Timelines

    
     Both America and Australia have had similar histories all thanks to Great Britain for establishing colonies in both places. Australia was claimed by Britain in 1778 and six colonies were settled there while around the late 1600's British companies were landing on America shores. The 13 colonies were actually revolting against British rule around the time that Australia was being claimed. This means that the aborigines had been left alone for a longer time than the Native Americans had and these new American colonies were growing and industrializing while Australia was just beginning. (Wikipedia.com)
     Just as Christopher Columbus came and discovered America, New Zealand had James cook who helped pave the way for more Europeans to make their way over to this small island. Mostly through trickery the Maori tribes signed a peace treaty with the Europeans expecting to receive help and protection when instead Britain’s used this as their in to sabotage the people and take their lands. (History book, History class)
     While Australia might have taken more time to be found, their gold rush happened around the same time America's did. Australia's in 1850's and America's in 1848. From this I infer that British sped up modernization of their new home much faster than they had in North America and actually caught up to the California Gold Rush. A shorter time after in the 1860's New Zealand also has a gold rush in a town called Tuepeka. (historyplace.com)
     Six colonies then formed together to create the Commonwealth of Australia where they ruled with democratic rule and where Britain only has a ceremonial role. This revelation came much after the 13 colonies revolt yet both countries seemed to get their way out of Britain’s rule for good. Although it seems that New Zealand was headed on the same track because they became a self governing community but are still held under Britain’s rule. It isn't till 1947 that New Zealand actually gains independence, a whole lot longer wait than America or even Australia.
     New Zealand’s wars between the natives and settlers are much like the ones between the Europeans and Native Americans for the colonies because both were about putting down the original culture. While America's happened all the way through the 16th to the 19th century New Zealand's was happening in the 1860's, twenty years after the Maoris’ signed their "peace treaty" with Britain.
     In 1924 America's president Calvin Coolidge signs the Indian Citizenship Act making it official that Native Americans are welcome and sort of a way to make an apology for the way they were excluded. Australian governments did this too in 1962 and later in 1976 make it possible for the aborigines to reclaim their traditional lands taken from them long ago. 2008 Australia made an apology and decided to "right it's wrongs" against the aborigine people that it had hurt so much. (Americanhistory.about.com)

     

Creation Stories

1. People are afraid of the unknown. If we don't provide a story for our past, everyone would be super upset. These stories are meant as a way to explain where a culture comes from and provide a lesson as well. Myths are not told very much anymore, besides to children, but I believe they can still be used. Just like in our class this month we examined them to find the message within. Just because the literal story isn't like our world now doesn't meant what the aboriginals were trying to say is any less true than it was back then.

2. It seems to me that one creation story is a lot lighter than the other. The early Australians were a lot more focused on new beginnings and life while the New Zealanders talk more about darkness and the people. Australians come off as more nature lovers and are more centered on the new life and animals in their story. Maori versions have more to do with the gods and people that the world itself, this means that they appreciate their people and love more.

3. Even though each story is much different, their similarities are that both have a mother-father figure to guide the characters, and yet they both have some sort of rebellion during the story. In the Aborigine's the animals change their shape because they don't like how they are created and in the Maori story the sons yearn for freedom and sacrifice their mother and father's love in order to get it. A main difference that I noticed was that the Australian version began with light and happiness while the New Zealand story begins in darkness which carries out throughout the story. I am not sure why one is different than the other but it is just something I noticed.

4. Both stories that have a story within that may not be in line with today’s discoveries, but have a message that rings true. One message that comes through is the fact that people need to respect nature. Event though the animals turned on the mother, they Aborigine had a main focus of the earth for a reason. Their message is like any tree huggers, "save the trees". As for the other message I believe both stories have something to say about rebellion and wars. There were repercussions for each of the rebels but in the end they got what they wanted. I think these early people wanted everyone to think about being selfish and whether fighting back is just for yourself or if you really have a cause.

5. My creation story comes from faith and religion and it has always been something I have believed in. I know it's a struggle when we went through biology and learned about evolution because it's just something I never believed in. This helps with my morals and values because it is like I already have a set of rules for me and I just have to keep myself on the right track to following them. I think it is just a matter of blending together your beliefs to find something that works for you and you religion.