9.7 Indigenous Perspectives: The Ainu People and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
This module explores the parallel journeys of Indigenous peoples in Japan and Australia – the Ainu and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples – examining their cultural heritage, historical struggles, and contemporary resurgence in modern society.
Overview
The Ainu People and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples have rich cultural legacies, shaped by a complex interplay of colonisation, cultural suppression and resilience. This module introduces their histories, cultural features and contemporary representations.
Who are the Ainu People?
The Ainu are one of the Indigenous peoples of Japan. They currently live in northern Japan, particularly Hokkaido, as well as on the Sakhalin and Kuril Islands in Russia. They endured forced assimilation policies under the Meiji government (1868–1912), which aimed to unify Japan under a singular cultural identity. Efforts to revive and respect Ainu culture are more recent, though cultural suppression has had a lasting impact.
NOTE: While the Ainu are the only Indigenous people officially recognised by the Japanese government, the Ryukyuan people of the Ryukyu Islands – including what is now Okinawa Prefecture and the Amami Islands – also have their own distinct languages, culture, and history.
Key cultural features
- Spirituality and connection to nature: The Ainu People’s spirituality revolves around kamuy (spiritual beings or gods), embodying elements of nature, including animals and plants. For example, the bear is revered as a powerful kamuy and plays a prominent role in rituals.
- Traditional art and tattoos: Ainu art includes hand-embroidered clothing and symbolic tattoos, primarily for women, which represent adulthood and identity. Though tattooing was banned under Japanese rule, this tradition has resurfaced as a symbol of cultural pride and resistance.
- Ainu language: With no direct relation to Japanese, the Ainu language faced severe decline due to Japan’s strict language policies. Today, revitalisation efforts include language classes and educational projects, though fluency remains limited.
Contemporary representations
Ainu culture has influenced Japanese media, notably in manga and anime. The 1964 manga カムイ伝 (Kamui-den: Legend of Kamuy) by Sanpei Shirato introduced Ainu characters and explored themes of discrimination, raising awareness of Ainu history.
More recently, the anime ゴールデンカムイ (Gooruden Kamui: Golden Kamuy) by Satoru Noda brings Ainu culture to life with its portrayal of traditional clothing, food and spiritual practices, inspiring broader interest in Ainu heritage among younger audiences. The story follows Saichi Sugimoto, a veteran of the early twentieth-century Russo-Japanese War, on a quest for a hidden fortune in Ainu gold, aided by a young Ainu girl named Asirpa.
Further resources
The opening theme song of カムイ伝 can be viewed in this video uploaded by Upscaled Anime Clips:
The opening theme song of ゴールデン・カムイ can be viewed in this video uploaded by Crunchyroll:
Who are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples?
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples are Australia’s original inhabitants, each with their own distinctive histories, languages and cultural practices. It’s essential to recognise that the term ‘Aboriginal’ generally does not include Torres Strait Islander Peoples, and similarly, ‘Torres Strait Islander’ does not refer to Aboriginal Peoples.
Key cultural features
Aboriginal Peoples
- Connection to land and ancestral country: For Aboriginal Peoples, connection to Country (land) forms the basis of identity, spirituality and traditional knowledge. Each Aboriginal group has a distinctive relationship with their ancestral lands, which informs their understanding of flora, fauna and the local environment. These connections endure, despite the impacts of colonial land policies and remain essential to cultural life and environmental stewardship.
- Art and oral traditions: Aboriginal Peoples have a rich tradition of visual art, dance, and storytelling rooted in the Dreaming or Dreamtime – a concept that explains creation and transcends time. Known by various names such as Ngarranggarni and Jukurrpa, the Dreaming tells of spiritual beings who shaped the natural world, forming the foundation of Aboriginal lore and culture. These ancestral stories, often depicted in Aboriginal art, connect past and present, offering insight into Aboriginal perspectives on life and the land. Today, these expressions, once restricted under colonial rule, are celebrated as vital cultural heritage.
- Languages: Aboriginal Peoples historically spoke over 250 languages, many of which were endangered or lost due to colonial policies. Today, Aboriginal communities and language centres across Australia work to revive these languages through educational programs, cultural centres and family-led learning, reinforcing cultural identity and community cohesion.
Torres Strait Islander Peoples
- Connection to the sea and maritime skills: The sea is at the heart of Torres Strait Islander identity and traditional knowledge. Maritime practices, including navigation, fishing, and resource management, are integral to their culture. Despite the restrictions imposed by colonial and modern-day policies, these skills remain essential and are actively preserved within communities.
- Ceremonial masks and dance: Art among Torres Strait Islander Peoples includes intricate masks crafted for spiritual and celebratory ceremonies, as well as storytelling through dance and song. While colonial policies once restricted these practices, they are now celebrated as core cultural expressions, allowing Islanders to pass down traditions through generations.
- Languages: Torres Strait Islanders traditionally speak languages such as Kala Lagaw Ya and Meryam Mir, which are deeply woven into their history and cultural life. Although British colonial rule suppressed Indigenous languages, causing a decline, community-led revitalisation programs today work to restore and maintain these languages as living aspects of Torres Strait culture.
Contemporary representations
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and perspectives are increasingly highlighted in Australian media, literature and the arts. Works such as Samson and Delilah by Warwick Thornton, The Tall Man by Tony Krawitz, and Zach’s Ceremony directed by Aaron Petersen bring attention to the challenges and triumphs of Australia’s Indigenous communities, exploring themes of survival, kinship and the ongoing impact of colonial history.
Shared experiences of colonialism and cultural resilience
Both the Ainu People of Japan and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples of Australia endured colonial policies aimed at erasing their unique identities. For the Ainu, assimilation included forced Japanese language education, often punishing children for speaking Ainu. Similarly, colonial education policies in Australia focused exclusively on English, sidelining Aboriginal and Torres Strait languages, which were largely confined to the home, leading to further decline.
Language revitalisation efforts
- Ainu: Language revitalisation for the Ainu People began in the late twentieth century and includes classes, cultural programs and limited government support. Despite these efforts, the Ainu language remains endangered, with few fluent speakers.
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples: Community groups work to preserve languages such as Kala Lagaw Ya, Meriam Mir (also written as Miriam Mer), Yumplatok and numerous Aboriginal languages. Organisations such as the Torres Strait Regional Authority support these efforts through art, language and cultural programs, despite facing resource limitations.
Contemporary movements for cultural recognition
- Ainu: Japan formally recognised the Ainu as Indigenous in 2008, which led to initiatives such as the Symbolic Space for Ethnic Harmony (Upopoy), a national cultural centre in Hokkaido that opened in 2020. Upopoy provides exhibitions, language classes and cultural programs, raising awareness of Ainu culture.
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples: The Torres Strait Regional Authority, established in 1994, promotes autonomy and cultural preservation. While Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art, languages and traditions are increasingly celebrated, there is an ongoing push for more comprehensive political and cultural recognition.
Exercise 1
References
Aboriginal Contemporary. “What is the Dreamtime and Dreaming?.” Accessed November 9, 2024. https://www.aboriginalcontemporary.com.au/pages/what-is-the-dreamtime-and-dreaming.
Foundation for Ainu Culture. “History.” Accessed November 9, 2024. https://www.ff-ainu.or.jp/web/english/details/post-5.html.
Symbolic Space for Ethnic Harmony. “About Upopoy.” Accessed November 9, 2024. https://ainu-upopoy.jp/en/about/.
Torres Strait Regional Authority. “Maiem, sew ngapa! (Welcome).” Accessed November 9, 2024. https://www.tsra.gov.au/.
