takara milaythina lutruwita nika paywuta
...walked this country forever
Tasmanian Aboriginal people prior to invasion
For tens of thousands of years, the first Tasmanians lived sustainably on Country, with unique social, cultural, trade and healing practices, maintaining relationships within family groups for thousands of generations.
Before the Europeans arrived, Aboriginal people lived within regional areas across the island. These areas are referred to as tribes or nations that consisted of several bands and hearth or family groups. People also travelled into other areas. Sometimes tribes gathered over several days or weeks. These gatherings developed and strengthened relationships with neighbouring tribes. They negotiated political alliances, trade, hunting rights and seasonal movements to grasslands to hunt kangaroo and wallaby, and, to wetlands or coastal areas to gather eggs and hunt seabirds and seals.
It is likely that Tasmania’s Aboriginal people overall experienced high level sof wellbeing from living on Country, followed traditional hunting and gathering practices without external influences. The people saw themselves as healthy and happy.
