Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Culture Identitiesâ€Free Samples

Question: How To Torres Strait Islander Culture Identities? Answer: Introducation Aboriginal and Islander Strait people of Australia have distinct identity, cultural traditions and histories(Nakata M. , 2007). The scope of the current literature review discusses their origin along with their specific cultural identities, which separates them from the rest of the crowd. These people form the first inhabitants of Australia based on skin color or percentage of Aboriginal blood in them. Federal Government in Australia defines Aboriginals as being those of Aboriginal descent and is accepted by the same community. Aboriginal comes from various nations with their own distinct languages, traditions with histories linked to mainland Australia. It includes people living across various locations in Australia and offshore islands. Indigenous is a term that is used for Aboriginal as well as Torres Strait people, it has evolved through international laws(Gray, 2008). They are primarily inhabitant of Australia, of the entire geographical area sharing similar cultures and ethnici ty. These people have been able to retain their cultural, social, political, social and economic characteristics. Aboriginal and Islander Strait people are spread out throughout the entire geography of Australia. Until date this class of people had been ignored by the government and various other bodies. Until recently the government decided to extend similar benefits to them by arranging for extra funding. Various additional programs have been introduced for Aboriginal and Islander strait people such that they can benefit socially as well as economically(Bauman, 2007). They are the most disadvantaged group in Australia hence, programs targeting specific needs of these people needs to be developed. Flexible training, employment opportunity generation programs, cost free medical services and various other schemes have been introduced such that they can come at par with rest of the Australian community. In order that disadvantageous Indigenous people can come at par with rest of the population several analysis, studies and research programs has been developed. Such measures target development of mainstream services to indigenous population. For bringing up levels of such segments of the population, extensive stress has been given in education(Devlin, 2009). Public expenditure for Indigenous group is 18% more compared to others aged 3-24 years. Such education are meant at uplifting their cultural identities by amalgamation of their age old tactics with those that can generate employment. Immense pressure is put on elementary levels of education as well as those in their final schooling years such that they can easily gain access to the industry. Especially in mining concentrations in Australia where there has been age old conflicts that destroyed their arts and artifacts, school are aiming to bridge such gaps(Gilroy, 2009). Various companies through their corporate social responsibil ity endeavor are aiming to bridge gaps and create an atmosphere of harmony such that mutual benefit can be gained. Health amongst Aboriginals and Torres Strait people reflects poor hygiene and lack of proper access to health amenities. High number of premature deaths coupled with low birth weights, death without treatment are some common aspects amongst indigenous people. Government along with private bodies have targeted healthcare facilities for indigenous people which have risen by 16% per person in the recent period compared to the past(Kowal, 2008). Due to low levels of income prevailing for Aboriginals, costs of delivering healthcare services to remote communities have been decreased. An additional spending on healthcare on Aboriginals is to bring their standards up in healthcare practices, and also for taking account of extra healthcare requirements they need. Government for providing equitable distribution of all basic services have created the ATSIC, which is an abbreviated form for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission. This agency was developed and created to make programs for indigenous people, monitor governmental agencies and advice nation, regions and local governmental bodies on indigenous issues(ww.lowitja.org, Retrieved on 11th August 2017). Indigenous identity is created and shaped by clans and tribes which is complex in nature. They have an age old cultural history in the world that dates back to 65,000 years. Such long term survival of culture of Aboriginals reflect their capability to adapt and change with time to the surrounding. Their culture and identities are passed from one generation to another. In Australia they preserve their cultural heritage by passing knowledge, rituals, art and performances from a generation to another. Indigenous in Australia are semi-nomadic in nature, who are primarily hunters, who had separate clans in particular territory. Their clans were marked by rivers, lakes, mountains and other geographical boundaries. Primarily Aboriginals in Australia identify themselves by marking them in a particular geographical land or territory. They interrelate such lands through religion, family, ceremony, arts and sports, hence such clans totaling to 600 different clans. Each and every clan had their own particular belief and knowledge system that they gained from their environment. Within each clan was particular relationships based on responsibilities or roles of them(www.mja.com.au, Retrieved on 11st August 2017). Such kinship defined an individuals existence and had certain obligations attached to them, which helped define their system of laws. Indigenous had languages separated from one another defined Accounting to their geographical locations. Each clan had developed their specific tools and techniques that was used in hunting, which is another critical part of their religious identities. Aboriginals had developed several kinds of tools as scrapers, knives, spears, axe-heads, digging sticks and so on. Ceremonial performances is another integral tool of the Aboriginals that included several performances of music, song and dance. Ceremonies have been regarded as the key to their cultural identities, whereby they decorate their bodies and make performance specific to their clans. Music, song and dance still continues to be an integral aspect of indigenous lives, which forms a part of their customers. Every occasion of theirs had specific songs, music and dance, such ceremonies often had exchange of goods as well. Food was included as a part of such social gatherings(Vos, 2009). Indigenous Australian had high quality of visual arts that reflects richness and diversity of their culture. Arts, artifacts are distinct in each clan that reflects different language, tribe, dialect, geographic landscape and so on. The famous dot painting that emerged in the 1970s is considered one of the greatest art movements from the indigenous people and in 20th century. While such cultural identities of Aboriginal people remains, there has been immense efforts made by local community and the government to bridge any existing gaps. Gaps remaining amongst indigenous and non- indigenous people have led to rising conflicts amongst them. Though there are several endeavors made by governmental as well as non-governmental agencies, gaps still remains(aiatsis.gov.au, Retrieved on 11th August 2017). Globalisation has posed contemporary issues for indigenous people that includes racial discriminations, access to health services, poor health, employment levels, loss of traditional languag es, education, cultural survival and Indigenous Intellectual Property Rights (IIPR). Globalisation requires a peaceful coexistence in diverse environment, hence views regarding national identity needs to be changed. There needs to be a view created such that Australian and indigenous people can exists harmoniously by appreciating each others point of view. Harmony can be created by displaying of diversity in all aspects of social sphere. Extensive industrialisation, extraction of mineral resources, urbanization of land have led indigenous people to create a separate social stratum for themselves(Watson, 2007). Some indigenous people have adjusted and adapted to contemporary ways of life by enjoying both styles parallel basis, while others have not been able to do so. Major challenge have risen as Australian fail to acknowledge historical and heritage contribution of indigenous people. Australians have been ignoring existence and earlier occupation by indigenous people. Arrival of Br itish further led to impact on indigenous people leading to their rejection by the society. Aboriginals still remain aloof from cities bounded in outskirts. Several issues of knowledge and identity of Aboriginals have often been denied to them. Though there are a large number of Aboriginals yet there are no appropriate governmental statistics to indicate their total figures. Such has impact implementation of government al policies, excluding them from their rights to claim. Aboriginal tourism is recently emerging as an industry that includes diversity tours that reflect their cultural identity(Nakata M. N., 2012). Aboriginals has been till date able to preserve their cultural identities, belief systems, social or kinship, social behaviors, structures, links to specific geographical area and so on. Thus, with governmental aid equity amongst Aboriginals and Australians can easily be enhanced. Reference Lists aiatsis.gov.au. (Retrieved on 11th August 2017). Aboriginal and Indigenous Australians. https://aiatsis.gov.au/research/ethical-research. Bauman, T. . 2007. Indigenous partnerships in protected area management in Australia: three case studies. . Canberra: Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies., 95-114. Devlin, M. 2009. Indigenous higher education student equity: Focusing on what works. . The Australian Journal of Indigenous Education, 1-8. Gilroy, J. 2009. The theory of the cultural interface and Indigenous people with disabilities in New South Wales. Balayi: Culture, law and colonialism, 44. Gray, J. . 2008. A formidable challenge: Australia's quest for equity in Indigenous education. Australian Journal of Education, 197-223. Kowal, E. 2008. The Politics of the Gap: Indigenous Australians, Liberal Multiculturalism, and the End of the Self?Determination Era. American anthropologist, 338-348. Nakata, M. 2007. The cultural interface. The Australian Journal of Indigenous Education, 7-14. Nakata, M. N. 2012. Decolonial goals and pedagogies for Indigenous studies. Decolonization: Indigeneity, Education Society. Vos, T. B. 2009. Burden of disease and injury in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples: the Indigenous healthcare gap. international Journal of Epidemiology, 470-477. Watson, I. 2007. Aboriginal Womens Laws and Lives: How Might We keep Growing The Law?. Australian Feminist Law Journal, 95-107. ww.lowitja.org. (Retrieved on 11th August 2017). The Lowitja Institute Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health. https://www.lowitja.org.au/. www.mja.com.au. (Retrieved on 11st August 2017). Indigenous Australians. https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2016/204/5/good-kid-mad-system-role-health-reforming-justice-vulnerable-communities.