The Indigenous People of Australia

By Abigail Strauss

This report is on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of Australia. It will talk  about their different lifestyles, traditions, history, and modern challenges.

First of all, where do the two cultures live? Starting with Aboriginal mobs. ‘Mob’ is their preferred term, rather than tribe or clan. The Aboriginal mobs live all across the entirety of mainland Australia, with each mob having a Country in which they live. 

The Torres Strait Islanders live at the very top of Australia, in the group of islands called the Torres Strait Islands. The islands are located between Australia and Papua New Guinea. They live on 17 different islands, and there are also two mobs that are located on the mainland.

For the Torres Strait Islanders, their lives are well intertwined with the sea. They have many traditions and ceremonies, including Welcome to Country, which happens at the beginning of events and meetings. They also have songs and dances about daily life, among other things. One is called “Taba Naba”, and it is about going to the reef to fish.

Australian, Aboriginal, and Torres Strait Islander flags in order from left to right.

The traditions of the Aboriginal People also have many songs and dances that are part of their daily lives. Corroborees are gatherings with dances, storytelling, and songs. It is used as a way to connect with Ancestors. Dreamtime is another tradition (shared with the Torres Strait Islanders) made up of stories, dances, ceremonies, and songs that tell how the world was created, while also teaching spiritual and practical lessons.

The Torres Strait Islanders were originally Melanesian. Melanesia is a subregion of Oceania, similar to Micronesia and Polynesia, and contains a group of islands. It is believed that the Torres Strait Islanders have been living on the islands for over 2,500 years! They used a trading system with items such as pearls, tools, food, and more.

The Aboriginal peoples are believed to have been from Southeast Asia. (Malaysia, Indonesia, etc.) Having come by canoe and land bridges over 50,000 years ago, the Aboriginal mobs thrived for many centuries. But in 1788, Europeans came, bringing conflict and diseases, disrupting their lives and traditions.

Nowadays, inclusion has become more important, and Australians are now respecting and upholding indigenous traditions. But it will take a lot more time and effort to right the wrongs that were caused against the Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders.

In conclusion, these two cultures should be respected and their cultures and traditions should be integrated into society. This report was written with the idea of honoring and appreciating their beliefs and spirit. Bye for now, or as the Aboriginal people say; “Guwayu!”

Personal Note:

It’s really wonderful to see how hard Australia is working to acknowledge and respect the Aboriginal people and their lands. Everywhere you go, you will run into land acknowledgements, which is a reminder of who the original custodians were of this beautiful place.

Underneath the Sydney Harbor Bridge

Walking in the Botanical Garden.