Учебная презентация по страноведению Австралии для 10-11 классов общеобразовательных школ "Аборигены Австралии"

Australia is the oldest of all continents. Its wandering Aboriginal tribes still live like the men of the Stone Age. This race has existed for over 40.000 years. Though they comprise 500–600 distinct groups, aboriginal people possess some unifying links. Among these are strong spiritual beliefs that tie them to the land; a tribal culture of storytelling and art; and, like other indigenous populations, a difficult colonial history.

The Aborigines used stone technologies and established a hunter-gatherer lifestyle that is very different from European culture. They did not practise agriculture or keep domestic animals other than the dog. They are experts at surviving in different climates and conditions, from snowy mountains to tropical rain forests. They have a rich culture of ceremonies and mythology. The Aboriginal people have never been treated by the European settlers as human beings.

During the early part of the 20th century laws were passed to protect Aboriginals. This, however, involved restrictions on where they could live and work.
After World War II, integration became the government’s aim and attempts were made to 'Europeanise' them. During the 1960s, legislation was сhanged and the Federal Government passed laws for all Aboriginals to be given citizen status. In 1972, the native people were given back limited rights to their own land. The situation has steadily improved for Australia's native people, although more remains to be done.

Recent government statistics counted approximately 400,000 aboriginal people, or about 2% of Australia's total population. More than half of Australia’s Indigenous population lives in either New South Wales or Queensland. But of all the states and territories, the Northern Territory has the highest proportion of Indigenous people, who make up 27.8 per cent of the territory’s population.

They live in rural, remote or very remote areas and just 1 per cent of them live in major cities. For the Aborigines who live in the big cities of Australia, alcoholism and violence are a way of life. Most Aborigines are very poor and have a very low standard of living. Aboriginal Elders attempt to change violent behaviour in young men by taking them to one of many sacred sites and teaching them the ancient ways of their people.

The educational system, which was once segregated, is now open to Aboriginal children, who are encouraged to attend. However, many Aboriginal children drop out at a young age. The Aborigines who continue to live in the rural areas of Australia - the outback - have tried to keep as much of their tradition and history alive as they can. Australians have attempted to build houses and other types of shelter for them. But for the most part, Aborigines use these structures only for storage.

Most Indigenous belief systems centre on the ‘Dreaming’ or ‘Dreamtime’ to explain life and the origin of the world. According to their beliefs, the landscape and all forms of life in it were created by their spirit ancestors in the Dreamtime, when the earth was newly formed. The Dreaming describes the actions and travels of these beings, some of whom were themselves transformed into features of the landscape, like the Three Sisters rock formation in the Blue Mountains. These beliefs have governed every aspect of Indigenous peoples’ lives and relationships with the land. They are the subject of traditional stories, music and artwork across the continent and the map for their “walkabouts” (spiritual journeys). Stories are depicted in cave paintings all over Australia.

These beliefs have governed every aspect of Indigenous peoples’ lives and relationships with the land. They are the subject of traditional stories, music and artwork across the continent and the map for their “walkabouts” (spiritual journeys). Stories are depicted in cave paintings all over Australia.

Australian Indigenous art is one of the oldest continuous art traditions in the world. The earliest Indigenous art forms were paintings and engravings on boulders, rock shelters and cave walls, some of which date back 30 000 years. Their art is now world famous and many Aborigines make a living off selling their pieces. Traditionally, they view art much like their dreamings: sacred and secret.
 

Answer the questions: 1. How many Aborigines live in Australia today and where do they live?
2. What is their way of life?
3. How do Aborigines explain the origin of the world?
4. Where can you find the earliest Indigenous art forms?
5. What else do you know about Aboriginal art?
6. What social inequalities do Aborigines suffer from?

Separate the two mixed-up texts about Australian Aborigines and Amazon Indians.