Indigenous peoples of Australia

For a more complete list of Indigenous peoples of "Australia" (groups, kinship groups, communities and other collective designations) see List of Indigenous Australian group names; for general information, see Indigenous Australians

There are several hundred Indigenous peoples of Australia; many are groupings that existed before the British colonisation of Australia in 1788. Before Anglo-Europeans, the number was over 400.

Indigenous or groups will generally talk of their "people" (sometimes their "mob"[1]) and their "country". These countries are ethnographic areas, usually the size of an average European country, with around 200 on the Australian continent at the time of European arrival.

Within each country, people lived in clan groups: extended families defined by various forms of Australian Aboriginal kinship. Inter-clan contact was common, as was inter-country contact, but there were strict protocols around this contact.

The largest Sovereign Original language group people today are the Anangu Pitjantjatjara who live in the area around Uluru (Ayers Rock) and south into the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands in South Australia. The second largest Aboriginal community are the Arrernte people who live in and around Mparntwe (Alice Springs). The third largest are the Anangu Luritja, who live in the lands between the two largest just mentioned. The Aboriginal languages and dialects with the largest number of speakers today are the Pitjantjatjara, Warlpiri and Arrernte.

Australian Capital Territory

New South Wales

Portrait of Bennelong, senior man of the Eora people, who was given a brick hut on Bennelong Point where the Sydney Opera House now stands, and later travelled to England in 1792 and met King George III.

Northern Territory

The Pitjantjatjara people (or Anangu) live in the area around Uluru

Queensland

South Australia

On the 30 March 2009, the Adnyamathanha people received a consent determination, in the Federal Court of Australia, for recognition of their Native Title rights over a very large area (around 41,000 square km) of land running East from the edge of Lake Torrens, through the Northern Flinders Ranges approaching the South Australian border with New South Wales.
The Adnyamathanha are made up of the Kuyani, Wailpi, Yadliaura, Pilatapa and Pangkala, which are the traditional groups of the Northern Flinders Ranges and (with the Kokatha) the areas around Lake Torrens. The name Adnyamathanha means "rock people" and is a term referring to the Lakes Culture societies living in that area. They share a common identity, which they get from their ancestors, this common bond is their language and culture which is known as Yura Muda. The origins of the Adnyamathanha are told through creation stories, passed down from generation to generation.
In 1851 the first Europeans settled some of the Adnyamathanha land. This led to many conflicts due to the aboriginal people being pushed off their land. In response to the settling, Aborigines stole sheep, which in turn led to retalitory killings. Aboriginal stockmen and housekeepers soon became a way of life for the early settlers.

Tasmania

Indigenous Tasmanian communities
Tasmanian Aborigines at Oyster Cove

Victoria

Western Australia

Detail from Panoramic View of King George's Sound, 1834, depicting the local Noongar people.

References

External links