Australian Aboriginal Essay
“Why do Aboriginal people have an unbroken and ongoing connection with the City of Sydney”. Discuss this statement in relation to an ‘Aboriginal Sydney’ event/exhibition/artifact.
The city of Sydney is home to the largest Aboriginal population, which have maintained a living, continuous, day-to-day connection with the place for over 60,000 years. While the European invasion aimed to destroy any remains of this race, their strong spiritual presence remains unbroken. A major reason for the ongoing nature of this connection is that Aboriginal Peoples regard Sydney as a lifeline to their self-identity and it’s rich culture provides a constant reminder of the lifestyles of past generations. Even though traditions may not be widely practiced today due to increased urbanization and modernization, contemporary Aboriginal Peoples are still aware of the significance of their role in society as the First Natives of Sydney. Heiss (2001, p.25) mentions that connections nowadays are bound through oral histories of familial lines to communicate the significance of places within Sydney rather than carrying out traditional practices.
Museums act as a place’s collective memory, often reinforcing sense of place, being and community. The Museum of Sydney is famous for its award winning ‘Edge of the Trees’ sculpture that was created to mark the first site of contact between the Aboriginal Peoples and those arriving on the First Fleet. Furthermore, it holds remains of the first Government House built for Governor Arthur Philip, as well as the Gadigal Place exhibition which celebrates the history, culture and survival of the Gadigal tribe, who were the original inhabitants of the land the museum is built upon. Zeppels (1999, p.183) work mentions that the Museum of Sydney was built upon the site of the First Government House, where Bennelong was held as a mediator; and therefore it acts a symbol of the turning point in Aboriginal Sydney’s history. It is a representation of the
The city of Sydney is home to the largest Aboriginal population, which have maintained a living, continuous, day-to-day connection with the place for over 60,000 years. While the European invasion aimed to destroy any remains of this race, their strong spiritual presence remains unbroken. A major reason for the ongoing nature of this connection is that Aboriginal Peoples regard Sydney as a lifeline to their self-identity and it’s rich culture provides a constant reminder of the lifestyles of past generations. Even though traditions may not be widely practiced today due to increased urbanization and modernization, contemporary Aboriginal Peoples are still aware of the significance of their role in society as the First Natives of Sydney. Heiss (2001, p.25) mentions that connections nowadays are bound through oral histories of familial lines to communicate the significance of places within Sydney rather than carrying out traditional practices.
Museums act as a place’s collective memory, often reinforcing sense of place, being and community. The Museum of Sydney is famous for its award winning ‘Edge of the Trees’ sculpture that was created to mark the first site of contact between the Aboriginal Peoples and those arriving on the First Fleet. Furthermore, it holds remains of the first Government House built for Governor Arthur Philip, as well as the Gadigal Place exhibition which celebrates the history, culture and survival of the Gadigal tribe, who were the original inhabitants of the land the museum is built upon. Zeppels (1999, p.183) work mentions that the Museum of Sydney was built upon the site of the First Government House, where Bennelong was held as a mediator; and therefore it acts a symbol of the turning point in Aboriginal Sydney’s history. It is a representation of the