1957+Albert+Namatjira

 = **ALBERT NAMATJIRA** = Albert’s history Albert’s Art Aboriginal Culture and Rights at the Time What Albert’s Culture Brought to my Life

Albert Namatjira was the first Indigenous Australian to paint and exhibit in Western style. Namatjira belonged to the western group of the Arrernte people.

He was also the first Aboriginal to gain Australian citizenship in 1957.

The citizenship granted to Namatjira led to further difficulties. He was exempted from the restrictions imposed on 'full-blooded' Aborigines, as he had access to alcohol which he shared with members of his family in accordance with Aboriginal custom.

In 1958 he was charged with supplying alcohol to the artist Henoch Raberaba and sentenced to six months imprisonment with labour. Following a public outcry and two appeals, the sentence was reduced to three months. Namatjira finally served two months of 'open' detention at the Papunya settlement in March-May 1959.

The referendum of 27 May 1967 approved two amendments to the Australian constitution relating to Indigenous Australians. Technically it was a vote on the //Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal People) 1967//, which became law on 10 August 1967 following the results of the referendum

Albert Namatjira is one of the most famous aboriginal painters. He was born in 1902 and died in 1959. His paintings were not done in the traditional Aboriginal style, but instead were painted in the classic Western style and were mainly landscapes. He was also the first Aboriginal to be made a citizen of Australia.Albert had a deep love of the bush and desert-land where he grew up. It is said that whenever he was in the city he longed to be back there. [|Archie Roach] song about Albert filled with [|lyrics] about his love of and connectedness to the land.

**Albert’s hi﻿****story** Albert grew up on a mission in Hermansburg, Northern Territory.

He lived there as his parents had converted to Christianity. Albert was born as Elea, his traditional aboriginal name, but his name was changed to the English ‘Albert’ when he was baptised. At 13 year of age, after growing with a western style upbringing, Albert returned to the aboriginal community that he was part of. Here he learnt more about his cultural background and gained a love of his people’s land.

Albert married a woman called Rubina who was from a different skin group to him. Because this was against his communities traditions and laws he left for several years. He then worked as a camel driver through Central Australia. It was here that he got a lot of inspiration for his paintings of landscape.

** Albert’s Art **



Namatjira was mostly known for his [|landscapes] which were almost always of bushland and natural environments.Even though he was better known for painting landscapes he did do other work.


 * Aboriginal Culture and Rights at the Time **

During the time that Albert was painting, Aboriginal people were not allowed to vote or own property even though they’d been on the land since before white people came. This was because they were not recognised by the government as citizens, meaning they didn’t have the same rights as the rest of the people living in Australia. Because Albert became so famous, a lot of people began to push for him to be granted citizenship. As a result of the pressure, in 1957 the government granted these wishes. This was 10 years before they gave all Aboriginal people these same rights. Because of his new rights, Albert was able to buy alcohol (which at the time non-citizens were unable to do). It is Aboriginal custom to share what is yours. Because it was illegal for citizens to share alcohol with Aboriginal people, Albert was arrested when he gave alcohol to some of his friends. He spent two months in prison. There was a great deal of public outcry about this.


 * What Albert’s Culture Brought to my Life **

Aboriginal people have a strong connection to the Australian land. I have grown up hearing about their dreamtime stories which tell the tales of how the land and animals of Australia came to be created. Learning about his paintings has made me realise how beautiful the Australian landscape is.

** ﻿Where I Got my Information From ** [] [] [] [] []