Aboriginals Page 3

Aboriginals of Australia
White colonisation of Australia began with the arrival of the First Fleet (1788). About 300 000 Aboriginals inhabited the country mostly along the east and s-e coasts and tropical north.
Although these early Europeans meant no harm to the local tribes, they also made no attempt to understand their way of life, customs and beliefs. The British believed they should adapt to their civilized ways and give up their nomadic lifestyle which obviously was not well received. As a result of their loss of hunting grounds/waterholes together with their intolerance for alcohol and being ravaged by ‘western’ diseases, violent struggles erupted on both sides with thousands of kooris being killed and in many areas, totally annihilated. Of the more than 250 local languages spoken, less than 200 remain today with many considered endangered. Aboriginals represent less than 3% of the total population with about 517 000. The largest numbers (over 30%) live in the NT whilst in the other states (with the exception of Tasmania) the figures are between 1-4%.
The Aboriginal flag is divided into two parts with a large yellow circle in the middle. The top half is black symbolizing the people, the red is for the earth and ochre and the yellow represents the sun. It was first flown at National Aborigines’ Day (July 12 1971). Famous Aboriginals include Albert Namatjira (artist), Lionel Rose (boxer), Eddie Mabo (politician), Ernie Dingo (actor), Cathy Freeman (athlete), Yothu Yindi (band).