Aboriginal South Australians facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The Aboriginal South Australians are the Indigenous people who have lived in South Australia for thousands of years. They were here long before the British settlers arrived. Today, their descendants continue to live in South Australia.

It can be tricky to know all the names, land areas, and language groups of these Aboriginal peoples. This is because old records were not always good. Also, some information was hidden. So, we can only give a general idea of these groups.

Its People
Colonial Intent
Protector of Aboriginals
Massacres
Settlements
Stolen Generations
Native Title
Prominent Individuals
Modern Aboriginal Life
See Also
- 19th century Aboriginal missions in SA

Its People

Many different Aboriginal groups have lands that are at least partly in South Australia. Some of these groups include:

Colonial Intent

The South Australia Act 1834 described the land as "waste" and "uninhabited." However, unlike other parts of Australia, the British settlement of South Australia did not officially say the land was terra nullius. This Latin phrase means "nobody's land."

When the settlers first arrived, the Letters Patent establishing the Province of South Australia were issued in February 1836. These letters said that nothing in them should affect the rights of Aboriginal people. It meant they still had rights to the lands they were living on.

The Proclamation of South Australia was read on Proclamation Day. This was on December 28, 1836. It happened when the permanent settlement that became Adelaide was founded. This proclamation said that Aboriginal people and British settlers would have equal protection and rights. They were all considered British Subjects under the law.

Protector of Aboriginals

The role of a "Protector of Aboriginals" was created. This person was meant to look after the interests of Aboriginal people.

Some of the early Protectors included:

George Stevenson (1836–1839)
Walter Bromley (1836–1839)
William Wyatt (1836–1839)

The first official Protector was Matthew Moorhouse. He started on June 20, 1839. His job was to protect Aboriginal people's interests. He was also meant to learn their languages and teach them "the arts of civilization." This included reading, writing, and farming. He was also supposed to teach them about Christianity.

Other Protectors included:

John Walter (1861–1868)
Edward Lee Hamilton (1873–1908)
William Garnett South (1908–1923)

There were also Sub-protectors in different areas. These included Edward John Eyre and Edward Bate Scott on the Murray River. Francis James Gillen was a sub-protector in central Australia.

Massacres

There were many conflicts that led to the deaths of Aboriginal people. These events are sometimes called "frontier wars." In South Australia, the government tried to make laws to prevent violence. Aboriginal people were declared British subjects. This meant they should have the same rights.

However, these laws were often not followed. As settlers moved onto Aboriginal lands, Aboriginal people sometimes fought back.

In July 1840, there was a sad event involving the ship Maria. About 26 people from the ship were killed by Aboriginal men. The ship had crashed in the southern Coorong. Everyone got to shore safely. The Ngarrindjeri people first helped them. But a misunderstanding or disagreement led to the deaths. Governor Gawler sent soldiers to punish those responsible. Some suspects were executed without a formal trial.

In 1841, at least 30 Aboriginal people were killed in the Rufus River Massacre. This happened after fights along the Murray River. A group of police and settlers clashed with the local Maraura people. Even though this happened in New South Wales, the official group was sent from Adelaide. The Maraura people's traditional lands reached into South Australia.

In 1848, at least nine Wattatonga people were reportedly killed. This happened at Avenue Range Station. A station owner, James Brown, was accused. But the case was dropped because there were no European witnesses.

In 1849, at least ten Nauo people were killed. This was in response to the killing of two settlers. It happened at the Waterloo Bay massacre near Elliston.

Settlements

As Europeans moved across South Australia, Christian missionaries set up mission stations. These missions aimed to connect with Aboriginal people. Many of these places later became Aboriginal towns and settlements.

Ernabella was started as a Presbyterian mission station in 1937. This was supported by the South Australian government. It was driven by Charles Duguid, a doctor and Aboriginal rights supporter.

Stolen Generations

The "Stolen Generations" refers to a sad time in Australian history. During this time, many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children were taken from their families.

In 1909, William Garnet South, the Protector of Aborigines in South Australia, wanted more power. He wanted to remove Aboriginal children without a court hearing. He argued that "all children of mixed descent should be treated as neglected." His efforts led to the Aborigines Act 1911. This law made the Protector the legal guardian of every Aboriginal child in South Australia. This included children of mixed heritage.

Later, an inquiry looked into the separation of children from their families. It led to the Bringing them Home report (1995–1997). After this, parliaments in the Northern Territory, Victoria, South Australia, and New South Wales said sorry. They formally apologised to the people affected.

On May 26, 1998, the first "National Sorry Day" was held. Many people across Australia took part in events to show reconciliation. Eventually, Prime Minister John Howard also expressed regret in federal parliament in 1999. He said the Stolen Generations was "the most blemished chapter in the history of this country."

Native Title

Despite the unfairness of early European settlement, some areas of South Australia now have native title. This means Aboriginal people have certain rights to their traditional lands. These rights can vary. They can include full ownership or the right to access Crown Land.

The Anangu Pitjantjatjarra Yankunytjatjara Land Rights Act 1981 is an important law. It gives rights over about 10% of South Australia in the northwest. This area is known as the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands.

Prominent Individuals

David Unaipon: He was a Ngarrindjeri man. He is famous for his inventions and contributions to society. You can see his picture on the $50 note.
Sir Douglas Nicholls: South Australia is the only state in Australia to have an Aboriginal Governor of South Australia. Sir Douglas Nicholls was appointed in December 1977. He was from the Yorta Yorta people of what is now northern Victoria.

Modern Aboriginal Life

Today, Aboriginal people in South Australia live in many different ways. Some live fully integrated into English-speaking culture. Others live a more traditional life in their homelands. They might speak their traditional languages.

Some live in or are connected to Aboriginal communities. These communities are often based on former mission stations, like Pukatja (formerly Ernabella). The Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands are now freehold Aboriginal land. This means the Anangu people own the land. Access for tourists is limited.

The Kaurna language of the Adelaide Plains almost disappeared. But now, it is being brought back. Children are learning it in Kaurna Aboriginal schools.