Aborigines’ Role in Sydney

            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.