1. The Aborigines of Australia

2. Who are the aborigines?
The term aborigines refers to the indigenous (native) people of Australia.
The Aborigines are thought to have migrated from Asia about 30,000 years ago, although some scholars think it may have been earlier than that (60,000 years ago).
The Aborigines are one of the oldest groups of humans on the planet. ?

3. Pre-colonial
Before the settlement of Australia by the Europeans, the Aborigines were hunter/gathers and live semi-nomadic lives.
The first Aborigines lived on the coast where more plants grew. There were also more animals to hunt and fresh water.
They used throwing weapons such as spears, and boomerangs to hunt prey, and gathered wild plants as food.

4. How did the Aborigines Communicate?
The Aborigines did not have a written language. All their history and learning was passed down by stories and through art.
Storytelling was one of the ways the older generation taught the younger.
Art included cave, and bark paintings, dot and body painting. Aboriginals used symbols to represent natural surroundings.

5. Pictographs / Symbols Kangaroo Tracks Goanna lizard Snakes
Women’s Ceremony
Men Hunting

6. Aboriginal Art
Dot painting - Traditional dot paintings were made in sand
Rock Art
Bark Painting

7. Body Painting One of the earliest forms of Aboriginal art
Used in traditional dances and ceremonies
Designs represented clans and ancestors

8. Music
Music also played a large part in the culture with one of the most famous instruments being the Digeridoo.
What kind of instrument was this?
It was made from bamboo or eucalyptus that was hollowed out by termites.
It is played by buzzing the lips and using a technique called circular breathing. It was only allowed to be played by men.

9. Spiritualism
The aboriginal religion is based on nature, humans and nature were on the same level.
The beginning of time in Aboriginal beliefs is called “The Dreamtime” or “Dreaming”
In Dreamtime, “Ancestors” came from below the earth to form various parts of nature, some became men, others animals, still others became rivers, plants, or the sky.
This is why one of the central beliefs is a deep respect for nature and all its parts.

10. Modern Population
There are about 400,000 aboriginal people in Australia or about 2% of the population.
There are about 500 – 600 distinct groups inside the population.