Regional and local differences Sample Clauses

Regional and local differences. There is sometimes a tendency to treat Indigenous people in Australia as a homogeneous group, with similar attributes, aspirations and challenges. However, in approaching agreement-making, it is important to understand the diversity of Indigenous people in Australia, because every location will be different. Each Indigenous community and society has its own unique mixture of cultures, customs and languages. Key aspects of diversity include:  Indigenous people in Australia comprise two distinct groups: Aboriginal people and Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Islander. However, for historical reasons, many mainland communities and towns have significant populations of Xxxxxx Strait Islanders and many Indigenous Australians have both Aboriginal and Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Islander heritage.  Prior to colonisation, there were a very large number of highly localised Aboriginal people with distinct languages, customs and culture. Although the traditional boundaries for various Aboriginal groups’ lands are sometimes disputed, Appendix 1 Map outlining the boundaries of Aboriginal language groups across Australia, which provides some indication of their territories.  There have been significant differences in historical experience of colonisation. Relevant factors include: o Physical dispossession and resettlement: To enable pastoral land use on Aboriginal land and manage the ‘Aboriginal problem’, policies were developed to relocate many Aboriginal people to reserves (AAR 1997). This began in the 1820s and continued until the 1970s. Restrictions were put on Aboriginal peoples’ ability to move around on and outside the reserves. Dispossession from land began on the east coast of Australia, which was settled first. Xxxxxx Strait Islanders were not dispersed from their homelands to the same extent as Aboriginal people. o ‘Stolen generations’: A strategy undertaken between 1869 and the 1970s whereby between 10 - 30% of all Aboriginal children were forcibly removed from parents and placed in church missions or xxxxxx homes. o Queensland history saw a greater number of removals and placement in missions than other states.  Indigenous people living in remote areas on their traditional lands have different lifestyles and opportunities to those living in regional centres and cities. The majority of Indigenous Australians live in urban areas.