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The oldest living cultures in the world -

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures are among the oldest continuous cultures on Earth, dating back over 65,000 years.

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Diverse groups -

There are over 500 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups, each with its own languages, traditions, and customs.

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Torres Strait Islanders -

The Torres Strait is the strip of sea between Cape York and Papua New Guinea. Here, you'll find more than 200 islands home to groups of people with unique cultures, languages, and traditions that are distinct from mainland Aboriginal groups.

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Official flags -

The Australian Aboriginal flag was designed in 1970, while the Torres Strait Island flag was created in 1992. Both are official flags of Australia.

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Dreamtime -

Dreamtime, or the Dreaming, refers to when ancestral Aboriginal spirits created the land, plants, animals, and people. The stories and teachings of Dreamtime are passed down through generations and influence Aboriginal lives, beliefs, and connections to the land.

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Languages -

At the time of European colonization in 1788, there were at least 250 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages, including 800 dialects.

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Languages -

Many native animal names come from Aboriginal languages, including kangaroo, koala, wombat, and kookaburra.

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Art -

Aboriginal art is characterized by dot paintings, rock carvings, and bark paintings. Artwork is not just decorative but holds spiritual and cultural significance.

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Music -

Traditional Aboriginal music often features the didgeridoo, a wind instrument believed to be one of the oldest musical instruments in the world.

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The Rainbow Serpent -

The Rainbow Serpent is often associated with water, rain, and fertility. It is a central figure in many Dreamtime stories and is respected for its role in creation and maintaining the balance of nature.

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Dance -

Dance is an important feature in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, used in ceremonies to tell stories and pass on traditions.

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Smoke ceremonies -

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people use smoke ceremonies to cleanse people and areas of bad spirits.

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Corroboree -

A corroboree is an Aboriginal ceremonial meeting, often with singing and dancing, celebrating mythology and spirituality.

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Totems -

In Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, totems are believed to have spiritual significance and symbolize their roles and responsibilities to each other.

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Elders -

In Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, Elders hold respected positions in communities, serving as custodians of Indigenous knowledge and culture.

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Storytelling -

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people pass down knowledge, history, and cultural practices through generations via oral storytelling.

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Traditional tools -

Tools such as boomerangs, spears, and digging sticks are traditionally used for hunting and gathering.

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Bush tucker -

Bush tucker, including kangaroo, emu, witchetty grubs (pictured), and yams, has sustained Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples for thousands of years.

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Bush medicine -

Bush medicine in the ancient and traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander use of native flora and fauna for physical and spiritual healing.

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Marn Grook and Australian Rules Football -

Marn Grook, a traditional game played by Aboriginal people with a ball made from possum skin, is believed to be the original form of Australian Rules Football.

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Kinship -

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people believe they are connected beyond immediate family and refer to extended family members with titles such as aunty, sister, and mother.

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Environmental stewardship -

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have historically practiced sustainable land management, including controlled burning to manage bushland.

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Sacred sites -

Sacred sites, like Uluru, are usually parts of the natural landscape that have a special meaning or significance in Aboriginal tradition.

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The Stolen Generations -

Between 1910 and the 1970s, governments, churches, and welfare bodies forcibly removed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families and placed them in non-Indigenous homes, claiming the lives of First Nations people would improve if they assimilated into white society.

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The Mabo Case -

On June 3, 1992, the Mabo decision was a landmark legal case that recognized the land rights of the Meriam people, traditional owners of the Murray Islands in the Torres Strait.

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Social challenges -

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities face ongoing social and economic challenges, including lower life expectancy, higher rates of incarceration, and health disparities.

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Urban life -

Indigenous culture isn't confined to the Outback. Almost 35% of Indigenous Australians live in major cities, with 44% living in regional towns and 21% in remote areas.

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NAIDOC Week -

NAIDOC Week, held annually across Australia during the first week of July, celebrates and recognizes the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

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Cultural protocols -

When interacting with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, it's important to follow cultural protocols and etiquette to show respect for their traditions and ways of life.

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Cultural sensitivity warnings -

In Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, hearing recordings and seeing pictures or names of the deceased may cause distress. Most television stations in Australia use a disclaimer warning Indigenous viewers that a program may use images and voices of deceased people.

Sources: (Working with Indigenous Australians) (Culture Trip) (PakMag)

See also: Fascinating facts about indigenous cultures around the world

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