Australian Pre-history And Indigenous Relationships Flashcards
How do animals and plants adapt to geological stability?
- The gum trees leaves are a dull grey colour, this is because there isn’t much chlorophyll in the leaves becuase chlorophyll uses too much energy (energy efficient)
- The koala doesn’t drink water
Geological stability
Because we are in the middle of a tectonic plate we don’t get earthquakes, volcanoes or glaciers, This leaves us with poor soil because no nutrients and minerals are being released.
Biological isolation
Because of Australia being isolated nothing could arrive or leave. This cussed animals to create a nichè. For example, the koala only eats eucalyptus leaves because they are poisonous to every other animal, the koala does this to adapt to the conditions.
Climate variation
E. N. S. O. - El Nino Southern Oscillation
The warm body of water that bounces between Australia and South America.
La Nina- when the warm body of water is in Australia, this causes floods from the condensation of the warm water causing a lot of rain.
El Nino- when the warm body of water is in South America, this causes massive droughts in Australia. Animals adapt to these conditions by being energy efficient. E.g. The kangaroo is very energy efficient with its hop, doesn’t need much energy at all (energy efficient).
The koala with a small brain, it doesn’t need much energy becuase it’s brain is so small.
Indigenous relationships
R = P + I + I
Perceptions- what we see.
Interactions- what we do.
Aboriginals were hunter/ gatherers and lived a nomadic lifestyle.
Impacts- the effects. Killed megafauna, minimal impact, sustainable
Contemporary aboriginals
They still have the same perceptions but they could not interact with the land.
You can’t have a relationship with something you don’t interact with.
+ Hunter/gathering- livestock was stolen from farms and there were no roots left in the ground due to deforestation.
+ Nomadic lifestyle- couldn’t move around because settlers owned the land.
+ Firestick farming- banned by law resulting is massive bush fires.
Sustainability
As good or better shape than what you found it in.
Indigenous perceptions
Custodianship and kinship
Central focus was to care for the land
Related to the land
Part of the land, have to live in harmony with it
Aboriginal land use
18,000 aboriginals in 38 tribes
The Kulin nation was Woi wurrung, Watha Wurrung, Bun wurrung
Interactions- first people to achieve sustainability
+ Firestick farming- protection from major bushfires, new growth attracts animals
+ Story places- areas where you weren’t allowed to hunt. Let animals breed then when they came out could be hunted.
+ Hunter gathering- don’t farm, live off the land
+ Semi nomadic lifestyle- moved locations often, went inland in winter and to the coast in summer, this let the land re- generate
+ Oral tradition- passed on stories through song.
What influences a persons relationship with the natural environment?
Their perceptions change their interactions and impacts.
Indigenous land management strategies
Nomadic lifestyle- move around to let the land re- generate
Story places- a place where they weren’t allowed to hunt
Firestick farming- prevent major bushfires
Evidence of aboriginals in Victoria
+ Shell middens
+ Scarred trees
+ Burial gounds
+ Mounds
Totems
Boonjil the eagle hawk- lived on Mt Oberon
Waang the crow
Phillips island
The indigenous went to Phillip Island in the summer months for the rick food.
Hunted possums, seals, penguins etc.
Ate native spinach
