The Plight of the Aboriginal Peoples of Australia

This is an excerpt from the official document of apology from the government of Australia to the indigenous people, the Aboriginals for the mistreatment at the hands of authority over the years since British colonisation.

"Apology to Australia's Indigenous Peoples
House of Representatives
Parliament House, Canberra

I move:
that today we honour the indigenous peoples of this land, the oldest cultures in human history,
We reflect on their past mistreatment
We reflect in particular on the mistreatment of those who were Stolen Generations- this blemished chapter in our nation's history
The time has now come for the nation to turn a new page in Australia's history by righting the wrongs of the past and so moving forward with confidence to the future
We apologise for the laws and policies of successive parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians
We apologise especially for the removal of indigenous Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, their communities and their country
For the pain, suffering and hurt of those Stolen Generations, their descendants and for their families left behind, we say sorry
We today take this first step by acknowledging the past and laying claim to a future that embraces all Australians
A future where we harness the determination of all Australians, Indigenous and non Indigenous to close the gap that lies between us in life expectancy, educational achievment and economic opportunity
A future where all Australians, whatever their origins are truly equal partners with equal opportunities and with an equal stake in the next chapter in the shaping of this great country, Australia.

The Hon. Kevin Rudd MP
Prime Minister
February 13th 2008"

It emphasises the Stolen Generations of indigenous children who were taken unlawfully from their parents in order to make them become more 'white', to achieve assimilation within the community. They were put into institutional care or, if more fair-skinned, they were fostered into white families. More than 100,000 children underwent this painful process. It caused many problems of identity for them as they grew older and led to depression, drugs and alcohol and potentially suicide. A lack of identity and not knowing where their true families were must've been a horrendous experience especially since racially stimulated opinions of indigenous peoples as second class citizens were rife. Many civil rights were denied the Aboriginals until quite recently.
It is possible for members of these Stolen Generations to emerge from this cycle of depression and become re-tuned into their heritage through revisiting cultural practises and finding their roots.

poster showing a painting done by an Aboriginal artist reflecting the difficult journey of the Stolen Generations, through a maze of depression and loss, eventually emerging to find their roots (the house at the top).

Original Aboriginal spritiual culture derives itself from the land and connections with it. The Dreaming is a term used to describe the explanations given to the origin of things. These dreamings are individual to clans and are represented in the colourful bark artworks and murals that were painted. The dots' colours are representative of different tribes' members and different symbols have different meanings.

Aboriginal 'totems' used in spiritual practices

I personally love the intricate dot technique which can sometimes be very fine. The geometric patterns are softened by the hand painted dots and daubs adorning totems, shields, masks and murals.