Manipulation and Usage of Land - By Monte GRACE
Indigenous Australians manipulated land and used it to its full potential. By manipulating the land they increased productivity, and this was sometimes done by destroying the land. They manipulated and used the land to fit their own needs.
One of the biggest ideas that the Indigenous Australians has was an idea of sustainability. They wanted to leave things for the future generations so that they could survive and thrive. It’s only in the last few years that we have learnt just how sophisticated the Indigenous Australians farming and agriculture actually was.
Some of the ways the Indigenous would create a productive land usage was by fire-stick farming. Fire-stick farming was a practice that the Indigenous Australians regularly used. They would burn down vegetation to change the plants and animal species in the area. By using controlled fires/burns in a certain part of the land, it would turn the area into grass lands. This would prevent future bush fires, bring animals, and feed their tribe. This was a cycle that they could do almost whenever they needed or wanted to. Fire-stick farming increased productivity and efficiency.
Another example of the ways the Indigenous people manipulated the land was to do with fishing. In small streams/rivers and in areas that had lowering and rising water levels, the Indigenous people would use stones to almost funnel the fish into a certain point, where they would then lay traps down. The fish would have no way to escape, so this trap was very effective and efficient because they could lay down multiple traps. They could also reuse the traps and funnels, so they might not even have to rebuild them.
Another simple and effective way that the Indigenous would manipulate their land was from collecting the seeds from the edible plants and then replanting the seeds. This was effective and ensured that there was a sustainable food source for them and the future.
Due to manipulation in the land, it meant that they had figured out an easy and quick way to find food, so they were able to then focus on other parts on their society, like building housing etc. At a first glance, we might not have thought that the Indigenous ways of farming were even relevant, but as you look into it, you can start to realize just how advanced and effective their ways were.
Indigenous Australians manipulated land and used it to its full potential. By manipulating the land they increased productivity, and this was sometimes done by destroying the land. They manipulated and used the land to fit their own needs.
One of the biggest ideas that the Indigenous Australians has was an idea of sustainability. They wanted to leave things for the future generations so that they could survive and thrive. It’s only in the last few years that we have learnt just how sophisticated the Indigenous Australians farming and agriculture actually was.
Some of the ways the Indigenous would create a productive land usage was by fire-stick farming. Fire-stick farming was a practice that the Indigenous Australians regularly used. They would burn down vegetation to change the plants and animal species in the area. By using controlled fires/burns in a certain part of the land, it would turn the area into grass lands. This would prevent future bush fires, bring animals, and feed their tribe. This was a cycle that they could do almost whenever they needed or wanted to. Fire-stick farming increased productivity and efficiency.
Another example of the ways the Indigenous people manipulated the land was to do with fishing. In small streams/rivers and in areas that had lowering and rising water levels, the Indigenous people would use stones to almost funnel the fish into a certain point, where they would then lay traps down. The fish would have no way to escape, so this trap was very effective and efficient because they could lay down multiple traps. They could also reuse the traps and funnels, so they might not even have to rebuild them.
Another simple and effective way that the Indigenous would manipulate their land was from collecting the seeds from the edible plants and then replanting the seeds. This was effective and ensured that there was a sustainable food source for them and the future.
Due to manipulation in the land, it meant that they had figured out an easy and quick way to find food, so they were able to then focus on other parts on their society, like building housing etc. At a first glance, we might not have thought that the Indigenous ways of farming were even relevant, but as you look into it, you can start to realize just how advanced and effective their ways were.
![Picture](/uploads/3/7/2/9/37298231/7438019.jpg?250)
This is a primary source of a trap used to
catch fish and eels found by Anna Salleh,
who works for the ABC. This is just one
of the ways that Aboriginals were able to farm for food.
catch fish and eels found by Anna Salleh,
who works for the ABC. This is just one
of the ways that Aboriginals were able to farm for food.