Policy Influences on Indigenous Australian Food Practices Since Colonisation
Policy Influences affecting the food
practices of Indigenous Australians since
colonisation.
Tarunna Sebastian
University of Technology, Sydney
Freedom from want of food, therefore, must mean
making available for every
citizen in every country
sufficient of the right kind of food for health.
If we are planning food for the people, no lower
standard can be accepted
.
Sir John Boyd (b.1880 d.1971)
First Director General of the
UN Food and Agricultural Organisation
•
Aboriginal Australians face a range of
health challenges which can be linked to
dietary- related factors.
•
Dietary practices of Aboriginal
Australians emerged from historical,
cultural, social and political structures in
place for over the past 200 years.
Life expectancy of Indigenous Australians
•
The life expectancy gap between
Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people is
a national concern.
•
Life style conditions such as diabetes
and life style risk factors affect
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
adults and younger age groups
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Poverty
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Malnutrition
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Low levels of educational
attainment, and
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Poor access to programs of
disease prevention.
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Factors affecting Aboriginal
Australians food practices during:
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Pre-colonial
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Colonial
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Protection and
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Assimilation periods.
P
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:
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A study conducted in
the 1970s of 200
nomadic Australian
Aboriginal men
described them as
‘slimly built, sinewy
featherweights’
(Elphinstone 1971 cited in Gracey
1996:198).
•
People were depicted
as fit and slim in
paintings of first
contact.
Fire stick farming
•
The colonial impact on Aboriginal peoples’
food practices still effect Aboriginal people’s
health.
•
Traditional food practices were gradually
replaced by rations
•
Rations were used instead of wages in
exchange for labour.
•
Rations comprised of flour, sugar, tea and
jam
.
P
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Policies of assimilation
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Communal ‘feeding’
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Official ration not able to sustain
health
•
Privatization of cooking and
eating removing Aboriginal
people from public sites of
collective consumption (Morris,
1989)
[The]
rationing relationship was an historic
achievement… which turned Aboriginal
people into paupers and robbed them of
their own knowledge about food, culture
and agency (Rowse, 1998)
Food was also withheld as punishment
Policies of assimilation
•
Forced removal of children
interrupted development
intergenerational food practices
and exposed children to
institutional malnourishment
I
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p
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e
s
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The industrialisation of food practices has brought
about social and political change and with it
changes to the diet of Aboriginal people.
Other factors affecting food practice:
•
Urbanisation
•
Loss of traditional food practices,
•
Increasingly sedentary lifestyles,
•
Access to transportation
•
Changing socio-economic status
•
Cooking technologies,
•
Food storage facilities
Conclusion
•
Current patterns of food
consumption among Aboriginal
people are linked to more than
200 years of colonial food policy.
•
These approaches continue and
are reflected in aspects of
current food policy
Thankyou
tarunna_sebastian@hotmail.com
Indigenous Australians' food practices have been influenced by various policies since colonisation, leading to health challenges and a life expectancy gap. Factors such as historical, cultural, and social structures have shaped dietary habits, impacting the overall well-being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
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Presentation Transcript
Policy Influences affecting the food practices of Indigenous Australians since colonisation. Tarunna Sebastian University of Technology, Sydney Tarunna Sebastian University of Technology, Sydney
Freedom from want of food, therefore, must mean making available for every citizen in every country sufficient of the right kind of food for health. If we are planning food for the people, no lower standard can be accepted. https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSJb9Crb3cZhUlpcOTOuv1dYz5PgWSrWtph4bVxvGBo2WzoqPun Sir John Boyd (b.1880 d.1971) First Director General of the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation
Aboriginal Australians face a range of health challenges which can be linked to dietary- related factors. Dietary practices of Aboriginal Australians emerged from historical, cultural, social and political structures in place for over the past 200 years.
Life expectancy of Indigenous Australians The life expectancy gap between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people is a national concern. Life style conditions such as diabetes and life style risk factors affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults and younger age groups
The poor health of Indigenous people around The poor health of Indigenous people around the globe is linked to the globe is linked to Poverty Malnutrition Low levels of educational attainment, and Poor access to programs of disease prevention.
Examination of each major policy epoch on Examination of each major policy epoch on food practices and identity food practices and identity Factors affecting Aboriginal Australians food practices during: Pre-colonial Colonial Protection and Assimilation periods.
Pre Pre- - Colonial Food and Eating Practice Colonial Food and Eating Practice : A study conducted in the 1970s of 200 nomadic Australian Aboriginal men described them as slimly built, sinewy featherweights (Elphinstone 1971 cited in Gracey 1996:198). People were depicted as fit and slim in paintings of first contact.
Policies of protection and its impact on Policies of protection and its impact on food practices food practices The colonial impact on Aboriginal peoples food practices still effect Aboriginal people s health. Traditional food practices were gradually replaced by rations Rations were used instead of wages in exchange for labour. Rations comprised of flour, sugar, tea and jam.
Policies of assimilation Communal feeding Official ration not able to sustain health Privatization of cooking and eating removing Aboriginal people from public sites of collective consumption (Morris, 1989)
[The] rationing relationship was an historic achievement which turned Aboriginal people into paupers and robbed them of their own knowledge about food, culture and agency (Rowse, 1998) Food was also withheld as punishment
Policies of assimilation Forced removal of children interrupted development intergenerational food practices and exposed children to institutional malnourishment
Industrialisation of food practices Industrialisation of food practices The industrialisation of food practices has brought about social and political change and with it changes to the diet of Aboriginal people.
Other factors affecting food practice: Urbanisation Loss of traditional food practices, Increasingly sedentary lifestyles, Access to transportation Changing socio-economic status Cooking technologies, Food storage facilities
Conclusion Current patterns of food consumption among Aboriginal people are linked to more than 200 years of colonial food policy. These approaches continue and are reflected in aspects of current food policy
Thankyou tarunna_sebastian@hotmail.com
