A real history of Aboriginal Australians, the first agriculturalists | Bruce Pascoe | TEDxSydney

Summary

In this thought-provoking video, the speaker challenges the long-held myth that Aboriginal Australians were merely hunter-gatherers, revealing the true depth of their agricultural practices. Drawing from colonial journals, the speaker highlights how explorers documented vast fields of grain, yam terraces, and other cultivated landscapes managed by Aboriginal people. The video explores how these agricultural traditions were overlooked in history, urging Australians to reconsider their understanding of pre-colonial history. It also emphasizes the environmental benefits of Aboriginal domesticates, offering a chance to reconnect with a more sustainable agricultural future, while celebrating the ingenuity of the first Australians.

Takeaways

• 😀 Aboriginal people were not just hunters and gatherers but also practiced advanced farming techniques.
• 😀 The book *Dark Emu* challenges the traditional view of Aboriginal history by revealing evidence of agricultural practices.
• 😀 Colonial explorers, such as Sir Thomas Mitchell and Lieutenant Grey, documented vast fields of crops and agricultural landscapes, proving Aboriginal people were farming.
• 😀 Aboriginal agriculture involved sophisticated land management techniques, including the terracing of hillsides and intensive cultivation of staple foods like yams.
• 😀 Many explorers saw evidence of Aboriginal agricultural practices, yet these were largely ignored or misrepresented in Australian history.
• 😀 The word 'tilled,' referring to soil cultivation, has been deliberately left out of Australian history books regarding Aboriginal land management.
• 😀 Early European settlers, such as Isaac Bailey, observed and recorded Aboriginal horticultural practices but did not fully understand or appreciate their agricultural significance.
• 😀 Despite their ingenuity, Aboriginal agricultural contributions were often dismissed as 'laziness' by early European settlers, undermining their true value.
• 😀 Aboriginal agricultural products, like tubers and grains, were staples that could provide sustainable food sources in harsh Australian climates.
• 😀 The current agricultural practices in Australia could benefit from adopting Aboriginal domesticates, as they are well-suited to the Australian environment and climate, offering environmental and carbon sequestration benefits.

Q & A

What was the main argument of the book 'Dark Emu' written in 2014?

The main argument of the book 'Dark Emu' was to challenge the myth that Aboriginal people were solely hunters and gatherers and did not engage in farming. The author used colonial journals and explorers' accounts to demonstrate that Aboriginal people were, in fact, farming and had a well-developed agricultural economy.

How did colonial explorers describe the agricultural practices of Aboriginal people?

Colonial explorers, such as Sir Thomas Mitchell and Lieutenant Grey, documented seeing vast fields of grain, yam fields, and other crops. These explorers reported landscapes that appeared to have been intentionally managed and cultivated by Aboriginal people, indicating agricultural practices far more advanced than previously acknowledged.

Why is the absence of agricultural terms in Australian history significant?

The absence of agricultural terms like 'tilled', 'stooped', and 'terraced' in Australian history is significant because it obscures the true nature of Aboriginal agriculture. These words are often associated with European farming practices, but they were used by Aboriginal people long before European settlers arrived, suggesting that Aboriginal people had a sophisticated agricultural system.

What was the misconception about Aboriginal agriculture in Australian history?

The misconception was that Aboriginal people were only hunters and gatherers, with no agricultural practices. This narrative has been deeply ingrained in Australian history, despite evidence from early European explorers showing that Aboriginal people were engaged in extensive farming and land management.

What role did explorers like Sir Thomas Mitchell and Lieutenant Grey play in revealing Aboriginal agriculture?

Explorers like Sir Thomas Mitchell and Lieutenant Grey provided first-hand accounts that documented Aboriginal agricultural practices. Mitchell, for example, wrote about seeing nine miles of stooped grain, and Grey described how fields of yams in Western Australia were so extensive that they obstructed his exploration, highlighting the agricultural activities of Aboriginal people.

How did Aboriginal people manage their agricultural landscapes according to the explorers' accounts?

Aboriginal people managed their landscapes through techniques like terracing hillsides for yam production, cultivating vast fields of tubers, and carefully maintaining the soil to ensure a sustainable food supply. These practices were recorded by explorers but often ignored or misinterpreted by later historians.

What was the significance of the fish trap described by James Kirby?

James Kirby's description of an Aboriginal fish trap highlights the ingenuity of Aboriginal people in utilizing natural resources. The trap used small apertures and a noose system to catch fish, demonstrating sophisticated technology and an understanding of the environment. However, Kirby erroneously attributed laziness to the operation, overlooking its efficiency and inventiveness.

How did the concept of 'terra nullius' relate to the perception of Aboriginal agriculture?

The concept of 'terra nullius' – the idea that Australia was land without owners – was used to justify European settlement. The perception that Aboriginal people were merely hunters and gatherers, with no land management or agriculture, reinforced this idea. Acknowledging Aboriginal agriculture would challenge the foundation of 'terra nullius' and the justification for colonization.

What environmental benefits do Aboriginal agricultural practices offer today?

Aboriginal agricultural practices, such as growing perennial crops like yams and grains, are well-suited to the Australian climate. These crops require less water and no pesticides, making them environmentally sustainable. Additionally, their root systems help sequester carbon, contributing to efforts to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change.

What recent archaeological discoveries support the argument of Aboriginal agriculture?

Recent archaeological discoveries, including an 80,000-year-old midden in Warrnambool and a 65,000-year-old grinding stone in Arnhem Land, provide evidence of early Aboriginal agricultural and food processing practices. These findings suggest that Aboriginal people were not only skilled farmers but also created some of the earliest known villages on Earth.