The Aboriginal people have shaped the culture of Sydney. In order to sense the prominence of the culture, one can glance at a map, visit the beach, or attend a university. The Aboriginal culture is clearly the backbone of Sydney’s culture. Interestingly enough, there is a strong correlation between Sydney’s Aboriginal people and the culture of my American hometown. The town of Norwich, Connecticut has a thriving Native American population who contribute to the booming economy of the region through the regulation of two massive casinos. The relationships between indigenous Australians and indigenous Americans with their respective societies are complex, and one can make many comparisons between the two indigenous groups. 

            Aboriginals had inhabited Australia at least 40,000 years before the first European settlers arrived. An organized analysis of the different ethnic groups of the region is difficult to find, but there were a number of distinct tribes who thrived in the area. Some of the Aboriginal names are still maintained in the area, such as Canberra and Paramatta. Two of these specific groups were the Darug and the Eora, thought to mean the translation of ‘here.’ In addition, various European settlers identified Sydney natives as ‘Cadi’ with men as Cadigals and women as Cadigalleons (Hinkson 3). The Aboriginal culture had greatly after European settlers first came to the Sydney area in 1788 with Governor Arthur Phillip and his fleet, The Endeavor (4). Although January 26th, Australia Day, is celebrated for the day that Phillip and his fleet arrived, it means a very different day for Aboriginal Australia. It marks the beginning of a tumultuous relationship full of wars, forced removal of children, and unnecessary deaths. Since then, the Aborigines have been condemned for centuries to live as subjugated and oppressed people under the European policies and enforcements.

            The settlers exploited the area of Sydney as well as its people. The resources of the Sydney area were heavily exploited because the colonizers could not bring enough supplies. The settlement government ordered that the Aborigines had to share large catches of fish with them. In terms of food, the colonials played a substantial role in the depletion of resources (Grimshaw 25).  The male settlers and convicts also exploited the area’s women, and spread smallpox to the natives.  From 1830-1910, the British settlers took over a large portion of the Aboriginal land. The doctrine of terra nullius meant that the land was to be settled rather than conquered; there would be no treaty with the indigenous people (Grimshaw 134). The colonizers took it upon themselves to “civilize” Aborigines through Christian missionaries indoctrinating them with their religion. They attempted to break Aboriginal people’s desire to hunt and gather and visit relations by providing a regular supply of rations (141).  The colonizers also instigated the land removal policy, causing an entire generation of children to be removed from their homes in order to be taught the Christian religion and English language. The generation of children torn from their families was known as the “Stolen Generation.” The Aboriginal culture in Sydney was under constant attack.

            The discontent of the Aborigines in Sydney has been increasingly expressed. In 1888 the Aboriginal people boycotted the Australia Day Centenary. In 1938, an organized “Day of Mourning and Protest” took place. People of Aboriginal origin refused to partake in the Australia Day re-enactments of 1788 on that particular day. In the mid- twentieth century Aborigines gained the right to vote and continued to push for equal rights (46). On February 13th, 2008, the nation’s first ever “Apology Day” took place. It was an event that called for the repentance of the Australian government for the actions that occurred in Sydney. Although the event did not call for formal compensation the apology was generally well-received by the community.

            In contemporary society, Aborigines are very much a visible and thriving population in Sydney. It is no longer thought of as a ‘sub-culture’ but rather a powerful force and prominent in the culture and customs of Australia. In my opinion, the Aboriginal culture dominates the Australian arts. I have seen an Aboriginal contestant on a dance television show as well as a dance event in Hyde Park. It is common to see people watch a digeridoo playing or examining the excellent art exhibits at the Australia Museum. Aboriginal art is prominent and a custom unique to Sydney. It is a significant aspect of the culture, but also popular with tourists to purchase for their homes. As aforementioned, Aboriginal names have been retained for specific places such as the beach names: Coogee, Canberra, and Bondi. Increasingly there are more and more efforts for Aboriginal Awareness events.  On Australia Day an Aboriginal fair took place in Victoria Park, run by Aboriginal rights lawyers as well as students who major in Aboriginal studies.  Because of the “Apology Day” Aboriginal issues are at the forefront of the Australian conscience.

            In lieu of recent events such as the Apology, people want to experience and learn about the Aboriginal culture more now than they may have in past decades. It is as if they are repenting by constantly acknowledging the repression of indigenous Australians. In current times it appears to be a solid movement in the aftermath of the Apology for Australians to change and improve their relationship with the Aborigines; more importantly they want to change. The entire nation is enduring a healing process: for the Aborigines they are healing from the aftermath of oppression, for Australians the healing is a process of grappling with the guilt of being the oppressors.   

            Like Sydney, the town of Norwich, Connecticut has a rich indigenous culture with a tumultuous past. The dominant tribe is the Pequot tribe.  There are similarities between the Aboriginal presence in Sydney and the Pequot and Mohegan tribes. The Pequots and Mohegans were originally one tribe who came to the southeastern area of the state from upstate New York, sometime around 1500. The Puritan and European settlers invaded the New England area roughly one hundred years later. Like the Aborigines, thousands perished due to a smallpox disease brought on by the European invaders. The Pequot tribe was also devastated by the split from the Mohegans in 1637 and the ensuing Pequot War with the British colonists. The English captured many of the Pequots; only a few were able to seek refuge with some Algonquin tribes. The rest were captives of the British, who sold them into slavery in the West Indies or executed them (Sultzman, “History of the Pequots”). Like the Aborigines, the Native Americans of the southeastern Connecticut endured a troubled relationship with the white settlers. 

            The Native Americans were victims of European colonization. The first people to settle in the area were the Dutch, but in the seventeenth century the British were the dominating powers. There was a competition between the British and the Dutch over the monopoly of the area’s fur trade; consequentially causing the Pequots to split and side with each European group. In 1635 a Pequot murdered a trader, John Stone, who had attempted to sell children as slaves (Sultzman). This which lead to a witch hunt by the colonies, and the native Pequots were thought of as “demons from hell.”  Less than half of the Pequot population in 1647 survived the Pequot War. The remaining Pequots and Mohegans who weren’t forced into slavery were separated into different locations of the region. The Pequots were organized into different reservations (Sultzman).  Like Aborigines, the Pequots have faced centuries of oppression by whites, in particular the Puritans of New England.

                  The most significant and visible contribution the Pequots have made to the region of southeastern Connecticut is the establishment of Foxwoods Casino on their Mashantucket reservation in 1992. Foxwoods has vastly improved the economy of the region. In addition, Norwich, a once all-white town, has become significantly diverse because of people migrating to become employed there. The casino has created a plethora of new jobs for the region’s residents, is a hot spot for entertainment and enjoyment, and led to the Pequots becoming the wealthiest group of Native Americans in the United States.  Although Foxwoods is reputed to be the largest casino in the world, the Mohegans have established a casino on their own reservation (ten minutes away) called the Mohegan Sun. It is also a multibillion-dollar enterprise.

            Although the Pequots and Mohegans have achieved financial success, they are not as visible a presence in the Norwich area as the Aborigines are in Sydney. Foxwoods contains a Pequot Museum to educate the people on the culture of the indigenous Americans, but there are rarely events in the region commemorating Native American customs and traditions. The town puts on one small outdoor fair a year where they attempt to recreate a tribal setting. The Pequots and Mohegans mainly keep to their own respective tribes and people.  It is rare to find Native Americans in higher school grades because of the high level drop out rates. I attended the local public high school which had a diverse population but no Native Americans.  Like Aborigines, Native American youth continue to struggle with drug and alcohol issues as well as high dropout and mortality rates.

            Although the cultures may seem similar in regards to their relationship with the white settlers, there are distinct differences between the cultures of indigenous Australians in Sydney and indigenous Americans.  As aforementioned, the Pequots and Mohegans are not regarded for their art or culture in the present society. While Australian society appears to want to learn about the indigenous cultures, people are apathetic towards the rich Native American cultures in southeastern Connecticut. In Norwich the school systems gloss over education on these respective cultures, whereas in Australia people are aware of Aboriginal existence, relationships, and struggles. Cultural events appear to occur more within the Sydney community.

The attitudes towards the tribes are starkly different. Because of events such as the Apology Day Australians know that the way they had treated the Aborigines is unacceptable. There is a movement for change. However, there has not been a federal apology to the Pequots and Mohegans, even though thousands were killed and enslaved by American governments. The attitude is that the indigenous Americans have not suffered and been exploited in the same way that the Aborigines have. They have found prosperity through the establishment of two casinos. Since the Pequots are extremely well off economically, many ‘regular’ citizens either feel resentment or apathy towards them.

            Globalization has transformed the composition of America and Australia. However, each culture could not function without its indigenous populations.  The relations between the indigenous peoples and the respective Australian and American governments need vast improvements. However, the future looks promising for both cultures.