Ngunnawal Country - Clans, Early Settlements, Food Resources, Migratory Activities - Essay Example

Ngunnawal Country [Name] [Professor Name] [Course] [Date] Ngunnawal Country Introduction The Ngunnawal are the aboriginal inhabitants of Canberra, otherwise known as the Ngunnawal Country. It is said these Aboriginal Australians have occupied Ngunnawal Country throughout the last 21,000 years, which is perhaps the longest periods of inhabitation at a place anywhere in the world. Ngunnawal Country has been generally described as having a harsh climate, hence a difficult country for the Ngunnawal people who were originally hunters and gathers. Even so, historians have showed that these people had developed a way of life, and quickly adapted to the regions. The Ngunnawal Country can be identified on Tindale’s map, a languages map that represents the language groups who had inhabited Australia, of the Aboriginal Tribes of Australia. Australian Capital Territory was declared a detached entity towards the end of 1913, and separated from New Wales (Horton 2000). Consequently, it was declared the capital territory of Australia. It fell inside the Ngunnawal Country. Some historians have pointed out that Ngunnawal country was at that time delineated by the language of its inhabitants, contrary to the notion that it was defined by lines that were vividly marked on the map. Some historian believe that the borders of Ngunnawal Country must have covered the regions as far as from Yass to Boorowa, passing through Tumut, and further through the highlands that are located west of Shoalhaven and extending further to Goulburn. This measures around 11,000 square kilometers (ACT NRM Council 2010). Ngunnawal Country Clans Seven clans are known to exist within the Ngunnawal tribe. The names of these seven different clans have noticeable connection to the contemporary names of some specific areas within the Ngunnawal Country. For instance, the Maloongoola originally inhabited the Molongolo area while the Namitch clan occupied Namadgi. Other clans such as Biyaligee clan lived in Pialligo, the area of Pialligo, the Cumbeyan clan in Queanbeyan, Toogoranoongh in Tuggeranong, Woolobaloah in Yass while the Kanberri occupied Belconnen (ACT NRM Council 2010). Early Settlements Archaeological evidence indicate that centuries before the first European settlement in Australia, settlement in the Ngunnawal Country originally constituted rock paintings, caves, stone tools, tombs and camps. European settlement in the region started in 1820s. According to some researchers, Ngunnawal country was “discovered” in the late 1820s by three explorers namely, James Vaughan, Joseph Wild and Charles Throsby (Horton 2000). Food Resources The Ngunnawal people characteristically migrated in small families. However, huge gatherings of some a thousand people would occasionally meet to exploit the natural resources, which were seasonal, for instance the Yam Daisy (Microseris lanceolata) and the Bogong moth. Ceremonies that were deemed to be important in nature were held during the gatherings. The Ngunnawal people also valued rock arts and vibrantly painted their rock shelters. The marriages were not spontaneous and were in most cases arranged. They also conducted barter trade and people could often meet to share news or updates on important events. However, confusions have arisen out of the coincidences of these Ngunnawal events. In fact, a number of historical accounts of their annual trek through the Ngunnawal country have seemed to neglect the spiritual significance of these occasional assemblies of this tribe, and have instead seemed to focus on the performances of moth eating (ACT NRM Council 2010). It is agreeable that this misrepresentation might have played a role in the scarcity of substantial knowledge of the Ngunnawal people’s cultural practices. Migratory Activities During the summer season, the Ngunnawal people visited the highlands, or high country, where they gathered the Bogong moth (Agrotis infusa). Billions of these moths could be found concealed in rock crevices where they sought habitation from the warm summer weather. Bogong moth are said to have been rich in fats. While some were roasted on fire, others were smoked and preserved as cakes for consumption during the adverse conditions. In some instances, the lowlands attracted habitation as they had invaluable natural resources such as the Yam Daisies as well as fresh waters that could be harvested from the lakes and sometimes creeks. During harsh winter conditions, the Ngunnawal people put on heavy fur clothes and usually, they would migrate to the coastal regions to share the scanty resources with the clans that occupied the regions. Indeed, it is highly noted that the Ngunnawal people found a significant source of proteins in the moth that migrated in large swarms during their aestivation. The edible tubers of the Yam Daisies were also an essential source of food for the Ngunnawal people. To some scholars, the seasonal nature of these staples meant that the Ngunnawal people had to gather them and stock them for later use (Harrison 2009). Ngunnawal Country Lifestyle In this way, the Ngunnawal people were largely hunters and gathers right from some 21,000 years ago, and continued with this practice even in the early 19th century when the European settlement increased and they introduced livestock into the region. The arrival of the Europeans into Ngunnawal Country is however criticized by some observers for having introduced diseases such as measles and smallpox (see video) that decimated a large number of this aboriginal people (Flood 2006). In addition, the introduction of droves of livestock, that had large appetite for vegetation and hard grooves, damaged much of the vegetation thus reducing the abundance of Yam Daisies, which was one of their staple diets. Other essential food resources such as waterholes and creeks were further damaged. This is evidenced by the 1826 protests at Lake George, dissenting the behaviors of the white settler farmers. Some scholars also argue that the white settlement may as well have restricted the movement of the Aboriginal people (ACT NRM Council 2010). This adversely affected their livestock, being naturally hunters and gathers implying that movement was essential. In the face of the changes effected by the new settlements, thousands of the Ngunnawal people persisted on gathering in the Snowy Mountains during the Bogong moth season. Gradually, the Ngunnawal people adapted to the changes brought by the European settlers and started taking up jobs as shepherds. Even so, the new government policies instituted by the Europeans during their occupation imposed serious social pressure on the Ngunnawal people, and their aboriginal neighbours. The initial European settlement in Ngunnawal Country was referred as the Limestone Plains. The Ngunnawal peole called it Manarro. The settlement took place in 1823 when Joshua John Moore started a station at Acton, which is currently the site of the National Museum of Australia. He later named the area Canbery in 1826 (Vernon 2006). Some researchers also point out that the Aboriginal people called the white writers as Gnabra and Kamberra, which is closely linked to “Canberra’. Some historians have suggested that there is much evidence that the term ‘Canberra’ is an anglicized version of the Aboriginal word meaning “a meeting place.” Totems One of the most perceptible demonstrations of care for Ngunnawal country and for balancing the flora and fauna population was the conferring of animal totems on tribes or individuals. For instance, an individual would keep a bird such as parrot or an animal such as kangaroo as a totem, which represented a particular relationship and responsibility for protection and care between the totem owner and the totem (ACT NRM Council 2010). Natural Resource Management Land tenure among the Ngunnawal people was a relatively new concept, as well as to all Aboriginal People. Indeed, the Ngunnawal people initially believed that land belonged to the community, meaning land was virtually a responsibility of the community and was protected through the spiritual and cultural practices (Flood 2004). This argument has been backed by some historians who trace that the concept was introduced in Ngunnawal country by the European settlers, whereby an individual had to approximate an area and fence it. Canberra as the Capital Hailed as the modern capital, the place Canberra has earned an international reputation for its picturesque landscape, which reflects the natural beauty of the region’s forested hills, smoky mountains and beauteous plains. At the outset of European settlement in the region in the 1820s, Ngunnawal country faced much social and economical upheaval. A key concern among the European settlers was deforestation on the hills that surrounded Canberra, mainly to acquire more settler lands given the imminent population explosion. This resulted in the degradation of top layer soils due to wind erosions (Vernon 2006). This was however noted by the new occupants and in 1913, started tree planning programs, mostly of exotic and indigenous species. In fact, the Canberra project which was at that time led by Charles Weston contributed much to the landscape of the site, so that it was later roughly referred as the “city in the landscape.” It can therefore be agreed that the new settlements by the Europeans in the initial stages of the 19th century significantly limited the movement of the Ngunnawal people, and so largely affected their essential aspects of culture, which constituted nomadic lifestyle. With time however, the white settlers worn out and the few Ngunnawal people who had survived decimation took up jobs as domestic workers and stock men in the newly started livestock stations. Like all other Aboriginal Australians, the Ngunnawal people have a strong link with their ancestral lands and the natural resources (Horton 2000). Analysis The presentation of the Ngunnawal country elaborates the cultural heritage of the Ngunnawal, who originally occupied the area that is currently known as Canberra. We get to view the world from the perspective of the Ngunnawal people as well as other Aboriginal Australians. In other words, a conception of how land tenure was a relatively foreign concept to the Aboriginal Australians is developed as they strictly believed that ownership of land was a communal responsibility (Meng 2002). The question of land and other resources management is based on the traditional perception and practices that show the connection between cycles in the landscape and natural systems (Elder 2003). The entry of the white settlers in the early 19th century heralded historical injustices that the inhabitants of the Ngunnawal country had to bear. In addition, the cultural collisions had a huge toll on these Aboriginal Australians. For instance, since the Ngunnawal people lived an entirely nomadic lifestyle, meaning they had to move about in search of food, the arrival of the European settlers came with newer federal government policies that restricted the movement of the Aboriginal people. The arrival of the European settlers with large stocks of cattle, sheep and goats also led to deforestation that displaced the Ngunnawal people who were virtually forest people. Further, the settlers brought diseases such as measles and small pox which decimated the inhabitants of the Ngunnawal country (Harrison 2009). The early European settler farmers can also not be entirely blamed for some of the misfortunes at the expense of the Ngunnawal people. To some considerable extent, they played a role in awakening the region. For instance, since they came with a new way of life such as farming, it is obvious that this largely boosted the Ngunnawal Country. Some historians have agreed that the country’s climate was harsh and that in most instances, the Ngunnawal had to collect food and store them for later use during adverse conditions. The livestock and other farming methods as well as the jobs that the white settlers introduced in the Ngunnawal country solved some of the hardships. In addition, the white settlers introduced new infrastructures such as railway lines and telegraph as well as other services such as hospitals and schools. These developed the areas and made communication, transportation and health care services much accessible easy in Ngunnawal country (Pearson 2011). Lastly, most historians have tended to concentrate on their eating lifestyle and disregarded other cultures such as barter trades, marriage ceremonies and their annual treks in hordes. From this perspective, it is discernible that this might have played a role in the scarcity of substantial knowledge of the Ngunnawal people’s cultural practices (ACT NRM Council 2010). In conclusion, even as many historians will agree that the history of Ngunnawal country is brief, it is certainly among the most interesting as it has largely resulted from a social and political dream and not out of evolution. For instance, in the mid 1880s when some six Australian colonies became slowly assimilated as a result of new infrastructure such as railway and telegraph, the federal government agreed that a new capital was necessary, and after much deliberation, it was settled that Canberra would serve as the new capital. References ACT NRM Council, 2010, Understanding the Land through the Eyes of the Ngunnawal People: A Natural Resource Management Program for ACT Schools, Melbourne, Australian Government. Retrieved http://www.sustainableschools.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0013/141205/Aboriginal_Curriculum_book_Final_July_2010.pdf [3 April 2013] Elder, B 2003, Blood on the Wattle: Massacres and maltreatment of Aboriginal Australians since 1788, New Holland Publishers, Australia. Flood, J 2006, The Original Australians: Story of the Aboriginal people, Allen & Unwin, Crows Nest. Harrison, M 2009, My People’s Dreaming: An Aboriginal Elder speaks on life, land, spirit and forgiveness, Finch Publishing: Warriewood NSW Horton, D 2000, The Pure State of Nature, Allen & Unwin. 09 November 2010. Available from http://www.nationalcapital.gov.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=254&Itemid=248 [03 April 2013] Meng, B 2002, Urban Planning and Development of the Australian Capital Territory, Canberra: A Critical Review. Available from http://www2.hawaii.edu/~csaloha/articles/Australian_Capital_Territory_Canberra.pdf [3 April 2013] Pearson, N 2011, Aboriginal referendum a test of national maturity. The Australian. Available from: < http://www.cyi.org.au/Aboriginal/referendum/test/national/maturity.pdf [3 April 2013]. Vernon, C 2006, Canberra: Where Landscape is Pre-eminent in Planning Twentieth Century Capital Cities, Gordon, D (ed), Taylor & Francis, pp 133. Read More