other information on diet?
Before the British settlement, the Aboriginal people were hunter-gatherers who foraged for uncultivated plants and hunted wild animals. The traditional diet was high in carbohydrates, protein and nutrients, and low in fat and sugars. It seems that diet-related deniseases, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes, were uncommon. However, modern Aboriginal diets are heavily Westernised and tend to be high in fat and sugar, but low in carbohydrate, fibre and nutritional value. The rate of cardiovascular disease and diabetes is now exceptionally high in the indigenous population.
Traditional diet
The typical traditional diet was low kilojoule and high in carbohydrate, fibre, protein and nutrients. Since Aboriginal people were hunter-gatherers, the daily diet varied according to the type of plants and animals available in the particular location and season. By necessity, they had an extensive knowledge of plants, animals, the land and the effects of the weather and time of year. Popular energy-dense foods, or foods that contained plenty of kilojoules per gram, included animal meat and offal, honey, and insects such as witchetty grubs. Women tended to gather the foods for everyday eating such as plants, reptiles and honey, while men hunted for land and marine animals. Most foods were eaten raw, but some were roasted or baked. Children were typically breastfed until three years of age, and introduced to solid foods once their teeth had come through. The hunter-gatherer lifestyle also meant plenty of physical activity.
Dietary changes during white settlement
Once the Europeans arrived, the traditional Aboriginal diet shifted to include Western foods such as flour, sugar and processed meat. Indigenous people on cattle stations or government settlements had fewer opportunities to forage for food, and tended to rely more and more on European staples. The typical Aboriginal diet started to lack essential nutrients. Protein, vitamin and mineral deficiencies were common. European settlement meant the introduction of animals and plants foreign to Australia, reduced access to land and an increase in bush fires, which further hindered the indigenous people’s ability to gather and hunt for food in traditional ways.
Modern-day diet and nutrition
The typical Aboriginal diet today is high kilojoules, low in nutritional value, and high in fats and sugar. There is no need to hunt and forage for food, so physical activity levels are generally low. Surveys show that urban-dwelling indigenous people eat more fast food and salt than non-indigenous people. Living in remote outback communities reduces the range of foods available, particularly fresh fruit and vegetables. Indigenous people of the Northern Territory consume more sugar, white flour and carbonated soft drinks than the Australian average. The typical modern Aboriginal diet, whether city or country, is especially low in vitamin C, calcium and magnesium.
Diet-related diseases
Diet has been linked to a number of diseases and disorders among the Australian indigenous population, including:
Traditional diet
The typical traditional diet was low kilojoule and high in carbohydrate, fibre, protein and nutrients. Since Aboriginal people were hunter-gatherers, the daily diet varied according to the type of plants and animals available in the particular location and season. By necessity, they had an extensive knowledge of plants, animals, the land and the effects of the weather and time of year. Popular energy-dense foods, or foods that contained plenty of kilojoules per gram, included animal meat and offal, honey, and insects such as witchetty grubs. Women tended to gather the foods for everyday eating such as plants, reptiles and honey, while men hunted for land and marine animals. Most foods were eaten raw, but some were roasted or baked. Children were typically breastfed until three years of age, and introduced to solid foods once their teeth had come through. The hunter-gatherer lifestyle also meant plenty of physical activity.
Dietary changes during white settlement
Once the Europeans arrived, the traditional Aboriginal diet shifted to include Western foods such as flour, sugar and processed meat. Indigenous people on cattle stations or government settlements had fewer opportunities to forage for food, and tended to rely more and more on European staples. The typical Aboriginal diet started to lack essential nutrients. Protein, vitamin and mineral deficiencies were common. European settlement meant the introduction of animals and plants foreign to Australia, reduced access to land and an increase in bush fires, which further hindered the indigenous people’s ability to gather and hunt for food in traditional ways.
Modern-day diet and nutrition
The typical Aboriginal diet today is high kilojoules, low in nutritional value, and high in fats and sugar. There is no need to hunt and forage for food, so physical activity levels are generally low. Surveys show that urban-dwelling indigenous people eat more fast food and salt than non-indigenous people. Living in remote outback communities reduces the range of foods available, particularly fresh fruit and vegetables. Indigenous people of the Northern Territory consume more sugar, white flour and carbonated soft drinks than the Australian average. The typical modern Aboriginal diet, whether city or country, is especially low in vitamin C, calcium and magnesium.
Diet-related diseases
Diet has been linked to a number of diseases and disorders among the Australian indigenous population, including:
- Cardiovascular disease
- Diabetes
- Overweight and obesity
- High blood pressure
- Some cancers
- Circulatory diseases
- Stroke.
lifestyle
Loss of land Another consequence of British settlement was the reduction of access to land and water resources. The settlers took the view that Aboriginal people, with a nomadic lifestyle, could easily be driven away from their lands. By the 1870s all the fertile areas of Australia had been taken from Aboriginal people and given to the white settlers. The loss of land and other essential resources such as food and water posed great danger to Aboriginal people who were left with no place to live and nowhere to hunt food. Already weakened by the new diseases spread by the new settlers, Aboriginal people had dramatically reduced chances for survival.
See image 3
The British settlers also introduced alcohol to Aboriginal people which affected them very badly.
When the Europeans started raising stock in ranches, several changes took place. Many Aboriginal people lost their land. The spread of European livestock over vast areas also restricted the nomadic lifestyle of Aboriginal people.
From these ranches, Aboriginal people had a new supply of fresh meat, which changed their nutrition, their eating habits and ways of finding food. As a consequence, Aboriginal people started to depend on European settlers for their food and livelihood.
In the later 19th century, new settlers took vital parts of the land in the north, such as waterholes or soaks, for their own use. They also introduced sheep, rabbits and cattle. These animals took over fertile areas and fouled the land. Consequently, the native animals that Aboriginal people depended on to hunt began to disappear. Aboriginal people started to hunt sheep and cattle as they could no longer rely on hunting native animals.
During the 1850s, gold was found in south-eastern Australia. Many white pastoral workers left their stock farms or ranches to search for gold. Many Aboriginal men, women and children were hired to work in cattle stations and in other less popular industries, such as diving for pearls. Instead of being paid, Aboriginal people received food, clothing and other basic necessities.
Christian missions often provided food and clothing for Aboriginal communities and opened schools and orphanages for Aboriginal children. In some places, colonial governments also provided some resources.
In remote areas, some Aboriginal communities managed to retain their traditional lifestyles as late as the 1930s. In general, at the beginning, the British colonisers were welcomed, or at least not opposed by Aboriginal people. With time, however, when the impact of the British settlement increased, there were more and more conflicts between the white settlers and Aboriginal people, which often resulted in massacre. In the Northern Territory until as late as the 1930s, Europeans travellers were sometimes speared to death.In retaliation, some European settlers shot Aboriginal people. The most severe series of killings in the Northern Territory occurred at Caledon Bay, which became a turning point in the relationship between Aboriginal people and the white settlers.
Loss of land Another consequence of British settlement was the reduction of access to land and water resources. The settlers took the view that Aboriginal people, with a nomadic lifestyle, could easily be driven away from their lands. By the 1870s all the fertile areas of Australia had been taken from Aboriginal people and given to the white settlers. The loss of land and other essential resources such as food and water posed great danger to Aboriginal people who were left with no place to live and nowhere to hunt food. Already weakened by the new diseases spread by the new settlers, Aboriginal people had dramatically reduced chances for survival.
See image 3
The British settlers also introduced alcohol to Aboriginal people which affected them very badly.
When the Europeans started raising stock in ranches, several changes took place. Many Aboriginal people lost their land. The spread of European livestock over vast areas also restricted the nomadic lifestyle of Aboriginal people.
From these ranches, Aboriginal people had a new supply of fresh meat, which changed their nutrition, their eating habits and ways of finding food. As a consequence, Aboriginal people started to depend on European settlers for their food and livelihood.
In the later 19th century, new settlers took vital parts of the land in the north, such as waterholes or soaks, for their own use. They also introduced sheep, rabbits and cattle. These animals took over fertile areas and fouled the land. Consequently, the native animals that Aboriginal people depended on to hunt began to disappear. Aboriginal people started to hunt sheep and cattle as they could no longer rely on hunting native animals.
During the 1850s, gold was found in south-eastern Australia. Many white pastoral workers left their stock farms or ranches to search for gold. Many Aboriginal men, women and children were hired to work in cattle stations and in other less popular industries, such as diving for pearls. Instead of being paid, Aboriginal people received food, clothing and other basic necessities.
Christian missions often provided food and clothing for Aboriginal communities and opened schools and orphanages for Aboriginal children. In some places, colonial governments also provided some resources.
In remote areas, some Aboriginal communities managed to retain their traditional lifestyles as late as the 1930s. In general, at the beginning, the British colonisers were welcomed, or at least not opposed by Aboriginal people. With time, however, when the impact of the British settlement increased, there were more and more conflicts between the white settlers and Aboriginal people, which often resulted in massacre. In the Northern Territory until as late as the 1930s, Europeans travellers were sometimes speared to death.In retaliation, some European settlers shot Aboriginal people. The most severe series of killings in the Northern Territory occurred at Caledon Bay, which became a turning point in the relationship between Aboriginal people and the white settlers.
Families
There are many Aboriginal people in Australia today, all just a little different, but we are all Aboriginal in our own way. Within all cultures there are differences in the way we live and there are differences in the ways we parent our kids. A long time ago our old people helped us to learn things about all there was to know. They taught us how to live properly, to love and respect what was around us, each other and ourselves, so that we would grow up to be good people. All the things the old people had to learn to survive, they did by doing, looking and listening.
Today, not much has changed in the way we pass on our beliefs to our kids, but the world around us has changed. The old people are still here to teach us of the past as well as the teachings of today.
So we should come to learn and understand these new teachings. Our kids will be better for it, stronger, healthier and happier.
There are many Aboriginal people in Australia today, all just a little different, but we are all Aboriginal in our own way. Within all cultures there are differences in the way we live and there are differences in the ways we parent our kids. A long time ago our old people helped us to learn things about all there was to know. They taught us how to live properly, to love and respect what was around us, each other and ourselves, so that we would grow up to be good people. All the things the old people had to learn to survive, they did by doing, looking and listening.
Today, not much has changed in the way we pass on our beliefs to our kids, but the world around us has changed. The old people are still here to teach us of the past as well as the teachings of today.
So we should come to learn and understand these new teachings. Our kids will be better for it, stronger, healthier and happier.
