Gawa, Elcho Island
Encyclopedia
Gawa is a place on Elcho Island
in the Arnhem Land
of Northern Territory
, Australia
.
Elcho Island is situated about 90 kilometres west-north-west of the Gove Peninsula
in the Arafura Sea
. Approximately 60 km long and 6 km wide, it is home for some 1,000 Indigenous Australians
whose homelands are scattered on Elcho, several neighbouring islands and surrounding mainland regions. Elcho Island is one of the most remote communities in Australia.
to these shores. The seafaring Macassans from Indonesia
visited Elcho Island to collect trepang, a sea animal that is to be found lying on the sea bed, a Chinese delicacy
. The Macassans visited for a period of over 200 years prior to 1906 when the Australian Government stopped the practice. During that time, some Gäwa and Elcho people travelled back to Macassar. Since then some have made periodic visits back and forth. Many Macassan words, artefacts and cultural practices were adopted into the local languages and lifestyle. Macassan artefacts have been bartered via Indigenous trading routes as far as the southern and western coasts of Australia.
Government policies of the 1970s encouraged missionaries to leave, and hand over their work to local people. Government policies tend to have a 4 year currency, after which there is always a better policy. With 2 year tenures, airfares home, and generous entitlements, (compared to mission rates), new government workers who did not have the long term commitment for Indigenous people, stepped into the gap, exposing Yolnu to further disadvantage and confusion caused by the rapid and unrelenting change.
Various enterprises were set up on communities everywhere; grazing, fishing
, gardens, sewing
, baking
; some employing and training Indigenous people, others acting as supply bases. Before the equal pay policy of the 70s, Indigenous people could work as stockmen and domestic workers and often retained their dignity and connection to the land, even when they were used as cheap labour. However, some scholars have argued that the Welfare age that began at this time, left Indigenous people who had been working, no longer able to work. Some critics have argued that the introduction of welfare created a long term disincentive to work, learn, care for self and country and has made a serious impact on Indigenous Australians today. These critics argue that Welfare dependency
leads to unemployability, lack of motivation, depression
, illness, domestic violence
and early mortality
. At Elcho the average male life expectancy is 36 years of age. Leaders in communities such as Gäwa, are seeking to change this situation by regaining control of their own and their children’s lives.
Some would argue that the current situation has largely become one of relying on handouts and support from government. Nevertheless the island has an arts centre and could be a way to receive some external income support outside welfare.
Elcho Island
Elcho Island is an island off the coast of Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia. It is located at the southern end of the Wessel Islands group located in the East Arnhem Region. The island's largest community is the settlement of Galiwin'ku....
in the Arnhem Land
Arnhem Land
The Arnhem Land Region is one of the five regions of the Northern Territory of Australia. It is located in the north-eastern corner of the territory and is around 500 km from the territory capital Darwin. The region has an area of 97,000 km² which also covers the area of Kakadu National...
of Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Elcho Island is situated about 90 kilometres west-north-west of the Gove Peninsula
Gove Peninsula
The Gove Peninsula is at the northeastern corner of Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory of Australia. The peninsula became strategically important during World War II when an airforce base was constructed at what is now Gove Airport. The peninsula was named after Pilot Officer William Gove, who...
in the Arafura Sea
Arafura Sea
The Arafura Sea lies west of the Pacific Ocean overlying the continental shelf between Australia and New Guinea.-Geography:The Arafura Sea is bordered by Torres Strait and through that the Coral Sea to the east, the Gulf of Carpentaria to the south, the Timor Sea to the west and the Banda and Ceram...
. Approximately 60 km long and 6 km wide, it is home for some 1,000 Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
whose homelands are scattered on Elcho, several neighbouring islands and surrounding mainland regions. Elcho Island is one of the most remote communities in Australia.
Early history
Historically, Gäwa, on the northern tip of Elcho Island, was a meeting place for Indigenous groups long before white people cameEuropean exploration of Australia
The European exploration of Australia encompasses several waves of seafarers and land explorers. Although Australia is often loosely said to have been discovered by Royal Navy Lieutenant James Cook in 1770, he was merely one of a number of European explorers to have sighted and landed on the...
to these shores. The seafaring Macassans from Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
visited Elcho Island to collect trepang, a sea animal that is to be found lying on the sea bed, a Chinese delicacy
Delicacy
A delicacy is a food item that is considered highly desirable in certain cultures. Often this is because of unusual flavors or characteristics or because it is rare....
. The Macassans visited for a period of over 200 years prior to 1906 when the Australian Government stopped the practice. During that time, some Gäwa and Elcho people travelled back to Macassar. Since then some have made periodic visits back and forth. Many Macassan words, artefacts and cultural practices were adopted into the local languages and lifestyle. Macassan artefacts have been bartered via Indigenous trading routes as far as the southern and western coasts of Australia.
European settlement
The first Europeans only moved to Elcho Island in 1921 and then permanently in the 1940s. These people were missionaries who came to live side by side with, and learn from their Indigenous co-workers. Most of these were committed to learning local languages, and training those workers with skills to equip them to live within the changing world.Government policies of the 1970s encouraged missionaries to leave, and hand over their work to local people. Government policies tend to have a 4 year currency, after which there is always a better policy. With 2 year tenures, airfares home, and generous entitlements, (compared to mission rates), new government workers who did not have the long term commitment for Indigenous people, stepped into the gap, exposing Yolnu to further disadvantage and confusion caused by the rapid and unrelenting change.
Various enterprises were set up on communities everywhere; grazing, fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
, gardens, sewing
Sewing
Sewing is the craft of fastening or attaching objects using stitches made with a needle and thread. Sewing is one of the oldest of the textile arts, arising in the Paleolithic era...
, baking
Baking
Baking is the technique of prolonged cooking of food by dry heat acting by convection, and not by radiation, normally in an oven, but also in hot ashes, or on hot stones. It is primarily used for the preparation of bread, cakes, pastries and pies, tarts, quiches, cookies and crackers. Such items...
; some employing and training Indigenous people, others acting as supply bases. Before the equal pay policy of the 70s, Indigenous people could work as stockmen and domestic workers and often retained their dignity and connection to the land, even when they were used as cheap labour. However, some scholars have argued that the Welfare age that began at this time, left Indigenous people who had been working, no longer able to work. Some critics have argued that the introduction of welfare created a long term disincentive to work, learn, care for self and country and has made a serious impact on Indigenous Australians today. These critics argue that Welfare dependency
Welfare dependency
Welfare dependency is the state in which a person or household is reliant on government welfare benefits for their income for a prolonged period of time, and without which they would not be able to meet the expenses of daily living...
leads to unemployability, lack of motivation, depression
Depression (mood)
Depression is a state of low mood and aversion to activity that can affect a person's thoughts, behaviour, feelings and physical well-being. Depressed people may feel sad, anxious, empty, hopeless, helpless, worthless, guilty, irritable, or restless...
, illness, domestic violence
Domestic violence
Domestic violence, also known as domestic abuse, spousal abuse, battering, family violence, and intimate partner violence , is broadly defined as a pattern of abusive behaviors by one or both partners in an intimate relationship such as marriage, dating, family, or cohabitation...
and early mortality
Death
Death is the permanent termination of the biological functions that sustain a living organism. Phenomena which commonly bring about death include old age, predation, malnutrition, disease, and accidents or trauma resulting in terminal injury....
. At Elcho the average male life expectancy is 36 years of age. Leaders in communities such as Gäwa, are seeking to change this situation by regaining control of their own and their children’s lives.
Some would argue that the current situation has largely become one of relying on handouts and support from government. Nevertheless the island has an arts centre and could be a way to receive some external income support outside welfare.