Abstract:
Colonisation and the general naming of the people - Ngarrindjeri- to describe the tribes of southern South Australia seems to have had a negative effect on dispossession, identity, custodianship and the direct relationship with the land, waters and air for the tribal peoples of Southern South Australia. These various tribes, clans and family groups of Southern South Australia had their own unique ways of looking after the land, waters and air of their tribal boundaries. Groups such as the Tanganeakeld, Temperumindjeri, Milmeidjeri, Yaraldi, Meintangk and Ramindjeri for example were tribal groups fully functioning prior to colonisation and the Ngarrindjeri construct. The banishment of these groups and others along with other imposed mechanisms brought about a break down of lore, law, customs, rights and knowledge systems of individual groups. It is relevant as a prelude to any sense of being a post-colonial nation to detail what has been the impact of todays “Indigenous” / “Aboriginal” societies not knowing their identity and tribal connection? How has this impacted on the way individual groups look after country and the way that country looks after us? How has it influenced our knowledge systems of caring for country?