KK7 - impact of European arrival on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

basic info

• Colonising nation in a land occupied by an Indigenous population has resulted in the introduction of disease and mortality to that population.

• Brought about the introduction of disease and dispossession among the Indigenous population

  • Smallpox, syphilis, tuberculosis, influenza, and measles

Lack of immunity in the Indigenous population

• Some diseases, such as measles, were frequently contracted during childhood by the Europeans

  • When contracted during childhood, the symptoms of measles = less severe, + immunity generated lasts into adulthood

• For Indigenous populations, however, many individuals first encountered measles as adults, and as a consequence, experienced severe disease

• Other diseases (like influenza and smallpox) were highly contagious and can be highly virulent regardless of age

  • The European arrivals to Australia would have encountered these diseases in childhood and, having survived them, had some form of natural active immunity to them

  • Indigenous Australian population, no such immunity for these diseases existed, meaning they were more likely to contract and experience severe symptoms from the

Lack of knowledge and experience with European diseases

• Indigenous people had no knowledge about how to avoid or treat infections

• Their ability to practice Indigenous medicine was often prevented, meaning Indigenous people were left without any form of medical treatment to help them when infected.

Disruption caused by colonisation

• Before colonisation, Indigenous people lived in societies that were well adapted to local environment and are normally spread out and uncrowded

• Mixed diet rich in carbohydrate and protein - most individuals being very healthy

• Arrival of Europeans caused:

  • access to food and water to be restricted and denied

  • Medicine practices were disrupted

  • Relationship to Country and culture was irrevocably changed

  • Forced into camps at the edges of towns - increased  risk of infection due to increase population densities

• Lead to general decrease in the health status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people