalisation. Despite this, they have persevered and continue to fight for their rights and recognition of their sovereignty. As of 2011, there were an estimated 669,900 Indigenous people in Australia, comprising around 3% of the country's total population. They belong to numerous distinct groups, each with its own unique culture, customs, and languages, and have been living in Australia for upwards of 65,000 years, making them one of the oldest living populations in the world.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Population | 669,900 Indigenous people in Australia, as of 2011 |
| % of Australia's population | 3% |
| Languages | 145 Indigenous languages remain in use, of which fewer than 20 are spoken by all age groups |
| History | Humans first migrated to Australia 50,000 to 65,000 years ago |
| Discrimination | Racial discrimination became illegal in 1976, but Indigenous people still face racist attitudes and are disproportionately affected by poverty, crime, and poor living conditions |
| Current issues | Loss of land, culture, and families; high infant mortality rate, suicide rate, and incarceration rate |
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What You'll Learn
The history of Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians, consisting of Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders, are the various indigenous peoples of the Australian mainland and many of its islands. Humans first migrated to Australia between 50,000 and 65,000 years ago, and over time, they formed as many as 500 linguistic and territorial groups. The earliest conclusively human remains found in Australia are those of Mungo Man LM3 and Mungo Lady, dated to around 40,000 years ago.
Isolated for millennia by rising sea water after the last Ice Age, Aboriginal peoples developed a variety of regional cultures and languages, invented distinct artistic and religious traditions, and affected the environment of the continent in numerous ways, including through hunting, fire-stick farming, and the introduction of the dingo. According to the 2005 National Indigenous Languages Survey (NILS), there were around 250 different Indigenous languages at the time of colonisation, with the larger language groups having up to 100 related dialects. Today, it is estimated that up to 145 Indigenous languages remain in use, of which fewer than 20 are spoken by all age groups.
Despite centuries of oppression and violence, Indigenous Australians have continued to fight for recognition and sovereignty. In 1961, a policy of assimilation was agreed upon at the Native Welfare Conference, which included the removal of discriminatory legislation and the introduction of welfare and education measures. In 1967, a landmark referendum received overwhelming public support for the transfer of responsibility for Aboriginal Affairs to the federal government, and the removal of discriminatory provisions from the Australian Constitution. In 1993, the Keating government's Native Title Act codified native title doctrine in statute, enabling further litigation for Indigenous land rights. In 2008, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd formally apologised to Indigenous Australians for their mistreatment under previous Australian governments.
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The impact of colonisation
The colonisation of Australia by Britain in 1788 had a devastating impact on Indigenous Australians, and the effects of this are still felt today. Before colonisation, there were an estimated 750,000 to over a million Indigenous people living in Australia, forming as many as 500 linguistic and territorial groups. By 1900, this number had declined to approximately 93,000.
One of the most immediate impacts of colonisation was the introduction of epidemic diseases, such as measles, influenza, and smallpox, which ravaged Indigenous populations. British settlers also seized Indigenous land, leading to violent conflicts that resulted in the deaths of up to 20,000 people. Researchers have documented at least 270 massacres of Aboriginal Australians during the first 140 years of colonisation. The term "genocide" is still controversial, but many believe that the continent's first inhabitants were wiped out through violence.
Another devastating consequence of colonisation was the removal of Indigenous children from their communities and families, known as the Stolen Generations. This occurred during the early days of colonisation up until the 1970s and broke vital spiritual, familial, and cultural ties. The objective of these policies was for Indigenous people to "die out" or assimilate into white communities. The legacy of trauma and loss continues to impact Indigenous families today, with intergenerational effects on their well-being and lives.
Indigenous Australians also faced displacement and dispossession of their land, as British settlers introduced new farming practices and ideas of landscape and land ownership. Indigenous people fiercely resisted, but they were no match for the superior weaponry and force of the colonisers. The colonisation process also disrupted Indigenous trade networks, inter-cultural relationships, laws, and religions, which had developed over millennia.
Today, Indigenous Australians continue to suffer the effects of their colonial past. They are disadvantaged in areas such as health, education, and life expectancy, and are over-represented in the justice system, with high rates of incarceration. Despite these challenges, Indigenous customs, traditions, and kinship systems remain resilient and strong, and communities are working to reclaim and preserve their culture and legacy.
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Indigenous languages
Indigenous Australians consist of two groups: Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders. When British colonisation of Australia began in 1788, there were an estimated 750,000 to over a million Aboriginal Australians. However, epidemics and violent conflict with British settlers decimated the Indigenous population. Today, about 3% of Australia's population has Aboriginal heritage.
Indigenous Australians have lived on the continent for over 65,000 years, forming as many as 500 linguistic and territorial groups. When colonisation began, there were around 250 distinct Indigenous languages, each with up to 100 related dialects. These languages are divided into language groups with ten to twenty-four language families identified.
The status and knowledge of Indigenous languages today vary greatly. Many languages became extinct with colonisation as Indigenous cultures were broken up. Some languages have few records of their vocabulary and grammar. At the start of the 21st century, fewer than 150 Indigenous languages remained in daily use, with most being highly endangered. In 2020, 90% of the barely more than 100 languages still spoken were considered endangered. Only 13 languages are still being transmitted to children.
Several initiatives are working to preserve Indigenous languages. There are currently 22 Indigenous language centres around Australia for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to maintain, preserve and promote the diversity of their languages. Bilingual education is being used successfully in some communities. The National Indigenous Languages Survey is a regular Australia-wide survey of the status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages conducted in 2005, 2014 and 2019.
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Indigenous Australians today
The Indigenous languages of Australia are endangered, with only 13 languages still being acquired by children as of 2016. However, efforts are being made to reconstruct extinct languages, such as the publication of a Ngarrindjeri dictionary in 2009.
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Indigenous Australians' ongoing fight for recognition
Indigenous Australians, consisting of Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders, have lived on the continent for upwards of 65,000 years. They have developed complex trade networks, inter-cultural relationships, laws, and religions, which make up some of the oldest continuous cultures in the world. However, centuries of British colonisation and government policies have ravaged their population and continue to threaten their culture and sovereignty.
The Indigenous population of Australia declined significantly due to epidemics and violent conflicts during colonisation. Furthermore, the forcible removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, known as the Stolen Generations, occurred between 1871 and the 1970s, with the aim of eradicating Aboriginal culture. Researchers have documented at least 270 massacres of Aboriginal Australians during the first 140 years of colonisation, leading to debates and inquiries into whether these acts constitute genocide.
Despite small progress, such as the commission findings in Victoria, Indigenous Australians continue to fight for national recognition and restitution from the Australian government. In 2023, Australians rejected a national referendum that would have recognised Aboriginal people in the constitution and created an advisory group to Parliament. This referendum failure was seen as a blow by many Indigenous Australians.
Indigenous Australians have a long history of advocating for their rights and representation in decisions that affect them. Early examples include mass protests against inhumane treatment and living conditions, such as the Cummeragunja walk-off. The Indigenous protest movement has led to changes in the Constitution, such as the 1967 referendum. The Barunga Statement, presented to the Prime Minister, calls for First Nations self-management, land rights, compensation for loss of lands, respect for Aboriginal identity, and an end to discrimination.
The ongoing fight for recognition by Indigenous Australians highlights the need for substantive changes to the Australian Constitution and a continued dialogue between Indigenous communities and the government to address these issues.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, there are still Indigenous people in Australia. They consist of two groups: Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders. Together, they make up around 3% of Australia's population.
Indigenous Australians have been living in Australia for upwards of 65,000 years. They consist of more than 500 distinct groups, each with its own language and culture. In 1788, when British colonisation began, there were between 750,000 and over a million Indigenous people in Australia. Soon, epidemics ravaged the Indigenous populations, and British settlers seized their lands. First Nations people resisted, but many were defeated by massacres and the poverty of their communities. Today, Indigenous Australians are still fighting for recognition of their sovereignty.
Despite racial discrimination being made illegal in Australia in 1976, Indigenous people still face racist attitudes and are much worse off in terms of health, education, and unemployment. They are also over-represented in the prison population and have a far higher infant mortality rate and suicide rate, as well as a lower life expectancy than the rest of the population.
