Getting to know your Aboriginal community and understanding who are the potential partners is one of the most important conditions for success. This knowledge will help build relationships with Aboriginal people and community leaders.
According to Darkinjung Country Standing Strong “the Central Coast has a rich history of Aboriginal occupation, which dates back for many years. This area was and still is occupied by the Darkinjung people. It is believed and recorded; in Darkinjung country there are over 5,000 registered sites with new sites being discovered almost every day through excavation and clearing of the country. This clearly implies occupation and strong connections to this area by the Darkinjung people.”
Like most Aboriginal tribal groups, they strongly believe that connection to the land gives life that forms part of our spirituality. Therefore they have the utmost respect for nature and its creation.
The Dreaming was both lore and law to the Aboriginal people and brought meaning to the existence of Aboriginal people to being as one with nature. This is the very core of their Dreaming, their Spirituality and their Beliefs.
Boundaries did exist in Darkinjung country and comprised mainly of the Gosford and Wyong area similar to the extent of area covered by the two local government areas, however there seems to be some confusion as to where the actual boundaries start and finish on the Central Coast.
It is also recorded that the Darkinjung men did not take too kindly to the invasion of white settlers to the area. According to the Town and Country Journal, 6th March 1875 Aboriginal men were “ruthlessly slaughtered” when reacting to the provocation of the stealing of the land or women. As recorded between the early settlements and the blacks there appears to have been constant warfare. “The savages having to be kept under by means of firearms, it is likely that many were gunned down as a matter of course on Cap’s Land at Wyong”, (Jones BC and Eyres 1988).
Language is the core of any culture. Destruction of language means destroying a nation and its culture.
According to Darkinjung Country Standing Strong, “Darkinjung language is no longer spoken in the Country, however there are around 320 words that have been recorded in the 19th century.”
This has had a detrimental affect on the language system which was either completely destroyed or could only be remembered in parts. Today a number of languages are being revived and this is bringing about a sense of pride and belonging to those who are involved. Possessing ones own language is pivotal for self-determination, self-esteem and self-worth.
According to local research and records, the Central Coast of NSW is the fastest growing Aboriginal community and the most populated Aboriginal community area in NSW (Darkinjung Country Standing Strong).
According to the 2001 Census there are 4,748 Aboriginal people on the Central Coast. This indicates that the Aboriginal population increased by 30% between the 1996 and 2001 Census.
|
LOCAL GOV'T |
MALES |
FEMALES |
TOTAL |
|
AREA |
|
|
|
|
Gosford |
1,093 |
1,090 |
2,183 |
|
Wyong |
1,299 |
1,266 |
2,565 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
2,392 |
2,356 |
4,748 |
ABS Census 2001
It is acknowledged by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) that there was under reporting of Aboriginality in both the 1996 Census and the 2001 Census.
It is anticipated that the 2006 Census will provide a more realistic indication of the Aboriginal population, as more people become willing to identify their Aboriginality.
Despite the influences of colonisation and the assimilation of Aboriginal people in Australia, traditional cultural knowledge and practice have remained an integral part of Aboriginal people.
For instance, many Aboriginal organisations incorporate traditional cultural protocols and practices into daily work schedules. Understanding about culture and protocol has nothing to do with mysticism but everything to do with commonly accepted norms, which have been passed down through generations and exist in the minds and hearts of Aborigines today.
The primary principle, which should be acknowledged and embraced in developing protocols between parties, is:
“Protocol means observing customs and lores of the people or community you are working with and communicating in a way that is relevant to them.”
Dealing with Aboriginal communities should always be through local Aboriginal organisations, which is the appropriate channel.
Every community will have some common ground and similarities, which needs to be acknowledged for future reference. However, the more important point is to remember to be aware of the differences and that each community has their own protocols that should be followed.
The Aboriginal population of the Central Coast is made up of many diverse cultural and political groups and organisations. Aboriginal peoples also identify themselves according to their cultural and national identities. Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council has identified that their membership is made up of many different nation groups including but not limited to, Bundjalung, Wiradjuri, Kamilaroi, Worimi and Dunghutti peoples.
These cultural identities are extremely important to Aboriginal Peoples. They represent different heritages, languages, cultural practices, spiritual beliefs and geographic areas. But there are also common threads and it is these commonalities, which unite the Aboriginal community of the Central Coast. (refer to training package)
When talking with Aboriginal people remember that they have come from approximately 600 Nations nationally and are just as multicultural as the wider community. What suits one group or applies to one group may not apply to all.
It is important to remember that ONLY Aboriginal people can determine who is Aboriginal and who is not. The official formal criteria used by the Australian Government and most State Governments developed in consultation with Aboriginal peoples are set out in the following table:
|
An Aboriginal person must meet the following three criteria:
1. Must be of Aboriginal descent 2. Must identify as an Aboriginal 3. Must be accepted as an Aboriginal by the community in which they live
|
The following old-fashioned outdated terms should never be used, as they are extremely offensive. They are:
“half caste”, quarter caste”, “full blood”, “he/she doesn’t look like a real Aboriginal” and so on. Also do not use acronyms to refer to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people eg., “ATSI”, ‘It’s”, “Abs”, Abo’s”. Also ensure that the word Aboriginal is always capitalised.
Aboriginal people have, nationally, terms of reference by which they broadly identify themselves, such as:
|
Area |
Name |
|
Queensland |
Murries/Murri’s |
|
South Australia |
Nunga’s |
|
New South Wales |
Koories/Koori’s |
|
Western Australia |
Nyoongah’s |
|
Victoria |
Koories/Koori’s |
|
Northern Territory |
Yolngu (top end) Anangu (central) |
Please do not refer to Aboriginal people by these names unless your credibility has been well established.
However, Aboriginal people specifically relate to each other by tribal groupings and/or family names or groupings eg. “I’m Badtjala” or “My mother was a Gala and she’s Badtjala from Fraser Island” and so on.
About Elders
An Elder is usually an older and respected member of the community with whom the community relies on to give advice and to pass on knowledge. Many Elders have a clear understanding of traditional knowledge, culture and customs. The term “Elders” may not always mean men and women over a certain age. They are representatives in the community who are trusted and respected. Some Elders are referred to as Uncle and Aunty, but you should only use these titles when given permission to do so. If your not sure the best thing to do is ask your Aboriginal community.
Traditional decision making and discussion in Aboriginal societies involved maximum participation and representation because family responsibilities and authority go beyond the nuclear family unit. This may mean individuals, particularly Elders, nuclear families, extended families, communities and community organisations may all need to be included in the process of consultation and negotiation.[1]
It is also important, as part of the community profile, to be aware of community politics. That is, know or get to know through networking what issues are priorities and which people are the community leaders associated with a particular issue.
You may deal with one community in a certain style and another community 50 klms away you may deal with in a totally different way. Accordingly, this protocol and Resource Kit is intended purely as a guide in whatever process you use.[2]
Just as there is no universal “Aboriginal opinion” on issues, there are no “universal protocols or rules”, which apply to all Aboriginal nations, Aboriginal individuals, families, clans or communities. But there are general ground rules, which can be used to locate the proper ways for the area, the people and the project. It’s about making sure that the community respects how you go about it.
How do you contact the right people and the right community?
As a general rule Community Council, often described as Lands Council, governs most communities. Otherwise, many communities have a Medical Centre or other Incorporated Aboriginal organisations. These organisations may not be able to assist you with your query or material but will however know the appropriate people to contact.[3]
Aboriginal Identity Tips: The most appropriate way to identify someone of Aboriginal descent may not always be apparent. When in doubt, a good rule of thumb is simply to ask, “Where are you from?”
