Reflective Paper: Anthropology, Indigenous Culture in Australia

This reflective paper delves into the field of anthropology, particularly focusing on the study of Australian Aboriginal society and its interaction with Westernized notions. The paper explores the role of anthropologists in understanding cultures through immersive experiences, examining the Aboriginal society's quest for identity and social acceptance within a multicultural framework. It discusses the significance of Aboriginal law and the importance of respecting cultural differences. The paper analyzes the impact of nation-building from different perspectives, the influence of the Mabo and Wik court decisions on common law, and the historical context of ethnology, including the Kamilaroi and Kunai studies. It highlights the challenges faced by urban Aboriginals in maintaining their cultural identity while adapting to common laws and shared community values. The paper emphasizes the need for Aboriginals to embrace their cultural identity as a valuable asset within the broader Australian society.

Running head: REFLECTIVE PAPER 1
Reflective Paper
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Author Note
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Summary
In the given study, I found that anthropologists are the people who would venture around
to gain the field of knowledge with their materials and their work would be relevant to the
westernized notion of the society. The anthropologists gained this specific knowledge by
understanding the close relationships with people by living and interacting with them, eat their
food, learn their cultures, enjoy their food, and be a part of their lives from every aspect
(Povinelli, 200 2). This may be a notion of an ethnographer to benefit themselves by entering
into the lives of others and understand about how they live. I have also gained an insight on the
fate of the Australian Aboriginal society and their step towards identifying their own identity and
social acceptance so that they can gain access to the public sympathy and state resources. I
believe that that the Aboriginal law is an ancient law which the westernized society should be
aware. The importance and the need for a multicultural society in Australia and the ways in
which the cultural differences can be avoided in order to respect each and every culture form a
base for all the cultures to breathe in the land of Australia (O'Connor, 2017).
In the further study I understood about that the Australian nation-building and how
people should remember the according to whose perspective the nation-building was done. I also
came to know about the Aboriginal history and the nation-building process from the Aboriginal
history perspective. It was also understood that a common law will give recognition to all the
multi-cultures prevailing in Australia and it will form a base for their failed history (Povinelli,
2002). This study also helped me to understand that the Mabo and Wik courts are no longer only
for the Aboriginal society, their beliefs and their cultures. It made me clear that the Mabo and
Wik are serving the needs of the common law and not only the Aboriginal society and their
people. Mabo and Wik court decisions entirely focused on the protection and advancement of the
Australian common law practices and principles rather than focusing only on the Aboriginal
people (Richardson, 2017). This also focuses on the liberal laws that Aboriginals should follow.
I came across the ethnology Kamilaroi and Kunai which was introduced in the year 1880.
It stated the inter-sexual relationships between the people of Australia. In the ethnology, the
people of Australia refer to the indigenous Australians (Fison, 2017). I understood about the
importance of the ancient Aboriginal cultures and the reason for non-Aboriginals to understand

REFLECTIVE PAPER 3
their importance too. The dilemma of the urban Aboriginals is to manage the discursive gap and
become an indigenous Aboriginal (Povinelli, 2002). I also understood the fact that Aboriginals
need to foster their own identity by accepting it as an authentic and valuable asset for their
people and their group. This would not risk their identity in any way as they are adapting to the
common laws and their shared values as a community.

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References
Fison, L. (2017). Kamilaroi and Kurnai: Group-Marriage and Relationship, and Marriage by
Elopement. Nordestedt: BoD–Books on Demand.
O'Connor, S. (2017). 30,000 Years of Aboriginal Occupation: Kimberley, North West Australia.
Canberra, ACT: Dept. of Archaeology and Natural History, The Australian National
University.
Povinelli, E. A. (2002). The cunning of recognition: Indigenous alterities and the making of
Australian multiculturalism. Durham, USA: Duke University Press.
Richardson, B. (2017). Paul G. McHugh, Aboriginal Societies and the Common Law: A History
of Sovereignty, Status and Self-Determination. Indigenous Law Journal, 4(1).