Outrage as partygoers mock Aboriginal culture by mimicking traditional dance 

A group of white men have been accused of mocking Aboriginal culture by mimicking traditional dances at a party.

Footage from the social event in Mossman, Far North Queensland, was posted to TikTok by Indigenous Australian Sari-Ella Thaiday, who urged others to share the vision around.

The video, which was originally filmed on Snapchat, showed revellers stand around a dancefloor in front of Mossman Boat and Fishing Club, as different men performed in the middle of the space.

The partygoers are seen holding drinks, clapping and laughing as the music blasted. 

A group of white men have been accused of mocking Aboriginal culture by mimicking traditional dances at a party

At least three men were filmed performing moves that appeared to copy traditional Aboriginal dances. 

One of the men pretended to be an emu, while another impersonated lighting a fire by hand.

‘Literally what’s white peoples problem? They always have the need to put down other people/cultures. Is it a projection?’ one person commented on the video.

‘None of these people look enjoyable to be around, imagine thinking this party looked fun enough to brag about,’ another wrote. 

Former Bachelor star Abbie Chatfield re-shared the TikTok video on her Instagram page. 

‘If you know any of these people, have a chat to them. Repulsive,’ Chatfield wrote on her Instagram story. 

The video, which was originally filmed on Snapchat, showed revellers stand around a dancefloor in front of Mossman Boat and Fishing Club, as different men performed in the middle of the space

The reality star then filmed herself speaking about the footage after someone accused her of ‘perpetuating hate’ because the people in the video had allegedly received threats.  

‘On every single level there is a race issue in Australia and s*** like this only perpetuates it,’ Chatfield said.

‘It is racist, it is disgusting and they [the people in the video] don’t deserve protection because they ”made a mistake”.’ 

Traditional Aboriginal Dance has been a part of the culture of First Australians for thousands of years. 

Dance is often tied to the spirituality of Indigenous Australians and their tribes, as they would express their customs through performance.

Aboriginal Australians also use dances to tell stories, which have been passed down through the generations.

The stories often feature the land, animals, dreamtime, and Aboriginal people and it is common for Aboriginal people to imitate animals while performing. 

At least three men were filmed performing moves that appeared to copy traditional Aboriginal dances. One of the men pretended to be an emu (left), while another impersonated lighting a fire by hand (right)

Last year video footage emerged of two young women appearing to mock Indigenous Australians while out for dinner at a packed Thai restaurant.

The women were filmed ridiculing a traditional dance as they dined in Wollongong, south of Sydney, even pretending to play a didgeridoo.

The pair – both 20 – laughed and giggled as they pulled faces and made mocking noises with little regard to the scores of diners sat around them.

Other customers are seen staring at the friends in horror as another girl filmed the scene and posted it on Snapchat – writing ‘I’m dying’ and a series of laughing emojis.

Giggling as they made mocking noises, one of the pair is heard saying ‘this is in Aboriginal’.

It soon provoked outrage from the local community and was removed, with friends of the group saying they were ‘disgusted’ by the footage.