Aboriginal/ European Contact
Various events during 'contact' had lasting impacts on the First Nations. The notion of wealth, the growing dependence on Europeans, and Smallpox were all events that had lasting impacts on the First Nations culture even to this day.
A large impact on Aboriginal peoples was their growing dependency on European culture. Tobacco was considered a sacred medicine and the First Nations people relied on the Europeans to provide it for them. The First Nations became extrememly dependent on the Europeans for items they had never had before and were considered luxuries. Sewing needles, glass or ceramic beads, axes, guns, flour, tea, iron pots and cloth were some of the goods they received from the European traders. The standard living improved until later on when the First Nations shifted from relying on the environment to relying on the European goods which led to many problems.
Indigenous people, who have never experienced certain diseases, have never had the opportunity to build up an immunity to them. This had a huge impact of the First Nations peoples when the Europeans brought over "Smallpox". Smallpox was easily spread, either through direct contact with someone who had been infected, or by a carrier, someone who had the disease yet never displayed symptoms. In 1789, there was an epidemic, and even more surprising was the fact that there was evidence that the natives had had smallpox before. Once the native Australians met and traded with the Macassans in the north, they traveled to their home regions, carrying smallpox with them, until it finally appeared in the southeast regions. Further epidemics were noted in 1820, 1830, 60 and 70. The influx of smallpox was devastating to the Aboriginal people, wiping out 90% of the First Nations population. It was an ailment that they were not prepared for, and their native medicines couldn’t cure.
The notion of wealth is another significant impact on First Nations peoples as a result of the European contact.
A large impact on Aboriginal peoples was their growing dependency on European culture. Tobacco was considered a sacred medicine and the First Nations people relied on the Europeans to provide it for them. The First Nations became extrememly dependent on the Europeans for items they had never had before and were considered luxuries. Sewing needles, glass or ceramic beads, axes, guns, flour, tea, iron pots and cloth were some of the goods they received from the European traders. The standard living improved until later on when the First Nations shifted from relying on the environment to relying on the European goods which led to many problems.
Indigenous people, who have never experienced certain diseases, have never had the opportunity to build up an immunity to them. This had a huge impact of the First Nations peoples when the Europeans brought over "Smallpox". Smallpox was easily spread, either through direct contact with someone who had been infected, or by a carrier, someone who had the disease yet never displayed symptoms. In 1789, there was an epidemic, and even more surprising was the fact that there was evidence that the natives had had smallpox before. Once the native Australians met and traded with the Macassans in the north, they traveled to their home regions, carrying smallpox with them, until it finally appeared in the southeast regions. Further epidemics were noted in 1820, 1830, 60 and 70. The influx of smallpox was devastating to the Aboriginal people, wiping out 90% of the First Nations population. It was an ailment that they were not prepared for, and their native medicines couldn’t cure.
The notion of wealth is another significant impact on First Nations peoples as a result of the European contact.