Running head: REFLECTON ON ABORIGINAL CULTURE AND HISTORY 1

Reflection on the Aboriginal culture and history

Name: Louisa Oduro Animapauh

Student number: 220183967

Unit: OORA200
REFLECTON ON ABORIGINAL CULTURE AND HISTORY 2

Reflection on the Aboriginal culture and history

Throughout the study of the Aboriginal culture, many misconceptions and doubts have

been cleared up as a result of increasing knowledge gained from the history, belief system and

values of the Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders. This essay seeks to reflect on my learning

in this unit, discuss my thinking and feelings, evaluate any positive or negative experience, and

also identify the possible gaps in my knowledge.

The Aboriginal community refers to their traditional lands as country and have a strong

connection to ancestral beings from the beginning of time. In their culture, people perceive the

universe and society as a spiritual one from which creation spirits and the ancestors helped

shape. The people believed that nature forms the rules for society to adapt and, therefore, did

everything to keep protect nature from contamination. The time of nature is cyclical where

everything that occurs in one season repeats in another time, unlike the non-indigenous people

who believe that time is linear with a well formed framework aligned towards the future

(Kickett-Tucker & Ife, 2017). The identity of an Aboriginal is formed from the connection

between people and country as nature including humanity is inseparable from culture and a break

from any of the aforementioned meant loss of identity which may impact on the health of the

individual. They lived simply and were content with what they had in country as stories were

told that a bad Aborigine is one who takes up more than needed (Kickett-Tucker & Ife, 2017).

The indigenous people had their world turned upside-down when the British arrived in the 17th

century. The British upon arrival took over the land without establishing any friendly relations or

negotiations with them since they thought of the indigenous people as lesser humans due to their

simplicity and way of life. The aboriginals and Torres Strait islanders were subjected to
REFLECTON ON ABORIGINAL CULTURE AND HISTORY 3

maltreatment and many were wiped off by the introduction of diseases like small pox and some

were sexually abused (Maynard, 2007). Many families were broken due to the government

assimilation program which forcibly removed the children of the indigenous people from their

homes and forbidden from speaking their language (Terszak, 2015).

The Aboriginal history learnt from this unit was an eye opener which made me understand their

behaviour. Prior to this I had heard stories of how violent they could be given the fact that they

are the original settlers and could do whatever pleases them. I have not encountered any of these

claims personally but hearing that caused me to avoid any relations with them, however, I feel

they put up these acts as a defense mechanism due to the psychological trauma they or ancestors

have been through. I would be bias to say this about all of them as those I have met in my class

were very polite, nice and gentle. Even though Bhanji and Beer (2013) point out that new

evidence can sometimes debunk initial impressions about issues and people, our preconceptions

are difficult to overcome. My preconceived ideas I have still make me scared when I am around

them.

Moreover, stories from the media made the aboriginals seem lazy and dependent on government

giveaways. This may not necessarily be true as these offers were a way to bridge the gaps in the

social determinants between the Indigenous and non-Indigenous. Also, these people have been

discriminated against since the time of colonization and it still happens today which has made it

difficult to secure a job and cater for themselves. According to Clark (2008), even after

colonization, the whites refused to acknowledge the indigenous people as part of Australia and

did not have full citizenship or voting rights up until 1965, yet the indigenous men were in the

war fighting to help gain victory for the country. Such frustrations may have caused them to
REFLECTON ON ABORIGINAL CULTURE AND HISTORY 4

isolate themselves from the whites. Lack of trust and racial discrimination have impacted greatly

on the aboriginal community in enjoying good quality life and health which has resulted in the

wide gap in the social determinants.

One positive event I like about their culture is their connection to nature and how they did

not waste natural resources and also ensured they move onto the next fertile land to help the old

land replenish itself to preserve the resources.

Most of the information I knew about the Indigenous people were based on hearsays and

the media and I was largely unaware of some events like the massacres and impact of their loss

of land until I read some articles showing their relationship to the land how powerless they are

without it. I have come to realise how negatively the colonisation has affected their lives and

health in general. I believe it is important for everyone to learn about the culture of the

indigenous people to be able to understand their ways and accept them for who they are and only

in this way can we live harmoniously with them in the country.

The knowledge gained from this unit will enable me to be culturally sensitive as nurse

and practice cultural safety by treating everyone equally irrespective of the race. Respecting the

indigenous people and their culture will help gain trust and work together to ensure positive

health outcomes.
REFLECTON ON ABORIGINAL CULTURE AND HISTORY 5

References

Bhanji, J. P., & Beer, J. S. (2013). Dissociable neural modulation underlying lasting first

impressions, changing your mind for the better, and changing it for the worse. Journal of

Neuroscience, 33(22), 9337-9344.

Clark, J. (2008). Aborigines & Activism: Race, aborigines & the coming of the sixties to

Australia. Pearson Deutschland GmbH.

Maynard, J. (2007). Fight for liberty and freedom: the origins of Australian Aboriginal activism.

Aboriginal Studies Press.

Kickett-Tucker, C., & Ife, J. (2017). Koordoormitj1 is the Essence of Life. The Routledge

Handbook of Community Development: Perspectives from Around the Globe.

Kingsley, J., Townsend, M., Henderson-Wilson, C., & Bolam, B. (2013). Developing an

exploratory framework linking Australian Aboriginal peoples’ connection to country and

concepts of wellbeing. International journal of environmental research and public health,

10(2), 678-698. Retrieved from: http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph10020678

Terszak, M. (2015). Orphaned by the colour of my skin: a stolen generation story. Routledge.

Retrieved from: https://books.google.com.au/books?

Appendix

Week one

10 strengths in my personal life, family and community

1. Love

2. unity

3. Compassion

4. Respect for self and the elderly

5. interdependence

6. sense of togetherness

7.Trust in a higher being

8. Cultural beliefs

9.Endurance

10. Resilience

For the Aboriginal people

1. unity

2. Adaptation

3. Endurance

4. Family interdependence

5. Respect for elders

6. Cultural beliefs and upholding

7. Resilience

8. Warriors

9. Confidence

10.love

I believe that my values and attitudes have been shaped by the environment in which I was

raised. My family and cultural values have been my guide throughout my livelihood and I still

hold them in high esteem and that has made me who I am today. There are not much differences

in my personal strengths when compared to the Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders especially

when it comes to family interdependence and respect f 10 strengths in my personal life, family

and community.

Week 2

a) How has your understanding of the way in which Aboriginal people see the world changed?

My understanding of the Aboriginals' view of the world has changed in many ways. From this

week's reading, I have realized that wellbeing and health for an Aboriginal is not necessarily

about having a medical condition or not, however, it is the responsibility to kinship, being at

peace with the environment as they make the rules and also their spirituality, and without these,

they can be considered unhealthy.

b) What implications might this have in my professional, personal or educational practice?

This will help me to be culturally sensitive when dealing with an Aboriginal person, knowing

their culture and beliefs. Moreover, It will assist me to be aware of their traditions and customs

and work in line with accordingly. I have come to understand their way of life, communication

and have embraced the differences and work towards collaboration despite the differences.
REFLECTON ON ABORIGINAL CULTURE AND HISTORY 8

Week 3

The Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders have been through a lot of pain and a long journey of

maltreatment since the arrival of the British in the 17th century. They lost their identity as a

result of losing their lands without any form of treaty or negotiations. This has left them feeling

powerless and even though they have been accepted as part of Australia still discriminated

against. I believe it is only fair that they are given a voice and be recognized in the constitution.

The government has taken initiatives to bridge the gap between the Aboriginals and the non-

Indigenous people but there are still delays due to mistrust. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait

Islander social justice Commissioner stated in Garma (2017) that, there is a lot of time and

money spent on Indigenous affairs but this is done without them. Having a representative in

parliament can pave a way for the Aboriginals to be on board in bridging the gap as they can

trust their own people.

The Australian Human Rights Commission. (2017). We want our voices to be heard in

parliament: Garma 2017. Retrieved from:https://www.humanrights.gov.au/about/news/we-want-

our-voices-heard-parliament-garma-2017.

Week 4

The Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders have been through a lot of pain and a long journey of

maltreatment since the arrival of the British in the 17th century. They lost their identity as a

result of losing their lands without any form of treaty or negotiations. This has left them feeling

powerless and even though they have been accepted as part of Australia still discriminated

against. I believe it is only fair that they are given a voice and be recognized in the constitution.
REFLECTON ON ABORIGINAL CULTURE AND HISTORY 9

The government has taken initiatives to bridge the gap between the Aboriginals and the non

Indigenous people but there are still delays due to mistrust. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait

Islander social justice Commissioner stated in Garma 2017 that, there is a lot of time and money

spent on Indigenous affairs but this is done without them. Having a representative in parliament

can pave a way for the Aboriginals to be on board in bridging the gap as they can trust their own

people.

The Australian Human Rights Commission. (2017). We want our voices to be heard in

parliament: Garma 2017. Retrieved from:https://www.humanrights.gov.au/about/news/we-want-

our-voices-heard-parliament-garma-2017.

Week 5

Privilege means the rights, benefits or advantages enjoyed by a person or a group of people over

another group of individuals. These privileges could be in the form of gender, power, class,

gender, and people with privileges saw them as being the norm, for instance, In the 18th century,

it was normal for a man to be educated and to hold high positions at work and believed the

woman's place was the kitchen (Gender privilege). To be in such a position as a woman was

almost impossible, and that made women inferior to men.

To be in these social groups meant having easy access to opportunities that are not available to

other groups of people. These opportunities can be used positively or negatively depending on

the person. I believe that if these privileges are used positively, they can go a long way to help

individuals in need and can make the world a better place.