--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Unlike some mainland black groups…" description: "\"Unlike some mainland black groups, Tasmanian Aborigines now have no traditional tribal culture left. It was taken from them with great violence and gre..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43f/richard-flanagan-2253_aborigines_unlike-some-mainland-black-groups-tasman_1625674.jpg" --- # Unlike some mainland black groups, Tasmanian Aborigines… ![“Unlike some mainland black groups, Tasmanian Aborigines now have no traditional tribal culture left. It was taken from them with great violence and great rapidity.” quote by Richard Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43f/richard-flanagan-2253_aborigines_unlike-some-mainland-black-groups-tasman_1625674.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43f/richard-flanagan-2253_aborigines_unlike-some-mainland-black-groups-tasman_1625674.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43f/richard-flanagan-2253_aborigines_unlike-some-mainland-black-groups-tasman_1625674.jpg) > “Unlike some mainland black groups, Tasmanian Aborigines now have no traditional tribal culture left. It was taken from them with great violence and great rapidity.” [Richard Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-flanagan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Colonial violence erased Tasmanian Aboriginal cultural practices, leaving no living tribal traditions. **In simple terms:** Violence destroyed their culture. Key Takeaway Recognize and support cultural restoration. Themes colonialism cultural loss indigenous rights historical trauma Mood somber reflective Type historical educational When to use this quote - museum exhibits - educational curricula - community healing programs - policy advocacy Key Concepts ethnocide memory reconciliation Questions to Reflect On - How can societies responsibly revive erased cultures? - What responsibilities do descendants of colonizers have? A Different Perspective Restoration is hampered by limited surviving knowledge and ongoing marginalization. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aborigines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aborigines/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence/) ## Related quotes > [“We were born to be friends. We both knew it. The Australian Aborigines have the traditional belief that a complete human being comprises two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-grant/we-were-born-to-be-friends-we-both-knew-it-the-australian-aborigines/) [John Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-grant/) > [Nothing seemed to offer more striking proof to the late Victorian mind of the infernal truth of social Darwinism than the supposed demise of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-flanagan/nothing-seemed-to-offer-more-striking-proof-to-the-late-victorian/) [Richard Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-flanagan/) > [I grew up in a storytelling culture, a tribal culture, but also in an American storytelling culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/i-grew-up-in-a-storytelling-culture-a-tribal-culture-but-also-in-an/) [Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) > [In the late 19th century, the theory that the Aborigines were an inferior race that was doomed to die out became accepted as fact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-flanagan/in-the-late-19th-century-the-theory-that-the-aborigines-were-an/) [Richard Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-flanagan/) > [I have met Aborigines younger than me who used to hide every time anyone official came round their camp for fear of being taken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-flanagan/i-have-met-aborigines-younger-than-me-who-used-to-hide-every-time/) [Richard Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-flanagan/) > [My grandparents would never admit to being Tasmanian, but I think it's really great and funny. But I guess, in the past, Tasmanians just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-cave/my-grandparents-would-never-admit-to-being-tasmanian-but-i-think-it-s/) [Jessie Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-cave/) > [In volume terms, the Tasmanian wine industry is as tiny as its potential is large.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-halliday/in-volume-terms-the-tasmanian-wine-industry-is-as-tiny-as-its/) James Halliday > [Do Tasmanian devils really exist?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-cochrane/do-tasmanian-devils-really-exist/) [Tom Cochrane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-cochrane/) > [I've always enjoyed mixing and mingling with the Tasmanian community and that's, if you like, the bread and butter of politics. And from my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-abetz/i-ve-always-enjoyed-mixing-and-mingling-with-the-tasmanian-community/) [Eric Abetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-abetz/) > [Tasmanian history is a study of human isolation unprecedented except in science fiction - namely, complete isolation from other humans for 10,000 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-diamond/tasmanian-history-is-a-study-of-human-isolation-unprecedented-except/) [Jared Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-diamond/) > [The white explorers had been my heroes. The Aborigines, I thought they were real savages. That was what I'd been taught and that's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evonne-goolagong-cawley/the-white-explorers-had-been-my-heroes-the-aborigines-i-thought-they/) [Evonne Goolagong Cawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evonne-goolagong-cawley/) > [“Ginger people! D'you know what they are? Our aborigines ... that's what! GINGERIGINES! Look at 'em ... they were 'ere first. All this is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-oliver/ginger-people-d-you-know-what-they-are-our-aborigines-that-s-what/) [Neil Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-oliver/) > [“Australian Aborigines say that the big stories — the stories worth telling and retelling, the ones in which you may find the meaning of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-moss/australian-aborigines-say-that-the-big-stories-the-stories-worth/) [Robert Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-moss/) > [There were a couple Aborigines in my primary school, but we never spoke to them. They kept to themselves, and we never really even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-noyce/there-were-a-couple-aborigines-in-my-primary-school-but-we-never/) [Phillip Noyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-noyce/) > [The aborigines in Australia, the way they dress is very honest; it's not about: "Oh, you wear a skirt, you're gay."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riccardo-tisci/the-aborigines-in-australia-the-way-they-dress-is-very-honest-it-s/) [Riccardo Tisci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riccardo-tisci/) ## More by Richard Flanagan > [I went to study at Oxford University in the 1980s on an imperial scholarship instituted by Cecil Rhodes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-flanagan/i-went-to-study-at-oxford-university-in-the-1980s-on-an-imperial/) [Richard Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-flanagan/) > [Writing is not lying, nor is it theft. It is a journey and search for transparency between one’s words and one’s soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-flanagan/writing-is-not-lying-nor-is-it-theft-it-is-a-journey-and-search-for/) [Richard Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-flanagan/) > [In reading, you sense the divine: the things that are larger and greater and more mysterious than yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-flanagan/in-reading-you-sense-the-divine-the-things-that-are-larger-and/) [Richard Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-flanagan/) > [Within white Australia, there was a growing movement for what was known as reconciliation - a movement that peaked with millions marching in 2000…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-flanagan/within-white-australia-there-was-a-growing-movement-for-what-was/) [Richard Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-flanagan/) > [In 1995, the Paul Keating Labor government commissioned an inquiry into the forcible removal of Aboriginal children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-flanagan/in-1995-the-paul-keating-labor-government-commissioned-an-inquiry/) [Richard Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-flanagan/) > [Murder and hate are as deeply buried in the human heart as love, perhaps more so, and in truth they're rather entwined, and if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-flanagan/murder-and-hate-are-as-deeply-buried-in-the-human-heart-as-love/) [Richard Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-flanagan/) > [My father was the first to read in his family, and he said to me that words were the first beautiful thing he ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-flanagan/my-father-was-the-first-to-read-in-his-family-and-he-said-to-me-that/) [Richard Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-flanagan/) > [I grew up in a world that was clannish - old Tasmanian-Irish families with big extended families.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-flanagan/i-grew-up-in-a-world-that-was-clannish-old-tasmanian-irish-families/) [Richard Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-flanagan/) > [If 30 Australians drowned in Sydney Harbour, it would be a national tragedy. But when 30 or more refugees drown off the Australian coast,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-flanagan/if-30-australians-drowned-in-sydney-harbour-it-would-be-a-national/) [Richard Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-flanagan/) > [The enslavement, humiliation, torture, and ultimate destruction of thousands upon thousands of human beings for a project for which there was ultimately no purpose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-flanagan/the-enslavement-humiliation-torture-and-ultimate-destruction-of/) [Richard Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-flanagan/) > [In Tasmania, an island the size of Ireland whose primeval forests astonished 19th-century Europeans, an incomprehensible ecological tragedy is being played out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-flanagan/in-tasmania-an-island-the-size-of-ireland-whose-primeval-forests/) [Richard Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-flanagan/) > [You have to attempt to find new forms that will force you to write freshly and better and hopefully more truthfully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-flanagan/you-have-to-attempt-to-find-new-forms-that-will-force-you-to-write/) [Richard Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-flanagan/) > [My mother hoped I'd be a plumber.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-flanagan/my-mother-hoped-i-d-be-a-plumber/) [Richard Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-flanagan/) > [Family matters, friends matter, love matters. Those you love and who love you matter. That's what writing does - it allows you to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-flanagan/family-matters-friends-matter-love-matters-those-you-love-and-who/) [Richard Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-flanagan/) > [A good book ... leaves you wanting to reread the book. A great book compels you to reread your own soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-flanagan/a-good-book-leaves-you-wanting-to-reread-the-book-a-great-book/) [Richard Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-flanagan/) [Explore all 176 Richard Flanagan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-flanagan/) ## More Aborigines quotes > [The aborigines in Australia, the way they dress is very honest; it's not about: "Oh, you wear a skirt, you're gay."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riccardo-tisci/the-aborigines-in-australia-the-way-they-dress-is-very-honest-it-s/) [Riccardo Tisci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riccardo-tisci/) > [There were a couple Aborigines in my primary school, but we never spoke to them. They kept to themselves, and we never really even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-noyce/there-were-a-couple-aborigines-in-my-primary-school-but-we-never/) [Phillip Noyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-noyce/) > [“Australian Aborigines say that the big stories — the stories worth telling and retelling, the ones in which you may find the meaning of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-moss/australian-aborigines-say-that-the-big-stories-the-stories-worth/) [Robert Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-moss/) > [“Ginger people! D'you know what they are? Our aborigines ... that's what! GINGERIGINES! Look at 'em ... they were 'ere first. All this is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-oliver/ginger-people-d-you-know-what-they-are-our-aborigines-that-s-what/) [Neil Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-oliver/) > [I have met Aborigines younger than me who used to hide every time anyone official came round their camp for fear of being taken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-flanagan/i-have-met-aborigines-younger-than-me-who-used-to-hide-every-time/) [Richard Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-flanagan/) > [The white explorers had been my heroes. The Aborigines, I thought they were real savages. That was what I'd been taught and that's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evonne-goolagong-cawley/the-white-explorers-had-been-my-heroes-the-aborigines-i-thought-they/) [Evonne Goolagong Cawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evonne-goolagong-cawley/) > [“The burning off and the gathering together are one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-marshall-stoneking-2/the-burning-off-and-the-gathering-together-are-one/) Billy Marshall-Stoneking > [If Australia is The Lucky Country, the Aborigines must be the unluckiest people in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-hardy/if-australia-is-the-lucky-country-the-aborigines-must-be-the/) Frank Hardy > [Brandy is the great cause of destruction for the aborigines of America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-houston/brandy-is-the-great-cause-of-destruction-for-the-aborigines-of-america/) [Sam Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-houston/) > [Toward the aborigines of the country no one can indulge a more friendly feeling than myself, or would go further in attempting to reclaim…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-jackson/toward-the-aborigines-of-the-country-no-one-can-indulge-a-more/) [Andrew Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-jackson/) > [Aborigines, n.: Persons of little worth found cumbering the soil of a newly discovered country. They soon cease to cumber; they fertilize.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/aborigines-n-persons-of-little-worth-found-cumbering-the-soil-of-a/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [In the late 19th century, the theory that the Aborigines were an inferior race that was doomed to die out became accepted as fact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-flanagan/in-the-late-19th-century-the-theory-that-the-aborigines-were-an/) [Richard Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-flanagan/) > [“Australian aborigines, surprisingly, turn out to be a race unlike any other. They and their relatives in New Guinea have no trace in their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-wade/australian-aborigines-surprisingly-turn-out-to-be-a-race-unlike-any/) [Nicholas Wade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-wade/) > [Aborigines are not just the oldest race in Australia; they are the oldest race on the planet. They look like dinosaurs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-abramovic/aborigines-are-not-just-the-oldest-race-in-australia-they-are-the/) [Marina Abramovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-abramovic/) > [“The Australian aborigines, reckoned to be among the most primitive of races upon evidence that is far from conclusive, have a region that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olaf-ruhen/the-australian-aborigines-reckoned-to-be-among-the-most-primitive-of/) Olaf Ruhen [Browse all 17 Aborigines quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aborigines/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Unlike some mainland black groups, Tasmanian Aborigines now have no traditional tribal culture left. 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