How Did The European Settlement Affect The Aboriginal Population In Canberra

During the time of European settlement between 1750 and 1918, there were a number of effects on the Aboriginal people living in Canberra. The major effect was the decline of the Aboriginal population within the area. This decline was mainly due to the introduction of diseases such as smallpox and measles and the incline of the Aboriginal peoples hunting experiences resulting in less food. I believe that the European settlement caused the Aboriginal population within Canberra to significantly decrease and see this as the main effect of Aboriginal people within Canberra and surrounding the Canberra region.
Before European Settlement begun, the area which is now known as Australian Capital Territory belonged to the Indigenous/Ngunnawal Australians
“Canberra is Ngunnawal country and the ‘Ngunnawal are people of this region and the first inhabitant” (ACT Government, 2014). According to information from () It has recently been discovered that some Historical sources found, have acknowledged the Aboriginal people to be ‘different tribes with a range of names’ (source). For many of these tribes the harsh Canberrearn climate lands presented numerous challenges and made it difficult for the Tribes to hunt for food, which of course is essential to their survival.
According to (source i.e Lloyd, 1980) The Ngunnawal people normally travelled with their families or small family groups.
On special occasions thousands of people or more came together to make use of all the different possessions and resources they had collected. Art was painted inside rock shelters as a part of the Aboriginal culture and traditions. This was also their main form or communication and how the Indigenous/Ngunnawal people shared their stories. In Canberra today, you can still find some of the rock paintings that had been painted thousands of years ago such as those found at Birrigai Rock at the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve (ACT Government, 2014). These rock drawings established the timeline that the Indigenous people have been living within this area and it is estimated that it has been for over 20,000 years. Of course the hunter-gatherer lifestyle was the Aboriginal peoples only source of food. The introduction of Europeans radically changed the Aboriginal peoples way of life. Europeans introduced flocks of sheep and cattle herds which began the decline of Aboriginal skills needed to find their own source of food. This also in my opinion led to the Aboriginal people becoming more reliant on Europeans to assist them in their living. (These also led to the introduction alcohol and
tobacco)
The arrival of the Europeans also introduced many diseases which had previously never been seen in the Aboriginal communities. Diseases such as small pox, measles, tuberculosis, influenza and syphilis as some of the most devastating to their tribes (find source or quote). These diseases took action on the aboriginal people almost immediately (find source). It is stated that by Dowling (1997) that “infectious and respiratory diseases were responsible for over 50% of recorded deaths on over 8 separate settlements in Southeast Australia” (find Dowling 1997).
It was not just the adults of the communities that were infected but Aboriginal infant mortality rates are calculated as very high compared to non-Aboriginal infants (Dowling, 1997). The sad fact according to Dowling 1997 is that “the gap between the health status of each has widened rather than narrowed over the past 100 years” (Dowling, 1997 p.4). The introduction of these diseases is one of the greatest effects of European settlement on the lives of the Aboriginal people not only within in Canberra but all throughout Australia.
Although the introduction of these diseases has been detrimental to the Aboriginal peoples way of life the amalgamation into Weston civilisation was another element which I believe to be have effected Aboriginal people in Canberra. Aboriginal people were recorded as working on many of the sheep and cattle farms around the Canberra regions (find quote). This work mixed both Europeans and Aboriginal people resulting in amalgamation of cultures. It also resulted in the Aboriginal numbers declining due to diseases but also loss of culture and language (find source).
I believe that loss of language goes hand-in-hand with loss of culture which has huge effects to the culture that the language belonged to. According to (google The loss of Indigenous languages- the sociological effects for more information ) “following the loss of language has many harmful effects on people to whom it belonged” (source). When studying the Aboriginal language before European settlement it is indicated that there was over 600 to 700 distinct nations with their very own language. Today, only half this number exists and only 20 are in use. This is such a huge effect in Aboriginal culture and lifestyle.
When Australia was first discovered (source this) Australia was declared as Terra nullius which refers to land without any owners, this meaning in itself is a significant effect on Aboriginal culture and land which they had inhabited where no longer available with many tribes being moved into settlements and required to live like Europeans and forget their own culture. The removal of Aboriginal children and the training for girls to be house servants and the boys to farm where all damaging to loss of culture and a big effect of European Settlement.
Although the Aboriginal people lived almost untouched for over thousands of years before European settlement I do question whether this time was bound to change at some stage. Throughout history the human race was beginning to learn more about the world in which we live in. More discoveries were being made every day and more people where exploring areas which they never thought existed. Although I am not indicating that I support what the Europeans did to the Aboriginal people I do wonder if this was not bound to happen at some stage and by whom. Whatever the case it does allow us to consider the actions of our past and hope that if we were every in position again in the future that we learn from these events.
In conclusion the effects of European settlement on the lives of the Aboriginal people living in Canberra between 1750 and 1918 were significant. From loss of land which resulted in failure to hunt and gather their own food resulting in reliance on Europeans. To the introduction of diseases such as small pox and measles. To the Amalgamation into Weston civilisation. All these elements have significantly contributed to Aboriginal peoples way of life. My hope for the future is that we as a Nation learn from our past and assist the Aboriginal people to reclaim their culture and heritage.