Cognitive inquiry sequence: EDSS479 in Module 1

Cognitive Inquiry Sequence and Reflection Report
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How did British Colonization affect people’s lives in Australia?
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Prior to becoming a European colony, Aboriginals were the main occupants of modern day Australia. Historians believe that Aboriginals originated from Maritime South East Asia. They are believed to have arrived to Australia using boats approximately 60,000 years ago (Brown, 1974). The aborigines have a rich culture, which survived during and after colonialism. Spiritual, musical and artistic traditions of aborigines have had a significant impact on the wider Australian culture. It is believed that the first British colonialists arrived at Botany Bay in 1978 in an attempt to test the potential of Australia as a colony (Brown, 1974). Upon realizing that the continent had great potential, the British moved in swiftly and established a solid colony.
The colonists had a significant impact on the lives of the indigenous people of Australia. The number of those indigenous people reduced significantly following the emergence of unique diseases that had not been experienced in the land before (Australia. Dept. of Aboriginal Affairs, 2008). There were constant conflicts between the locals and the colonial masters. Agricultural industries and gold rushes brought propensity in the land. Thereafter, Australia became a solid ally of the British and even backed up the British in the two world wars. Initially, aborigines were hunters and gatherers, and by the time the colonists arrived, it is estimated that they had a population of close to 350,000 (Brown, 1974).
The indigenous Australian people suffered from unique diseases that resulted from the arrival of Europeans. The most notable diseases include measles, influenza, chicken pox and small pox. The most affected communities were those which lived in populous locations. The second major consequence of European settlement was the water and land resources appropriation (Cousins, 1984). The British were for the opinion that since the indigenous people were nomads, they had no understanding of land concepts and therefore they need no land. The loss of traditional lands, food as well as natural resources weakened further the communities which had already been struck by foreign diseases (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2007).
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On top of that, the indigenous people had a solid spiritual connection to their land; they were used to living together as one community (Fox, 1978). This helped that work communally and share their joy or troubles. However, following the displacements engineered by the Europeans, the indigenous people lost their communal lifestyle, and connection to their sacred lands or places (Fox, 1978). This had a significant psychological effect on the original Australians. In addition to the other diseases, the British brought venereal diseases. The indigenous people had poor immune system and those venereal diseases had a significant impact on their fertility. The British also brought alcohol, bang and other substances which have since been abused by the locals. Collectively, the loss of land and resources, diseases, and substance abuse that were brought by the British led to the reduction of the population of the indigenous people by 90 percent between 1790 and 1900 (Mains, 2002). In fact, some communities in the southern part of the continent have simply vanished without a trace.
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The latest census conducted in 2006 indicated that there are 77,900 aborigines in Western Australia and this is an increase of 18 percent if the latest statistics are compared to those of 2001 (Austrtalian Government Report, 1976). Queensland, South Wales and Western Australia were found to have highest number of Aborigines. Of the three regions, Western Australia led in terms of the rate of increase in Aborigines in the country/continent. In the recent statistics, it was shown that the median age of West Australians is 36 years. On the other hand, the median age of West Aboriginals was documented as 21 years.
Moreover, that of non-aboriginals was 15 years. Another important statistic of the 2006 census showed that most Aboriginals of West Australia live in the Perth metropolitan area. In addition, the research indicated that on the average, each aboriginal household has 3.5 people (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2007). In Western Australia, most aboriginals (62%) live in rental houses; only 26% of non-aboriginals living in Western Australia live in rented houses (Aboriginal Affairs Department, 2000). In terms of median weekly income, aboriginals aged around 15 years earn $254 compared to $504 of non-aboriginals (Aboriginal Affairs Department, 2000). With respect to education, aboriginals of Western Australia aged 15-17 years comprised of a percentage of 53 percent while non-aboriginals of the same age had an average of 78 percent. Only three percent aboriginals had enrolled in institutions of higher learning and third of them were females. There is a significant difference in terms of gender when education is taken into account. Males are more reluctant than females to join school, particularly tertiary institutions.
In terms of criminal statistics, it has been documented that in 2005, a total of 273, 275 different offences were reported in Western Australia. Amazingly, robbery and assault statistics in western Australian surpassed the national statistics. However, sexual related offences had declined, but burglary had increased markedly. 2000 is the year in which West Australia experienced the highest levels of criminal activity. Most of the incidences occurred in the Perth metropolitan area. Robberies and sexual offences were the most reported incidences.
With respect to crime rates, another significant statistic is the rate at which female aboriginals are being arrested. Latest statistics indicate that aboriginals were seven times more likely to be arrested than no-aboriginals. The number of aboriginal females arrested rose from 1381 per 100000 persons to 2744 per 100000 in 2005. The arrested females were found with light offences such as driving related offences and good order offences. In addition, the statistics indicated that aboriginal women had a higher than of being arrested than their non-aboriginal counterparts.
Furthermore, statistics have indicated that the rates of aboriginal victimization are still high in Australia. By 2000, of all victimization cases reported to the police, 4 out of five had been directed towards people of aboriginal decent. In 2005, another report indicated that 26 percent of aboriginals reported being threatened or victimization incidences. In addition, the statistics indicated that 69 percent of the female offenders are domestic (spouse or husbands) and that 53 percent of all offenders are known by those offended.
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Other reports have shown that there are high rates of recidivism and juvenile offending among aboriginals. It has been reported that aboriginals had a 20-times-chance than their non-aboriginal counterparts to be taken into custody. The royal commissioner termed this statistics as disproportionate. In addition, the percentage of adult aboriginals who were taken to custody rose to 43 percent in 2007. The rural commissioner is concerned with the rate at which adult aboriginals that are taken into custody.
In terms of languages, there are five aboriginal regions in West Australia. They include Fitzmaurice, the desert region, Kimberley region, North West region and South West regi...