Learn About Australia Aboriginal People

It is estimated that there were about 300,000 Australian aboriginal people when the Europeans arrived in Australia. These people lived in small groups all over Australia and each group had its own languages. Until now, nearly 230 aboriginal languages had been identified, with a large number of dialects in each language. However, unlike people speaking different languages all over the world, the aboriginals never developed a written language or alphabets. Their languages had remained purely spoken languages for centuries. The aboriginals do not identify themselves as aboriginals but recognise each other based on their clan or tribe or the sub group of their language.

The aboriginals of Western Desert in Australia are known as Lurijita, Pintupi and Pitjatjanjara. The communities of Kintore and Kiwirrkurra, who live in the farthest western area, are part of the Pintupi group. The Mitijuli community, who are considered the custodians of Ayers Rock or Uluru in their language, belong to the Pitjatjanjara group. Three chief language groups with various sub-dialects live in Central Australia. The Warlpiri community live in and around Yuendumu and their language is called Warlpiri. The Alyawarr or Anmatyerr community could be found in the northern parts of Central Australia up to Utopia. The Western Arrernte, Eastern Arrernte and Southern Arrernte communities inhabit the areas around the MacDonnell Ranges, like Alice Springs.

Each aboriginal of Australia should have a special symbol known as totem. This symbol links the aboriginal to a specific ancestral being. To cite an example, one person belonging to the Mandaibingu tribe living in the northern Arnhem Land has the symbol called Goanna, which is the name of his supernatural ancestor that lived in Dreamtime. These symbols are considered to stress the unity of the aboriginals with nature. The aboriginals further believe that man, animals, insects, birds, plants, reptiles and all other forms of life on earth vary only in outward form but are an inseparable of part of nature.

The Australia art and souvenirs are famous for their reflective nature of the Australian aboriginals. The handmade souvenirs and artwork of Australia are in great demand all over the world due to their uniqueness. Who would not heard of the boomerangs, one of the greatest symbols of the Australian aboriginals? The boomerangs are handmade to perfection by the aboriginals with loving care. The bullroarers and the didgeridoos represent the handmade souvenirs of the aboriginals.

The bullroarers are handmade and hand painted wooden works. Each bullroarer is painted with an Australian native animal. Invariably, these animals belong to the myths of the Dreamtime. The didgeridoo is a masterly Australia handmade artwork. It is an aboriginal musical instrument. It is made from the branch of the Mallee gum tree, particularly a branch that had been made hollow by termites. This horn-like artwork is an enormously famous ceremonial piece. The native wildlife of Australia is painted on this musical instrument in vibrant colours. The colours generally reflect the traditional sacred and magical symbols of the aboriginals and their spiritual significance related to supernatural powers, as well as the hunting done by the aboriginals. One typical artwork will contain the kangaroo drinking water from a waterhole and the light blue colour of the background will indicate the ripples in the water due to the drinking of the water by the kangaroo.

The other famous souvenirs of Australia art are the boomerangs, the boxed boomerangs and the digging or carrying bowls. When you look at a boomerang made from first grade plywood with the art design of the aborigines painted in multicolour on the front surface, you will want to buy it immediately without any hesitation. The throwing instructions for the boomerang are usually provided in English, German, French and Japanese.

The boxed boomerangs are breathtaking artwork containing the paintings of native mythical animals of Australia that are deemed to have existed during the Dreamtime. The boxed set includes a display stand that has a small brass plaque on the top, apart from the boomerang made of hardwood. Each boomerang will have a different hand painted theme and the finish is achieved with one or more coats of glossy lacquer.

The carrying or digging bowls, known as Coolamon to the aboriginals, were used by the aboriginal women for carrying, fruits, nuts and water. They were even used as a cradle for their babies. Such cradles will have a soft inner lining made from paperbark for providing cushion effect to the babies. These handmade souvenir items feature the aboriginal Australia art painted by a genuine aboriginal artist.