Shared Dreams
Australia is a nation composed of three distinct human entities: Indigenous Australians and Torres Strait Islanders, Anglo-Saxon White Australians, and Multicultural Ethnic Communities. Each of these groups has its unique history and contributes to the rich tapestry of Australian society. Indigenous Australians and Torres Strait Islanders have been living in Australia, New Zealand, and hundreds of islands in the Pacific region for the past 65,000 years.
Anglo-Saxon White Australians, of European origin, began arriving in the 1700s, while the Multicultural Ethnic Communities started migrating to Australia after the abolition of the White Australia Policy in 1973.
Indigenous Australians possess a rich history, culture, languages, and traditions dating back thousands of years. They are the original custodians of Australia, New Zealand, and many islands in the Pacific Ocean, making them the First Nations of Australia. Despite their ancient heritage, the arrival of the British in 1788 severely disrupted their way of life and cultural freedoms. Special laws were enacted, often resulting in inhumane treatment. Those who defended their land and freedom were frequently ignored or punished. Children were separated from their families under the guise of providing them with a better life, which often led to further hardships.
Today, educated Indigenous people and their political representatives can raise their voices more freely. They demand acknowledgement and governmental rights for their centuries-old cultures, livelihoods, and lands. Indigenous representatives in national and provincial parliaments advocate for their true voice and the rights associated with their ancient cultures, livelihoods, and lands.
The roots of Anglo-Saxon White Australians trace back to the colonization of Australia by British imperialism when Lieutenant James Cook claimed New South Wales and nearly half of the continent for Great Britain on August 22, 1788. With favourable evaluations for transforming the continent into a British colony, Australia’s colonization commenced. These Australians, commonly known as “Australians,” have predominantly governed Australia through a Westminster democracy led by two major political parties, the Labor Party and the Liberal Party, both of which are over a century old. Since colonization, White Australians have been the majority and have ruled........
© Daily Times
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