“… Australia has been here from the first sunrise, our people have been here along with the continent, with the first sunrise.” – Australian Aboriginal saying
A research into the DNA of indigenous Australians has finally confirmed what we, as the Aboriginal people of Australia have always known: that we are the oldest civilization on earth. The study shows that the Aboriginal culture in Australia can be traced back 50,000 years.
Scientists were able to prove this by using the DNA of populations in Australia.
“The analysis shows that their ancestors were probably the first humans to cross an ocean, and reveals evidence of prehistoric liaisons with an unknown hominin cousin.”
The article written about this “discovery” rightfully suggests that the idea that Indigenous Australians were not the first peoples of Australia should once and for all be put to bed.
“They are probably the oldest group in the world that you can link to one particular place,” said Eske Willerslev, an evolutionary geneticist who led the research.
Aubrey Lynch, an Indigenous elder from the Goldfields area, said: “This study confirms our beliefs that we have ancient connections to our lands and have been here far longer than anyone else.”
As Aboriginal people, our connection and knowledge of knowing what has now just been proven is deeper than just being told that we are from this land. We feel a connection to our country, to our land as we walk with our ancestors, we know where who we are because we are apart of this earth.
“The land is my mother. Like a human mother, the land gives us protection, enjoyment and provides our needs – economic, social and religious. We have a human relationship with the land: Mother, daughter, son. When the land is taken from us or destroyed, we feel hurt because we belong to the land and we are part of it.” -Djinyini Gondarra