The Role Of The Wurundjeri People In Contemporary Australian Society

The history of Australia is intertwined with the cultural practices of Aboriginal communities. Indigenous communities such as the Wurundjeri are considered the original inhabitants of Australia (West and Murphy, 2010). Their role and contribution was thus significant in the social, economic and political growth and development of Australia. The Wurundjeri people once inhabited present day Melbourne (Wheeler, 2008). Aboriginal communities such as the Wurundjeri have little participation in the running of modern day Australia. This essay examines the plight of the Wurundjeri people in contemporary Australian society, as representatives of the Aboriginal communities. The discussion focuses on the level of their social, economic and political participation

Hence, the rare acknowledgement of a particular indigenous group over others in the country. The Wurundjeri people identify themselves as a unique cultural community, from the general Australian society (Fitzgerald and Ducrou, 2014; West and Murphy, 2010). The language of the Wurundjeri people - Woi wurrung, is still used in social interactions among the community’s members. Social interactions are characteristic of marriage ceremonies between members of the community, with the aim of maintaining the ‘strength’ of the cultural group. The Wurundjeri historically lived on hunting and gathering, but have adjusted their source of livelihood with time (Fitzgerald and Ducrou, 2014). Religion holds a significant place in the interactions and association of the Wurundjeri people. The community’s places of worship and sacred areas are still preserved in the contemporary Australian

The Somali community inhabits the horn of the African continent. As a member of the Somali ethnic group, I am familiar with the intricate social systems that support the community. Nomadism is practiced in the Somali community. Livestock keeping is done for social as well as economic reasons.

The improvement of lifestyle in the Somali community continually begs for increased attention. The majority of members in my community consistently experience limitations in their access to efficient health services. Additional challenges include hostility between the sub-groups of the Somali people, which leads to the loss of numerous lives during conflict. The prevalence of drought and famine in Somaliland, coupled with high illiteracy levels among adults raises concern for the economic wellbeing of my community. Few Somali children have access to formal schooling, hence a bleak future for the entire community.