All about aboriginals and torres strait islanders

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are the Indigenous peoples of Australia

Australian and Torres Strait Islanders What

Aboriginals use plants to develop tools, technologies and medicine

• shelters

• rope and string

• baskets and carrying vessels

• leaching bags

• eel traps

• sugar cane (saccharum poaceae)

• raffia palm leaves

• grasses

• bangalow palm leaves

Maningrida Weavers- Arnhem Land

• Commonly used fibers

  1. Pandanus leaves

  2. Palms and jungle vines

  3. The inner bark from kurrajong and stringy eucalypts

• Products

  1. Mats made from pandanus

  2. Dilly Bags made from pandanus

  3. String bags made from kurrajong bark fibers

  4. Baskets made from pandanus fibre

A biologically active compound found in drugs that has an interaction with biological cells or processes

Tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia)

• Preparation

  1. Leaves are first soaked overnight

  2. The leaves are then crushed

  3. The crushed leaves are applied to the wound

• Benefits

  1. Antiseptic for skin wounds

  2. Treatments for colds, sore throats and fever

  3. Antifungal treatments

  4. Aids patients in recovering from MRSA

  5. Kills bacteria such as salmonella and E.coli

• Active ingredients

  1. erpinen-4-ol

  2. γ-terpinene

  3. α-terpinene

  4. α-pinene

  5. 1,8 cineole and linalool

Gumby gumby tree (Pittosporum Phylliraeoides)

• Preparation

  1. Leaves are collected

  2. The leaves are boiled

  3. The boiled leaves water is drank or applied

• Benefits

  1. Treats colds

  2. The boiled leaves are wrapped in sheets and used to cover rashes

  3. The boiled leave water is used to wash the head to cure dandruffs

• Active ingredient

  1. saponin (a sulphonated di- or tri-terpene

• Over harvesting can damage the environment

• The plant harvested can be a subject to slow growth or found in remote areas

• Areas that the plant is harvested from can be sacred or have significant meaning

The ATSI people have no written records and the traditions are passed through verbal communication, songs, dancing and ritual ceremonies that are becoming rare.