Impacts of Colonisation on Indigenous People in Australia

This study explores the effects of colonization and settlement on Indigenous people in Australia, including exposure to disease, land and water restrictions, and the ongoing debate on whether it was invasion or settlement. It also discusses opportunities for action in addressing these issues.

Indigenous Study

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
Invasion and settlement: impacts of colonisation...................................................................1
Discussion of the topic in relations to colonisation................................................................2
Current debate related to the topic..........................................................................................3
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander contributions and perspectives on the topic...............4
Reflection on opportunities for action in personal and professional contexts........................4
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Indigenous study comprised of depth of academic fields the humanities and social science
(Cox and et.al., 2019). By developing this study, students and people can know about history of
indigenous people and know how to integrate informations for broadening their worldviews.
This present study is going to show effects of colonization and settlement of British in Australia
on Indigenous group and Torres Islanders. One of the main effects which this study will show is
exposure of disease and restriction o water and land to Aboriginal. Further, it will also show
debate on this topic in order to identify that whether it was invasion or settlement. Lastly, it
discusses opportunities for action in this regards.
MAIN BODY
Invasion and settlement: impacts of colonisation
Before discussing invasion and settlement in the context of colonization it is important to
discus about colonization as what is it and how it is affecting aboriginal and Torres Islanders.
Colonization can be defined as a process of setting up a colony or keeping a colony away from
their place of origin. In the context of Indigenous it can be said that Colonization refers a
negative act which people have been doing with aboriginal people of Australia since long. One
of the reason of negative act with this people is they tent to involve invading culture which
establish political control over an indigenous population (Colonization: Disease, Dispossession
and Direct Conflict, 2020).
In the context of invasion and settlement of Aboriginal it can be defined as main key terms
which include: disease, dispassion and direct conflict. Prior to British settlement, over 500
indigenous group inhabited Australian continent which were having around 75000 people.
In addition, it is stated that exposure of disease killed around half of the indigenous
people. Sexual harassment and abuse to indigenous women and girls also introduced some
diseases to this community. Expansion of British or European settlement and establishment of
colonies in Van Diemen’s Land lead competition over land. If we compare impacts of
colonization on indigenous people then it is important to understand effects on indigenous before
colonization and in this context it is stated that indigenous people resisted and tried to protect
themselves (Bird, O’Grady and Ulm, 2016). It is also estimated that around 20,000 people of
aboriginal group were killed due to negative impacts of colonial violence and at the same time
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period other 25000 settler deaths estimated. And after settlement and colonization, it affected
many people which lead death.
Discussion of the topic in relations to colonisation
In regards to colonization and invasion settlement it is stated that European settlement
affected on the life of Indigenous to the great extent. The main three areas and reasons such as
exposure of new disease, dispossession on the land and their involvement in violent conflict
affected them the most. All these affected them and it lead to death of vast number of aboriginal
people.
In 1770, James Cook claimed possession of the east coast of Australia for the British Crown.
While returning to Britain, Cook presented a report which was putting pressure to authorities for
establishing a panel colony in the newly claimed territory. As per their report and in new colony,
it was intended to improve overcrowding in British prison (Mullen, 2020).
In the year of 1788, Captain Arthur Philip along with brew, marines reached at Sydney
cove. In the 10 years it was felt that indigenous people and their population was reduced by 90%.
So, in this regards some reasons were identified which were: Exposure of new diseases, violent
conflicts with colonisers and acquisition of Indigenous land (The Australian Dream, 2019.).
One of the most affected reasons was wave of epidemic disease which include: measles,
small pox and influenza. In addition it is also stated that due to European forceful settlement in
Australia it affected them the most by restricting them on uses of water resources and
management. Some other main effects of colonization and settlement in regards to water and
land appropriation include:
 Because of depopulation, succession of one indigenous group by another was identified.
 Reduction of land on which they used to live now does not have control over it.
 Depopulation on some areas of Australia affected and resulted massacres.
 A large number of reductions of people of Indigenous group or community.
 Lack of access and restriction to water resources and management.
 Displacement of indigenous group by another.
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Current debate related to the topic
There are several authors who described colonization on invasion and settlement of
aboriginal in different manner. Labor in this regards described that colonisation as a European
invasion occur due to British settlement. Some authors say that it was settlement and some state
that it was invasion. So, the main aims of identifying that colonization and it all was whether
settled, invaded, discovered and occupied. But there are some evidence which shows that
Captain James cook and entering of their people was invasion not settlement. In their own
journal, they wrote that they entered ports of Aboriginal forcefully even without opposition of
Aboriginal and after that they tried to get land in a peaceable manner. They also stated that if
they got it easily then it is fine for them but if they fail in getting land in an easy manner then
they maintain the footing and will get it by using their superiority as invaders of their country.
For supporting this views some authors also stated that settlement of the British was not done in
an effective manner and it was done forcefully so it was not peaceful so, it can be considered as
invasion rather settlement (Settlement or Invasion,. 2019).
On the other hand, as opposed to labour views on colonization and the topic of invasion
or settlement, conservative document states and said that it was British settlement. As the colony
of settlement by British they treated Australia and by taking over land of aboriginal they also
said that land belonged to no one before it so, it cannot be said that it was invasion rather
settlement. So, the first European settlement happens in 1789 because of exposure of diseases.
This settlement created several consequences and one of the main consequences was
appropriation of land as well as water resources. In the context of water and land resources it is
stated after colonization and settlement of European, they were stopped to use their natural
resources of water. Lack of access to water created several problems. Rights of Indigenous on
water were also not recognized by Australian policy and law (Loos, 2017).
One of the reasons behind this was found that contribution and perspective of indigenous
people differ greatly. Due to this and as per the non indigenous laws, it separated land from
water and it is also being said by them that water resources can help them out to the great extent
in improving economy as it is one of the great resources of economy. It affects their access and
usage of water resources which can be considered one of the main consequences of colonization
and settlement of European. They also were being excluded from managing and using water
resources (Indigenous Peoples and Water, 2018). After that allegations were imposed on them
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that indigenous people do not have awareness and knowledge of managing water and it can
create problems for other people as well. As compare to other people they also do not have
knowledge that how to make an effective use of technology and by that increase effectiveness.
Overall it can be said that it was forceful settlement by British or European and authors
gave this name of settlement.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander contributions and perspectives on the topic
Contribution and perspective of aboriginal reflect community experience, values
and cultural beliefs as well. In the context of impacts, contribution and perspective of torrs
Islander and Aboriginal after colonization by European settlers, it can be said that they have
experienced extreme hardship as they had to loss their culture, homelands. Children of this
community also affected the most as they were being forced and denial from citizenship rights
and access to basic needs as well. It is also stated that Aboriginal contributed and fought for their
rights before colonization and tried to protect their rights but due to superiority of British they
were restricted to land and water.
Settlement by European affected Aboriginal and Torres Islanders to the great extent. It
brought changes in policy because of forced settlement, aboriginal had only little choice.
Inequality and discrimination is one of the main reasons of it. There is a great diversity in
culture, ways of living life and languages among this group of people in Australia. They have
now distinct and unique culture as compare to others (Munns and et.al., 2017). There are several
reasons which shows that culture of Indigenous Australian still influence society to some extent.
Some reasons and key factors include: Languages, music, sport, art, tourism and politics but still
there is requirement to make changes and take effective actions in order to reduce gap between
the poor and the rich as well as improving equality and diversity.
Reflection on opportunities for action in personal and professional contexts
In the context of colonization and its effects I can say that it affected Aboriginal and Torres
Islanders to the great extent in a negative manner. The most immediate consequence of
colonization which I analysed was a wave of epidemic disease such as small pox and others
which spread ahead of the annihilated several indigenous communities (Preparing for culturally
responsive and inclusive social work practice in Australia, 2015).
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There is a requirement of development of reconciliation action plan program with the
main aim of supporting national reconciliation as well as achieving their own vision for equitable
organizations. This colonisation affected health of Aboriginal such as it lead poor health, lack of
education affected their employment opportunities, poor housing and sanitation and lack of
nutrition. By developing action plan, gap between the poor and the rich can be reduced.
Increased discrimination among Aboriginal group can also be decreased which directly will
improve quality of lives of people and will allow them to make a great environment where all
level of people can live in an effective manner. I am now concerned about aboriginal people of
Australia as they are being restricted one of the important resources water due to settlement and
climate change, drought and over location to industry (Stewart, 2019).
There are several people who took actions in this regards and tried to provide better
services to aboriginals and fought for their rights. In this context I can say that Peter Alden oven
who is a proud indigenous man, dedicated his life in improvement of cultural connection as he
wanted to create a new environment free of discrimination and fair equality on it. He also wanted
to provide better treatment and equal treatment to Aboriginal people both on the Mornington
Peninsula and across Victoria (A Journey of Self Discover, 2017). So, it can be said that
community leader, Peter Alden oven made efforts by spending more than half of his life in this
context and study of Indigenous people made some changes. After that he became president
when the Association opened a gathering place in the year of 2014. After his contribution and
efforts now Willum Warrain has now become a safe and secure cultural space for indigenous or
aboriginal people and people of this place has a new hope and healing.
CONCLUSION
From the above study it has been summarized that aboriginal people of Australia affected
the most by colonization and forceful settlement by European. This study has also discussed and
shows several problems which Aboriginal and Torres Islander people face the most and which
even led death to many people of this community. Further this study has evaluated that either
colonization was settlement by European or invasion. Some author stated that it was invasion
and other stated that it was settlement. Lastly, it has discussed main three areas which affected
them like exposure of disease, dispossession and conflict. It was required some effective actions
for solving all problems by showing involvement and participation of peter Aldenhoven.
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REFERENCES
Books & Journal
Bird, M.I., O’Grady, D. and Ulm, S., 2016. Humans, water, and the colonization of
Australia. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 113(41), pp.11477-11482.
Cox, T. and et.al., 2019. Older Aboriginal men creating a therapeutic Men's Shed: an exploratory
study. Ageing & Society, pp.1-14.
Loos, N., 2017. Invasion and resistance: Aboriginal European relations on the North Queensland
frontier 1861-1897. Boolarong Press.
Mullen, C.A., 2020. Exhibits: Water and Land Politics in Aboriginal Art/ifacts. In Canadian
Indigenous Literature and Art (pp. 87-112). Brill Sense.
Munns, A. and et.al., 2017. Peer-led Aboriginal parent support: program development for
vulnerable populations with participatory action research. Contemporary nurse. 53(5).
pp.558-575.
Stewart, R., 2019. History extension: Resources for teaching the frontier in Australia case study;
the responses of Aboriginal people (s) on the frontier in Australia. Teaching
History. 53(4). p.16.
Online
Colonization: Disease, Dispossession and Direct Conflict. 2020. [Online]. Available through
<https://australianstogether.org.au/discover/australian-history/colonisation/>
Settlement or Invasion. 2019. [Online]. Available through
<https://www.creativespirits.info/aboriginalculture/history/settlement-or-invasion>
Indigenous Peoples and Water. 2018. [Online]. Available through
https://humanrights.gov.au/sites/default/files/content/social_justice/nt_report/
ntreport08/pdf/chap6.pdf

A Journey of Self Discovery. 2017. [Online]. Available through
<https://peninsulaessence.com.au/a-journey-of-self-discovery/>
The Australian Dream 2019. [Online]. Available through <
https://iview.abc.net.au/show/australian-dream>
Preparing for culturally responsive and inclusive social work practice in Australia. 2015.
[Online]. Available through < https://www.aasw.asn.au/document/item/7006>

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