Impact of Historical Issues on Aboriginal Culture

The assignment content discusses two historical issues that have impacted Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people in Australia, including the Stolen Generation and colonial conquest. The Stolen Generation refers to the forced removal of Indigenous children from their families and the imposition of Western values on them, resulting in cultural loss and identity erosion. Colonial conquest led to significant health impacts, population decline, and cultural suppression. The content also highlights two workplace issues that may influence relationships with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander co-workers and clients: communication and harassment/bullying. Strategies for improving workplace relationships include open communication, casual gatherings, and inclusive recreational activities.

Two historical issues which have impacted on Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
people
There are two below discussed historical topics regarding Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait
Islander populace in Australia:
• Stolen generation
The Stolen Generations, recognized as Stolen Children, were the kids of Australian Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander decline who were estranged from their families through the Australian
Federal and State administration organizations as well as church missions, under rules of their
own assemblies. These kids, most below the age of five, were subjected to western idealism and
education which affected their cultural understanding significantly. I think this is another
example of the supposed western influence being force fed into the aboriginal population without
any conscious effort at eliminating the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander culture. However,
the impact of the lost generations on the aborigines’ culture was horrific nonetheless for the
culture which is much more important than the cultural motive behind the initiative.
Invasion and colonization
The history of Aboriginal scarcity is innermost to accepting modern Aboriginal and non-
Aboriginal relationships. Colonial conquest was grounded on the supposition that European
civilization was advanced to every part of others, as well as that Europeans could describe the
world in their expressions. Thus, the exertion of the influence of the foreign cultures was
significant for the aborigines’ culture which was isolated and considered inferior because of it.
These, influences affected the both Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander significantly which
in my opinion is the main cause of aboriginals being deemed inferior even in the modern times
by certain individuals (Thai, & Tebes, 2014).
These two issues have affected contemporary Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
people
The Stolen Generation had an immense consequence on Aboriginal rights as well as liberties
because Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders did not even have the authorities to elevate as well
as care for their kids, consequently 100,000 Aboriginal Australian’s were shifted also positioned

into white residents. This move still haunts the original aborigine’s culture in Australia because of
the cultural isolation the children from their roots affected the children’s cultural identity and also
affected the aborigines’ culture. The development of the idea of aborigines’ culture being inferior
was misused in this instance in an attempt to westernize the whole society rather than allowing
development while retaining their cultural identity.
The outcome of British colonization on Aboriginal populace the Aboriginal inhabitants was
decreased by 90%. The most instant effect of British settlement was the emergence of European
syndromes. The largest part was the epidemic illness for example chickenpox, smallpox, flu and
measles. While the health impact of these were significant, I think that main impact of the
colonization was the British dominant over the native natural rescues like land or water that did
not consider the aborigines right to the land as a valid claim and tried to integrate them into their
society instead of sharing their resources (Mohatt, Thompson, 2014).
Two workplace issues that may influence workplace relationships with Aboriginal and/or
Torres Strait Islander co-workers and clients and appropriate strategies to deal with these
Communicating: Communication between Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander workers and
management is one of the main reasons of workplace problems. Proviso administration pays
neither attention nor value to the unique aboriginal skills and despite their achievements or skills
in a job role which is the main problem for the relationships. Better communication with these
people help in the development of the relationship that allows them to express their opinions
which goes a long way in establishing their value. Thus, open commination can help in the
development significantly.
Harassment and Bullying: Bullying occurs most frequently between workers of equivalent
height, while harassment is typically described with single person applying his or her power or
influence over someone in a weaker or obedient situation. The effects of is risky, equally to
persons and business groups. Bullying as well as harassment occurs most repeatedly in case of
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander employees as in most of the workplaces the aboriginals
are a minority and thus a common target of the harassment or bullying for their differing cultural
and appearance.

To deal with these two issues have to apply some smart strategies like let the workers the chance
to make quality relations with their co-workers and clients. This can be done with the
organization of casual gatherings away from work, and through cheering worker communication
(Haskins, 2005). I think while the workplace policies are important in ensuring workplace
relationships, they are not absolute, the change in perspective can only be brought about by
progressive thinking and the inclusion strategies for the different recreational activities that allow
better understanding between employees and also help in the development of proper
communication strategies that ensure inclusion of the aborigines employees into the work group.
Seek support to help Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander co-workers and clients to
assist with issues concerning accessibility, affordability, accountability, acceptability
The technology support required for the development of the better communication and
relationship with the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people is the development of the
understanding of the aboriginal values ingrained in the aborigines’ culture and learning to respect
their uniqueness and difference to the western way of thinking. Thus, legal recognition is not
enough as in my opinion, the social values in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people
need to be preserved without affecting their culture. Therefore, education and awareness is the
key to ensuring inclusion which make the knowledge development and exchange between
Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and the rest of the population the only solution to the
isolation and accessibility issue.
Reference:
Mohatt, N. V., Thompson, A. B., Thai, N. D., & Tebes, J. K. (2014). Historical trauma as public
narrative: A conceptual review of how history impacts present-day health. Social Science &
Medicine, 106, 128-136.
Manne, R. (Ed.). (2003). Whitewash: on Keith Windschuttle’s fabrication of Aboriginal history.
Black Inc..
Haskins, V. K. (2005). Uncommon ground: white women in aboriginal history. Aboriginal
Studies Press.

Berndt, R. M., & Berndt, C. H. (1988). The world of the first Australians: Aboriginal traditional
life: Past and present. Aboriginal Studies Press.