Australia – the Aborigines

The Aboriginal nations and their history

Before the British colonisation, there were a great many different Aboriginal groups, each with their own individual culture, belief structure, and language. Indigenous Australian Aboriginal communities are often called tribes, and there are several hundred in Australia. The largest Aboriginal communities today are the Pitjantjatjara, the Arrernte, the Luritja and the Warlpiri, all from Central Australia.

The Dreamtime (used in art, songs)

Each group have their own words (terms) for an Aboriginal concept such a Tjukurpa, Aldjerinya or Nguthuna. There is no perfect translation for it in English and that’s why we call it Dreaming. Dreaming is the most acceptable word for an Aboriginal concept ‚cause revelations or insights are received in dreams or recurring visions. Dreams are about all that is known and all that is understood. It’s their view of life, lifestyle, nature and world as well.

Their culture is focused on recording (singing songs, painting) the origins of life through their visions and dreams. Dreamtime is Aboriginal Religion and Culture.

Aboriginal culture (languages, Corroboree)

Australian Aboriginal culture is very rich and unusual diverse. It is one of the world’s longest surviving cultures, 50,000 years old. 500 different clan groups or ‚nations‘ were there around the continent, many with distinctive cultures.

700 variety dialects from more than 200 aboriginal languages were spoken there as well as a variety of different customs and rituals, art forms, styles of painting, forms of food, and hunting habits were created.

The word corroboree was first used by early European invaders to describe Aboriginal ceremonies.

Ceremonies where aboriginal people were singing and dancing. Corroboree is the English equivalent of Caribberie.

Musical instruments, history of didgeridoo

Didgeridoo is musical instrument used by aboriginal people and first written account of the didgeridoo was published in 1835 where it is described as a trumpet. Didgeridoo is a long wooden flute, perhaps the oldest musical instrument on earth. The aboriginals say that it is sound of earth.

Aboriginal art (traditional, contemporary, rock art, artists)

A. art is devided into traditional, contemporary and rock. Traditional Aboriginal art represent the Dreaming but is often also a vital part of ceremonies. Contemporary art means that some new methods of producing the art is used, for example, the use of acrylic paint on canvas or commercial fixatives on bark. Australia rock art as well as body painting and decoration were common although varying in styles, method, materials and meaning. There is and was a wide range of traditional Aboriginal art forms.

Aboriginal tourism

Visitor permits are required to enter some Aboriginal land. The permit system is designed to help protect the privacy of Aboriginal communities, preserve Aboriginal culture, safeguard the natural environment and promote visitor safety.

You can book your tour by travel agent and choose places and attractions which you want to see.