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The Original Australians: Story of the Aboriginal People
The Original Australians tells the story of Australian Aboriginal history and society from its distant beginnings to the present day. From the wisdom and paintings of the Dreamtime, to the first contacts between Europeans and indigenous Australians, right through to modern times, it offers an insight into the life and experiences of the world's oldest culture. The resilience and adaptability of Aboriginal people over millennia is one of the great human stories of all time.
Josephine Flood answers the questions about Aboriginal Australia that Australians and visitors often ask: Where did the Aborigines come from and when? How did they survive in such a harsh environment? What was the traditional role of Aboriginal women? Why didn't colonists sign treaties with Aboriginal people? Were Aboriginal children 'stolen'? Why are there so many problems in Aboriginal communities today? And many more.
This rich account aims to understand both black and white perspectives and is fascinating reading for anyone who wants to discover Aboriginal Australia.
Another enthralling account by Josephine Flood, of Australian Aborigines! Her ensuring respect for her fellow humans underwrites every part of her exploration of the life and times of the Aboriginal people.
Pat O'Shane, Magistrate
This is an up-to-the-minute and balanced account of Aboriginal experience from earliest prehistory to today. Clearly written and well-illustrated, this is the best book to give someone who wants to know about Aborigines, their survival through the millennia, and the experiences they have to contribute to modern Australia.
Emeritus Professor Campbell Macknight, Australian National University
320 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2006
64 people are currently reading
345 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
August 21, 2019
A difficult but interesting book. Josephine Flood is a pioneering Australian archaeologist, but this is not a book about the "pre-history" of the aborigines. Flood writes a personal view of the post-colonial history of the aboriginal people. The result is informative but awkward and occasionally contradictory. Well worth a read.
January 12, 2020
Having grown up near a mission in the 1950s and 60s, attending school and working with aboriginals in urban and remote areas in the 1970s I was ashamed at how little I have had recent contact with current-day aboriginals and therefore knew about them. I have read a couple of other books in recent years but this one was the best by far in answering basic questions. In particular the author tries to understand decisions in their historical context and not use modern values to judge them as being right or wrong. She intersperses summaries of documented material with personal anecdotes which reveals her deep knowledge and understanding of an extensive literature. She obviously has a clear-eyed affection for a people she has spent most of her life studying. She is also cuttingly clear on how good intentions have inadvertently devastated communities. Some previous work is pervaded by guilt and ignores the good that was attempted by many well-meaning people from the first explores and settlers to the modern day. Understanding how complex and different aboriginal community life was is essential to assessing current policies. In this regard the author has interesting asides on how similar issues of First People have been addressed in Canada, New Zealand, the USA and South Africa (and how they are often inappropriate for the Australian context). If you read only one book on aborigines in Australia you would do well to select this one.
July 2, 2007
Currently reading this one and really enjoying it. I'm an white Australian who has always felt keenly concerned about the issues of Indigenous people and us new comers and how we can resolve or at least accept what has happened in the past and work on making a future together.
But it's always seemed like such a hugely complicated set of issues. This book discusses questions such as Aboriginal origins; Why wasn't a treaty made with the Aboriginal people; How come so many have Aboriginals died in the last 200 years; Did the colonialists attempt genocide; What do Aboriginals want now; How can these aspirations be achieved?
So far I am finding the writing accessible and the tone reconciliatory and yet non-biased.
But it's always seemed like such a hugely complicated set of issues. This book discusses questions such as Aboriginal origins; Why wasn't a treaty made with the Aboriginal people; How come so many have Aboriginals died in the last 200 years; Did the colonialists attempt genocide; What do Aboriginals want now; How can these aspirations be achieved?
So far I am finding the writing accessible and the tone reconciliatory and yet non-biased.
December 14, 2017
Well organized and easy to read, this follows Aboriginal history from pre history to the present age. I appreciated the pictures, the boxes with personal stories or special interest items and the subtitles. It is more sympathetic to missions than I would have thought and gives a very nuanced assessment of what’s going on with he community today.
October 11, 2019
Didn't blow me away... but there is some excellent research and I learnt a wee few things
May 3, 2020
As an immigrant to Australia having been born, and raised in New Zealand, I wanted to know more about indigenous Australian history. Being a Kiwi with both Māori (indigenous Polynesian people of NZ), and Pākehā (European New Zealander) ancestry, most Kiwis like myself know a good amount about our ancestries. So I felt that it would be important to learn more about Indigenous Australian history and customs, as Australia is my host country. This book is a fantastic, and fascinating beginning to a journey of learning about Indigenous Australian people, and their history. In my opinion, a must read for anyone who wants to know more about Australia's history.
November 21, 2011
This is a subject that I know very little about, but Flood's account seems comprehensive and unbiased. It is a history since the advent of Europeans by necessity as we know next to nothing about earlier Aborigine history although we have some archaeological sites. A very interesting book, well worth reading for a perspective on questions such as 'was there a deliberate genocide?' (No, at least not at the beginning certainly), 'what can we establish about indigenous culture?', and 'how can we integrate white and black society more effectively than we have done so far'.
August 24, 2019
While wide ranging the book seems to have a pro-colonialist leaning
April 10, 2020
An engaging if slightly strange history of Aboriginal Australia. It covers most of the big question's you'd like (what is the Dreaming, how were their societies organised etc) and in an engaging way.
What makes it slightly odd is the chronology is almost random. Starting in 1788 through to the early 20th century, then back 65'000 years, then charting the missions and resurgence of aboriginal identity from the 1970s to the Uluru statement.
What surprised me most about this book is that it's a sympathetic without being sentimental book. The author regularly challenges and critiques ancient aboriginal society (such as its significant misogyny) and modern day problems such as alcohol and violence. Yet she's clearly spent much of her life working to understand and help Australia's Aboriginal people and wants to seem them achieve a better life on their terms and their way as embraced by the Uluru statement. That ability to see with open eyes is to the authors credit, though there were times when I wondered why the sentiments were so strong.
I still feel I need to read several more books to even begin to get a basic handle on Australia's Aboriginal people and their society pre and post invasion. I therefore can't make any substantive claim as to Flood's accuracy or wider standing. But this is clearly a serious book, with multiple reprintings by a reputable publisher and it's broad and engaging. So as an original starting point, it does its job.
What makes it slightly odd is the chronology is almost random. Starting in 1788 through to the early 20th century, then back 65'000 years, then charting the missions and resurgence of aboriginal identity from the 1970s to the Uluru statement.
What surprised me most about this book is that it's a sympathetic without being sentimental book. The author regularly challenges and critiques ancient aboriginal society (such as its significant misogyny) and modern day problems such as alcohol and violence. Yet she's clearly spent much of her life working to understand and help Australia's Aboriginal people and wants to seem them achieve a better life on their terms and their way as embraced by the Uluru statement. That ability to see with open eyes is to the authors credit, though there were times when I wondered why the sentiments were so strong.
I still feel I need to read several more books to even begin to get a basic handle on Australia's Aboriginal people and their society pre and post invasion. I therefore can't make any substantive claim as to Flood's accuracy or wider standing. But this is clearly a serious book, with multiple reprintings by a reputable publisher and it's broad and engaging. So as an original starting point, it does its job.
January 11, 2021
Back when I was at primary school I was learning a lot about the aboriginal community by watching an old movie filmed in Australia called Rabbit Proof Fence. When I was watching the movie I was in complete shock to see what happened to the aboriginal kids. It’s actually a great movie coz it helps people learn a lot about the stolen generations. I haven’t seen the movie in years but hopefully I’ll find it an op shop in good condition soon. During my after high school days to avoid being bullied I was listening to some Midnight Oil tunes on Triple M like Beds Are Burning & The Dead Heart & these songs helped me learn a lot about the aboriginal community including the stolen generations.
So as of the beginning of 2021 this book continues to help me learn more about the horrible things they done to them when they came to Australia & it’s not ok
Josephine Flood’s writing is outstanding & it’ll help you learn more about Australian Aboriginal & Torres Strait islanders. I loved it & it’s a must read
& this country belongs to the aboriginal & Torres Strait islanders. Always Was Always Will Be
9.5/10
So as of the beginning of 2021 this book continues to help me learn more about the horrible things they done to them when they came to Australia & it’s not ok
Josephine Flood’s writing is outstanding & it’ll help you learn more about Australian Aboriginal & Torres Strait islanders. I loved it & it’s a must read
& this country belongs to the aboriginal & Torres Strait islanders. Always Was Always Will Be
9.5/10
March 30, 2020
Wow, I can't believe I finished this book after four months!!
It's really a very interesting non-fiction and it gave me a lot of perspective on indigenous affairs in Australia. I feel like I learned so much and I'm very happy I picked this up on my road trip around Melbourne. The reason it took me so long to read this is that I'm suuuper slow at reading historical non-fiction. So the historical part was a bit tedious. I just can't care about all the names and dates. But of course, that part was necessary.
Once I got to the other parts about tradition and current issues, my pace picked up. It also helps that I'm in self-isolation and could finally get some actual hours in.
Definitely recommended, even if you already know something about the Aboriginees, I'm sure you can learn something new and get an answer to the questions you're still asking yourself.
It's really a very interesting non-fiction and it gave me a lot of perspective on indigenous affairs in Australia. I feel like I learned so much and I'm very happy I picked this up on my road trip around Melbourne. The reason it took me so long to read this is that I'm suuuper slow at reading historical non-fiction. So the historical part was a bit tedious. I just can't care about all the names and dates. But of course, that part was necessary.
Once I got to the other parts about tradition and current issues, my pace picked up. It also helps that I'm in self-isolation and could finally get some actual hours in.
Definitely recommended, even if you already know something about the Aboriginees, I'm sure you can learn something new and get an answer to the questions you're still asking yourself.
August 26, 2020
OK - this is a very specific book to read - probably only if you have a real reason to understand the original Australians or, like me, have a serious desire to learn more about anthropology and early man's distribution following the 'out of Africa' treks.
This book would appear to be the most comprehensive and detailed narrative of the Aborigine story, certainly from the non-indigenous Australian perspective. Josephine Flood has collated 60,000 years of human history and presented it in a clear, concise, readable and interesting format.
I would love to understand more about the earliest years and the arrival into the new Continent, but otherwise this single book has told me more about the Aborigines and Torre Straight Islanders, than I have come across in decades!
This book would appear to be the most comprehensive and detailed narrative of the Aborigine story, certainly from the non-indigenous Australian perspective. Josephine Flood has collated 60,000 years of human history and presented it in a clear, concise, readable and interesting format.
I would love to understand more about the earliest years and the arrival into the new Continent, but otherwise this single book has told me more about the Aborigines and Torre Straight Islanders, than I have come across in decades!
February 6, 2021
Confronting in parts....from both sides of story. Whatever your opinion of race in Australia this will confirm some of your views and upset others. 4 stars as parts were too scientific for me but that was aim of book perhaps. I would like more about traditional lore.
This does put history in context and as such readers should be open minded enough to see if they agree with some of book then maybe there is validity in the parts they disagree with.
This does put history in context and as such readers should be open minded enough to see if they agree with some of book then maybe there is validity in the parts they disagree with.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 3, 2021
A detailed review of the Aboriginal People of Australia that touches on the history, culture, ecology, and so much more. In one volume, the author provides a detailed look at Australia Aborigines and their survival and experiences through the centuries as these people adapted and thrived in the unique Australian environment and European contact. Readable and detailed, this provides a great introduction and overview of the native people of Australia.
July 15, 2021
I wished that this book had started with Aboriginal creation stories, and more stories from pre European contact. But I suppose an Aboriginal author would have been better qualified to write that. A few of the examples of culture were not practices which would be acceptable today, so definitely not written with from a rosetinted view point
January 22, 2020
This book is pretty good, I would suggest it as a read for anyone starting out in learning about Australian Aboriginal tribes.
There are some things that could be debated, but overall a really comprehensive book.
There are some things that could be debated, but overall a really comprehensive book.
February 5, 2021
This book covers an extensive range of topics from pre-colonial to contemporary times. The lack of chronology and choice of focus confused me somewhat. When covering massacres for example, several massacres were given a paragraph each, whilst several pages were devoted to a farcical massacre. I question the intention of the author as there are Pro-Colonial undertones which couldn't be ignored. I think that more could have been done to update this book including appropriate naming conventions as the 2019 edition was still too wrapped in colonial fantasy for me.
July 30, 2024
Extremely thorough history from origins to now.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews