Tags & Description
Who are the aboriginals and torres strait islanders
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are the Indigenous peoples of Australia
What does ATSI stand for
Australian and Torres Strait Islanders What
What do Aboriginals use plants for?
Aboriginals use plants to develop tools, technologies and medicine
What materials are made using plants
shelters
rope and string
baskets and carrying vessels
leaching bags
eel traps
What plants were used for weaving
sugar cane (saccharum poaceae)
raffia palm leaves
grasses
bangalow palm leaves
Give an example of a native plant, its fibers and products used for making materials
Maningrida Weavers- Arnhem Land
Commonly used fibers
Pandanus leaves
Palms and jungle vines
The inner bark from kurrajong and stringy eucalypts
Products
Mats made from pandanus
Dilly Bags made from pandanus
String bags made from kurrajong bark fibers
Baskets made from pandanus fibre
what is active ingredient?
A biologically active compound found in drugs that has an interaction with biological cells or processes
Give an example of a native plant used for making a medicine
Tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia)
Preparation
Leaves are first soaked overnight
The leaves are then crushed
The crushed leaves are applied to the wound
Benefits
Antiseptic for skin wounds
Treatments for colds, sore throats and fever
Antifungal treatments
Aids patients in recovering from MRSA
Kills bacteria such as salmonella and E.coli
Active ingredients
erpinen-4-ol
γ-terpinene
α-terpinene
α-pinene
1,8 cineole and linalool
Give an example of a native plant used for making a medicine
Gumby gumby tree (Pittosporum Phylliraeoides)
Preparation
Leaves are collected
The leaves are boiled
The boiled leaves water is drank or applied
Benefits
Treats colds
The boiled leaves are wrapped in sheets and used to cover rashes
The boiled leave water is used to wash the head to cure dandruffs
Active ingredient
saponin (a sulphonated di- or tri-terpene
List the few ethical issues of bio harvesting native plants.
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
Why has a lot of information has been lost over the years?
The ATSI people have no written records and the traditions are passed through verbal communication, songs, dancing and ritual ceremonies that are becoming rare.