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Since the advent of mankind, it has been a dilemma of many communities across the globe that in urge of supremacy, power and expansion of kingdom they are invaded by the powerful leaders or tribes and are suppressed, deprived of their deserved rights in their own lands. Australian aborigines and Torres Strait islanders are among such ancient communities who being least developed or skilled according to that time that is in 18th century were invaded by the British and subdued on their own ancestral Australian land.
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It is believed that Australian aborigines are among the most ancient people on earth, according to historians, these ancient people had been living on Australian main lands and Torres Strait islands, since hundreds of years before the British landed there in 1770. Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders though living on Australian lands and islands since the same time period and being equal victim of British colonization, are two distinct communities in terms of beliefs, languages, customs and identity.
Aborigines are the people living on lands, though a good percentage of Torres Strait islanders also live on main lands but they relate their identities with their respective island. Aborigine’s belief is based on dreams i.e., the world is a creation of some spirits. Whereas, Islanders belief is based on a myth of a fisherman ‘Tagai’. Tagai is the super hero of Islanders. Thus, beliefs of both the communities is based on myths, and the same in the form of stories and songs is transferred to the next generations.
Moreover, as Torres Strait Islands constitutes many islands, culture of ancient people inhabiting these islands are also different. Even there spoken language is also different. Aborigines and Torres Strait islanders have their own religious practices, laws and customs. Even flags of both the communities are also different, in aborigine’s flag relationship of sun, land and life is portrayed whereas in Islander’s flag life’s relationship with sea is portrayed. However, both the communities are similar in having a complex family system, kinship practices, and land love for their lands.
Since, 1788 when the British formally entered Australia with a good number of convicts, officials and civilians to claim Australia as its colony, aborigine community had been a victim of genocide of the entire community. Within a short span after the arrival of British, felling prey to unceasing killing and spread of epidemic diseases like small pox and measles, aborigine’s population declined significantly. Thus, eliminating the entire population of aborigines appears to be one of the main motives of the British at that time.
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Australian aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders can rightly be claimed as the most unfortunate community of the present world. Though, in the present advanced world living in a country claims to be most developed and multicultural, aborigines are still denied their deserved rights and equality among other communities settled in Australia. In 2007, United Nations signed a declaration on the rights of indigenous communities across the globe, persuading respective governments to ensure the wellbeing, security, and health of their indigenous communities, and for the same declaration in 2009 Australian government assured its compliance with the UN’s declaration, but still no significant measures have been implemented to confirm the rights of aborigines in Australia.
Considering the emotions and love for ancestor’s lands of the aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders, both the communities can be quite beneficial for progress of Australia if considered equal citizen and given their deserved rights. Moreover, besides being the actual owners of Australian lands, aborigines and Islanders are human beings similar to any other individual living on Australian lands, hence they should also be treated equally.
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