Eora
Introduction
The Eora people are the Aboriginal Australians who were the original inhabitants of the region now known as Sydney. The term Eora, meaning "here" or "from this place", was used by the local people to describe to the British where they came from, and it eventually became the name for the Aboriginal people of the area. The Eora nation is made up of a number of distinct clans, each with their own land and language.
History
The Eora people have lived in the Sydney region for at least 20,000 years, according to archaeological evidence. They were a coastal people, living on a diet of fish, shellfish, and other marine animals, supplemented by plants and animals from the land. The Eora had a complex social structure, with a number of clans or bands, each with its own territory and language.
The arrival of the British First Fleet in 1788 marked the beginning of a period of profound change for the Eora people. The British established a penal colony at Sydney Cove, on Eora land, and the resulting conflict, disease, and displacement had a devastating impact on the Eora population.
Culture
The Eora people had a rich and complex culture, with a deep spiritual connection to the land and sea. They believed in a time of creation known as the Dreaming, when ancestral beings shaped the world. These stories were passed down through generations in song, dance, and art.
The Eora people were skilled hunters and fishers, using a variety of tools and techniques to catch their food. They also practiced fire-stick farming, a form of land management that involved the deliberate use of fire to promote the growth of certain plants and control pests.
Language
The Eora people spoke a language known as the Sydney language or Dharug. This language was made up of several dialects, each spoken by a different clan of the Eora nation. The Sydney language is now considered extinct, although efforts are being made to revive it.
Modern Eora
Today, the descendants of the Eora people continue to live in the Sydney region, maintaining their cultural traditions and fighting for recognition of their rights. The Eora nation is represented by the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council.
See Also
- Aboriginal Australians - History of Sydney - First Fleet - Dreamtime