The encounter between European settlers and the Aboriginal people of Australia has long been framed this way, as a meeting between “advanced” and “primitive” worlds. Yet, the detailed observations of these early settlers—though frequently biased—contain a truth that undermines this framework. Within their notes on language, art, and social organization lies a record of resonance. […]
Early European accounts provide insights into Aboriginal Australian social organization, revealing complex systems of land tenure, leadership, and group structure. A crucial starting point is the definition of “tribe.” As Lorimer Fison and A.W. Howitt cautioned, this term is deeply misleading. It could describe an entire distinct community, like the Larakia, or a smaller division […]
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