EssayIndigenous

__**Essay**__ the [ * ] is a link back to the source

The Indigenous Australians, although perhaps an isolated people*, have had a very strong understanding of their connection to nature and took little for granted. They wasted nothing, as not all areas were plentiful with their resources and were very co-operative in their lifestyles, whether concerning ceremonial or hunting activities.*Although the tribes varied greatly in dialect and culture*, majority of the indigenous peoples, if not all, felt very connected to their land[|*] which also has much to do with the 'Dreamtime' creation story belief[|*]. Simply from knowing their way of life, we can savour the land we have for the future, connect ourselves more so with each other and our homelands as well as setting peace in conflicts, whether local or larger. __We can set a further, stronger peace and balance with the land and ourselves.__

Essentially, the Indigenous Australians had a belief that they were created from bundles of animal, human or plant (or a mixture of all) like blobs, that were later constructed by the ancestors[|*]. This brings a certain spiritual aspect that may bring them closer to their land, as they feel they must owe an allegiance to the totem animal or plant of their origin[|*]. The Indigenous people back before the settlement of the Europeans(and perhaps even currently) were not destructive of the area surrounding them and used anything they could to construct anything they would require, such as using bone of animals or wood and stone for spears, blades or any other form of hunting equipment*. Art works were also done with natural products, such as pigmented ochre, and were made on stone walls or bark, sometimes 'sand art' was made as well*. There was nothing that would interfere with the environment, nothing to destroy it, rather, it decorated the environment with a spiritual backing only to last thousands of years later as still an importance piece. No graffiti and usually no 'meaningless art', nothing like scribbles or doodles. Anything made to last, was made to last for good reasons, and all art works were to be respected*.

At the time, guns had not been used and there was much more work involved in obtaining food. Foraging and hunting would consume a whole two thirds of the day and was rather tiresome*. But all in all, who is to say that this also, did not bring them closer to their land? The amount of creative thought placed into obtaining food was also rather important. The Indigenous Australians had numerous methods of obtaining food, whether using digging sticks to find edible roots, or using gum-leaf's for bird calls, dressing up in animal skins or masking their scent by standing down wind or covering themselves in mud*. The Indigenous peoples found much importance in any resource they could use, and used them well. This led to a further appreciation and balance between the land and man.

With the amount of hours put into their work, co-operation was a very important factor. There were no strict gender roles, however it was very often that women were the ones foraging and men were the ones hunting. All in all, the men would often go out, corner animals into traps, pits, bush fences, or lines of spears men in order to feed their families*. This could help build strength between tribe members, just as working with other people for a desired reward brings people of today's society closer together. The amount of work and co-operation that went into feeding families without damaging the earth is quite important if you contrast it to todays methods of obtaining food. For example, slaughterhouses are a quite a large contributing factor to global warming, animals also go through much torture, all to end up packaged, some parts wasted, at a store that you can just purchase it from, go home and consume it. Back then, working together helped bring the people together while obtaining food for the family and maintaining a balance with the earth.

In conclusion, we can learn from the rise of the Indigenous Australians, as they were people who did indeed set peace and balance with the earth while maintaining peace and social balance among themselves. They were a co-operative, resourceful and respectful group of people who were armed with spirituality and a great appreciation for nature. If only they could influence the rest of the world today in terms of respect, team work and perhaps further the concern for nature's current dilemma, the world could change for the better.

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