Indigenous Australian communities

Introduction

This chapter looks at the main features and trends in Indigenous Australian communities. It looks at their historical and geographical background, demographic and population changes, issues of human rights (related to reconciliation) and signs of positive change for the future.

The historical and geographical context

The Indigenous community in Australia has a long historical and geographical record dating back at least 50 000 years. The inhabitants distributed themselves mainly along the coastal areas before British settlement. Prior to British landing (1788), the Indigenous peoples considered themselves caretakers of the Australian continent. The land was to be preserved and passed on to future generations: a central value binding this ancient community. Early Indigenous communities worked the land to sustain their livelihood. This featured the reproduction of plants and animals, the generation of food crops and systems for catching river life. Indigenous land and environmental management also featured the controlled use of fire, which created food for animals and the production of fire-resistant species of trees, shrubs and grasses. Early Indigenous communities were regarded as nomadic, because of this sustainable use of, and harmonious connection to the land. This involved using land and natural resources in cycles. These peoples also practised collective ownership. No one owned the land and its resources.

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The Indigenous communities were devastated by the British arrival in 1788 and beyond. Indigenous peoples were dispossessed of their land when the British declared Australia 'terra nullius or 'empty land'. For much of the 19th Century, the impact of settlement on indigenous culture was negative: the early settlers displayed little tolerance nor respect for indigenous land and human rights, culture, traditions and the obvious spiritual and historical attachment to the continent. In addition, the settlers restricted the tribal movement patterns of Indigenous peoples through their imposed settlement and farming patterns. Genocide (mass killing) and introduced diseases wiped out as much as 90 per cent of the Indigenous population in just 60 years. It is little surprise then that in recent years, Indigenous rights, Indigenous law and Native Title are now being recognised through High Court rulings, public pressure, political initiatives, global human rights activism and an increasingly educated Indigenous population.

Poor demographics and living standards

Australia is the world's fourth most 'liveable' country (standard of living, health, wealth and education levels), according to the United Nations 2003 Human Development Index (HDI); this emphasises the tragedy of poor living standards and issues in many Indigenous communities. Around 2 per cent of our population is Indigenous, yet 12 per cent of this figure is homeless. Around 40 per cent of Indigenous children are in corrective services for crime and juvenile delinquency; a staggering 18:1 ratio of indigenous to non-indigenous exists in our prison population. Almost half of the Indigenous population have a formal education below Year 10 level, which adds to welfare, crime and unemployment statistics. Indigenous health has been considered to be of 'Third World' standard (very poor); disease and disability is widespread and life expectancy is up to 20 years lower than the non-indigenous population. Smoking, obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes are particularly serious health issues for these communities as are drug and substance abuse. Many Indigenous people live in isolated communities of less than 20 people, where services are limited.

Indigenous human and social rights

Socio-economic disadvantage such as poverty, welfare dependency and low income, limited ability to meet basic needs and poor education and health in many Australian Indigenous communities, have led to international pressure on the Commonwealth and State governments to improve human and social rights of these people. Australia is a member of two key organisations supporting and promoting a range of human rights for people: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. There are many declarations of human rights that Australia is in support of; Article 25 of the UDHR is said to be the most relevant. It states: 'Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and wellbeing of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control'.

It is these ideas which have prompted a range of government strategies to raise living standards and human rights in indigenous communities. Some programs are controlled by the communities as 'self-determining', such as the Remote Communities Initiative; other strategies and programs are aiming to improve access to essential services such as health (Medicare) and schooling. It is unacceptable that Indigenous peoples, the first Australian inhabitants, are living below comfortable living standards, largely due to circumstances beyond their control.

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Signs of positive change in indigenous communities

The raised awareness of the problems and issues in indigenous Australian communities has led to some positive changes and community initiatives. For example, the Papunya Indigenous community, located in remote Northern Territory near Alice Springs, has been working with World Vision (an international health and welfare organisation) to improve the community's standard of living. The Papunya community has about 400 residents; the community was set up as a forced settlement in 1959 and is a mix of different tribal groups who lost their traditional way of life. The result was poverty and a reliance on welfare handouts ; World Vision was invited by the community to help with health issues in 1996. Their studies found malnutrition, high rates of infection and disease, inadequate housing and water access, low education and participation, substance abuse, and social problems such as vandalism. As a result, programmes were developed in health, welfare, aged care, youth, education and leadership. Training of community and aged care workers and improved elderly service provision also occurred.

Another example of positive change is observable in the Indigenous communities of the Kimberley region of Western Australia. In the town of Fitzroy Crossing, there are many Aboriginal-owned and operated businesses that contribute to improved social and economic prosperity. For instance, the Ngiyali Roadhouse sells essentials like petrol and food. the Mangkaja Arts Resource Agency supports local artists and cultural heritage, the Crossing Inn provides accommodation and the Darlngunaya Aboriginal Corporation runs local area tours.