Aborigines

Aborigines (from Latin aborigines – inhabitant) from the beginning came to Australia over 40,000 years ago by sea or a land bridge. Aborigines keep track of their past through folklore. They believe in Dreaming - they guard and honour spirits created the land and life. The main job of aborigines was to find food. They all are expert hunters and food finders. They never over-pick fruits and vegetables and leave some to grow for the next year.

Their weapon consisted of a wood spear, a club and a boomerang, a curved wooden missile, when thrown it returns to its thrower if it hits nothing. Aborigines don't have any metals. All weapons are made of wood and rock.

They did not build houses because they were constantly moving to new places of hunting. They started the fire by rubbing two sticks together. They did not wear clothes because it was hot. Aborigines became experts in finding water in the desert. They knew how to dig to find water, how to find water in bodies of frogs, in hollow logs and in roots.

Aborigines look after their old people and love their children. They taught their young people all they needed to survive. After a hunt Aborigines shared equally with everyone. They had artists who carved and drew. Over 200 years, people from Great Britain came and took the lands of Aborigines. Many of Aborigines died because of the diseases brought by the settlers. Today there are few true Aborigines left. They work in cities and on large sheep stations. Their children attend school. Aborigines have changed and survived as over 40, 000 years in the deserts.

The Aborigines spoke more than 250 languages, only 50 of them survived. Aboriginal languages are spoken all over Australia. Many people speak Aboriginal English. In Koori "burrai" is a baby, "good-jagar" is a child, "dunggan" is bread, "koori" is an aboriginal person. Some Aboriginal words entered English: kangaroo ("kanga" –jump), boomerang, etc.

Aboriginal art began with simple symbols. Concentric circles could mean a camp site, a tree or meeting place. For thousands of years, aboriginal tribes have created elaborate sand and body painting using sand, ochres, blood, and feathers for ceremonies.

The modern Aboriginal artists have contributed much to development of the Aboriginal art. One of Australia's best-known Aboriginal artists Albert Namatjira /1902-59/ painted watercolours. He completed over 2000 works and was the founder of the Hermannsburg School of painting.

Jack Wunuwun (1930-1907) was the leader of the clan in the Northern Territory. His paintings focus on the stories of clan origin. They portray fish, butterflies, and yams, plant roots. Wunuwun was named Aboriginal artist of the Year in 1987.

George Milpurrurru (1934) is a ceremonial leader of the Ganalbingu people. His country is home of water birds, crocodiles and snakes. His art developed with ceremonial knowledge. His work "Goose Egg Hunt" was displayed at the 1986 Sidney Bienalle.

Ginger Mundirwalawala (1937) is an elder of the Mara language group. He paints images that represent a sequence of events. The totemic eagle, Ngak Ngak, is often shown. The works of the painter are represented in the National Gallery of Australia.

Fiona Foley /1964/ comes from Butchulla people, Queensland. She studied at the Sydney College of Arts. She founded the Aboriginal Artists Co-operative in 1987. Her noted picture is "Black Cockatoo Feather".

In 1997, the Cultural Olympiad started in Sidney with the Festival of the Dreaming, a celebration of Aboriginal culture.