...Question Aboriginal music (which includes song, dance and design) is uniquely connected to the creative life-force of the dreaming and according to Magowan (2011, p.43) ‘stories are often told in song as a means of making sense of the world and everything in it. Consider the role of music, story, art and ceremony and discuss their significance for social knowledge’s and education within Aboriginal communities. Aboriginal people have a deep spiritual connection to their country and to the creative life force of the Dreaming. Aboriginal people maintain their system of beliefs, law and culture through a variety of forms including music, stories, art and ceremony. Each of these forms enables Aboriginal people to make sense of the world and everything in it. Throughout this essay the role of music, story, art and ceremony will be discussed with reference to their significance for social knowledge and education for aboriginal communities. However, to understand the variety of forms that Aboriginal people engage in it is vital to have an understanding of the Dreaming which permeates through song, dance, stories, panting and social systems and is central to the existence of Aboriginal people, their lifestyle and culture. The Dreaming The Dreaming is a creative time in which spirit beings emerged from a pre-existent but lifeless substance for example water or land and travelled across the earth in a variety of forms including animals, plants and humans (Edwards 1998, p.17). As...
Words: 2305 - Pages: 10
...AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINALS Dana Weaver Ant101 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology Prof. Steven Sager Sept 2, 2012 In this paper, I will explain in detail how the kinship system works with the Australian Aboriginals. I will also explain how this system relates to how the live and interact in their society. I also want to compare their kinship system with ours here in America. The Aboriginals culture is a very complex and diverse culture. The Indigenous cultures of Australia are the oldest living culture in the world. “They go back at 50,000 years. ( http://australia.gov.au) They survived that long because of their ability to adapt to their environment and change over time. The Aboriginals are divided into small groups called clans. The clan’s usually had a common ancestor and they all considered themselves related.”(Australian.gov.au) Members of tribes distinguished themselves from each other through their dialects.” There were probably about 600 tribes within Australia in 1788, when the first Europeans arrived.” (indigenousaustralia.info)Tribes that spoke closely related dialects often grouped themselves together under the term of being a nation. “Australian Aboriginal kinship is the system of law governing social interaction, particularly marriage, in traditional Australian Aboriginal culture.”( wikipedia.org ) It is an integral part of the culture of every Aboriginal group across Australia. “The system of kinship put everybody in a specific relationship...
Words: 2257 - Pages: 10
...THE DREAMTIME by H.Q.Mitchell Back to the dreamtime???this story is about a teenager from aboriginal boy raised in white Australian society called Richard MacDonald. He adopted by Joe,his adopted father and sonya,his adopted mother.Richard also have adopted big brother,Tom which same school with him and adopted younger sister,Judy. They never thought he as a adopted son. They really caring obout him eventhough their colour are not same. In this story,Richard always had a same dream that something calling him.The moral values that contained in “Back To The Dreamtime” novel are Good Responds by family, a sense of love, Responsibility, Never give up, and Mutual Respect. I think besides interesting, it is also giving some lessons to the readers. The first of moral values that contained in this novel is good respond by family. It can we see from there are good responds from Mc Donald family to Richard, though Richard is not they the biological child. McDonald family was very closer each other, no jealousy and favoritism. For example, when Sonya (his mother) woke up Richard, Sonya smiled with him and also made him some food. Besides that, Tom and Judy are Richard stepbrother and stepsister, they not jealous each other. The other morale value is a sense of love that they give to Richard like their other child. For example, when Sonya and Joe explain about aboriginal decoration to Richard with carefully like in the text “your father and I love you dearly, and whatever...
Words: 679 - Pages: 3
...culture, tradition and languages. * Balance rites – Aboriginal rituals that aim to make a supernatural connection with ancestral beings from the dreaming * Crown land – Public land owned by the commonwealth of Australia and managed by Australian government * Dispossession – The forced removal of aboriginal people from their native land. * Dreaming – Aboriginal spiritual beliefs about creation and existence. The dreaming establishes the rules governing relationships between people, land and all things for Aboriginal people. It links together the past, present and future. * Freehold title – Absolute and permanent ownership of the land. * Half-castes – An offensive term referring to a person of mixed decent or ethnicity. * Land rites – Property rights pertaining to land. * Meta-temporal – the trinity of the past, present and future. * Native title – Form of land title, which recognises aboriginal people as rightful owners of their traditional land. * Protection policy – official government policy stating in the late 19th century. Removed aboriginal people from unsuitable environments and placed them under the protection of the state. * Sacred sites – Places of spiritual significance to Aboriginal people as they are connected with ancestor beings from the dreaming, they are places where rituals such as initiation and balance rites are performed. * Stolen generations – Aboriginal children who were removed from their homes between 1900...
Words: 2188 - Pages: 9
...The continuing effect of dispossession on Aboriginal Spiritualties Impact of dispossession is enormous and overwhelmingly detrimental The impact of dispossession for Aboriginal people has been enormous and overwhelmingly detrimental. Broadly speaking, the history of dispossession can be divided into three key stages. Firstly, the colonial period of non-recognition, which were marked by the introduction of terminal European diseases, shootings, massacres and poisonings. This was then secondly followed by the Paternalistic policy of protection, which began in the mid 1880s. This was followed by the equally detrimental Policy of assimilation, which began in the mid-twentieth century. As a part of and spanning across the official Government policies of Protection and Assimilation, are the dark episodes of the Stolen Generation. The term Stolen Generation refers to the mass removal of Australian Aboriginal children from their families by Government agencies and church missions between 1900 and 1972. Impact of dispossession on Aboriginal spirituality Two centuries of dispossession have had a devastatingly destructive effect upon Aboriginal Spirituality. Most significantly, the separation from land as a result of dispossession is tantamount to a loss of identity, since the Dreaming, which is central to Aboriginal spirituality, is inextricably connected to the land. The loss of land as a result of dispossession leads to the ever-present burden of not being able to fulfil ritual responsibilities...
Words: 1470 - Pages: 6
...Impact/Implications/ | Contemporary Aboriginal Spiritualities | Dreaming The Dreaming is the past, present and future. A collective term for all Australian Indigenous spiritualityInextricably linked to the land Kinship All forms of social interaction.Determines how a person relates to others and how they belong in the community. Ceremonial life Corroboree - retelling of Dreaming stories through song, dance, music and mimeRite of passage- Moving into adulthoodBurial and Smoking ceremoniesObligations to the land and people Dreaming stories help link the people to the land and it outlines the obligations of the people to the land. | Dreaming provides meaning and purpose in an Indigenous persons life Provides connections to family members and spirituality Provides a link to the dreaming and ancestral spirits. Marks key moments in people's lives. By keeping obligations to the land and people the inextricable link will be kept | Issues for Aboriginal spiritualities in relation to: | discuss the continuing effect of dispossession on Aboriginal spiritualities in relation to: / separation from the land * Loss of culture - loss of dignity * "Like a tree without it's roots" - "Buckskin" * Lost law & lore * Lost purposeseparation from kinship groups * Lost identity * Loss of heritage * Loss of parents/ family * Loss of connectionthe Stolen Generations * Unable to connect with kinship groups and land * Not able to have full spirituality * Lost family ties ...
Words: 704 - Pages: 3
...The Dreaming Dreaming: * Underpins all beliefs and practices * Incorporates past, present and future * Inextricably linked to the land * Ceremonialism Dreamtime: Time of creation of all things Dreaming: Individuals or groups set of beliefs or spirituality Spirituality Consists of: * Kinship * Ceremonial life * Obligations to land and people (as a result of societal values) Kinship Highly sophisticated networks of relationships that govern interactions between members of language groups Define where a person fits into the community, binding people together in relationships of sharing and obligation Central to the way culture is passed on and society is organised Dynamic and provides a framework for living Defines roles and responsibilities for raising and educating children Provides systems of moral and financial support within the community Influences the social relationships and governs many aspects of everyday behaviour Ceremonial Life Dreaming ceremonies are conducted in the form of song and dance with the use of body parts and a spectacle of lights and costumes Preparation considered part of ceremony Men and women have different roles Different ceremonies in different cultural groups 4 Types: * Rite of passage * Information * Personal * Spiritual Initiation Ceremony Teaches about law and beliefs Allows young person to take their place as an elder Can last years Funeral Ceremonies Number...
Words: 1350 - Pages: 6
...is known and understood by Aboriginal people. It is the central spiritual concept because it determines not only beliefs and values but also relationships with other people and the overall environment. Aborigines are able to understand creation in a continuing and living sense by virtue of the Dreaming. It explains how the world was created by their ancestors and is passed on orally. E.g. dreaming stories such as the rainbow serpent. Dreaming links Aboriginals to the land, they are interdependent: “Aboriginals live their lives being at one with the land, and without land their Dreaming, tradition and culture are sure to die” (Anne Gray). Kinship – refers to the network of relationships that hold a clan together central to Aboriginal communities. Through kinship, they are instructed about particular obligations, rights and appropriate forms of behavior. It defines where a person fits into the community. Land is important to kinship and is often referred to as “my mother” so it is shared by many people. Disopession- Dispossession resulted in Aboriginals being separated from their physical land, kinship groups and the removal of their children from their families through the “Stolen Generation”. Dispossession first occurred in 1778 when the First Fleet recognised Australia as “terra nullius”. They implemented policies of protectionism where Aboriginals were removed from their rightful land and tribes and placed in missions. This affected aboriginal people in 2008 with many being...
Words: 1090 - Pages: 5
...of Fiona Foley's public art sculpture Bibles and Bullets as a focal point, public art as aboriginal tradition, and public art as a postmodern concept will be analysed. Located in Redfern park, Redfern, the artist's sculpture stands on the ground of great historical context to indigenous people. The context of not only Redfern park, but also the suburb of Redfern holds significant meaning to Aboriginal Australians. In the 1920's indigenous Australians migrated from rural areas of NSW to Redfern. Since then, the Aboriginal communities of Redfern have faced numerous hardships (creative spirits 2014). Redfern Park was the site of Paul Keating's famous 'Redfern Park speech'. The site links both postmodernity and tradition in its meaning, purpose, and structure. The postmodernistic use of art as a way to disrupt movement and space challenges traditional artistic conventions. Fiona Foley is an indigenous artist who was commissioned to work on numerous public art installations. Her art does not depict traditional indigenous scenes such as the dream time, but rather has meaning deeply rooted in the modern history of the invasion of indigenous land. Foley uses public art because once in the public domain, you can't look away. Redfern, and Redfern park both hold significance relating to indigenous Australians. Redfern was the largest Aboriginal populated area in Sydney. In the 1920's Aboriginal people began to move from rural areas to Redfern in search of work at the Redfern Everleigh...
Words: 1556 - Pages: 7
...MABO (1992) The Mabo decision in the High Court was the Culmination of a legal battle by Mabo on behalf of the Merriam people to establish their traditional ownership of the Murray Islands, Queensland (part of crown land) It provided public acknowledgement of Aboriginal spirituality and their connection to the land was recognised This overturned “terra nullius” (land belonging to no one) and made it possible for other Aboriginal tribes to claim land rights as it led to the Native Act (1993) NATIVE TITLE (1993) Native Title was an act of Parliament put into Australian Law which recognised the validity of Aboriginal territorial laws that existed prior to European settlement. It provided for land claims which must be supported by proof...
Words: 739 - Pages: 3
...universe and encompasses everything within. This concept allows for explanations about the ‘Ancestral Beings’ and their travels, creating everything we see today. (Fryer-Smith, 2002) In customary principles, these ‘Ancestral Beings’ hold the power to arbitrate and guide the Aboriginal people’s lives. Indigenous Australians are the oldest inhabitants of the land with the most extensive practise of religion and customs, what we know as the Dreaming. (Edwards, 1998) The role and function of the Dreaming is to teach the Aboriginal people about the norms and mores of the sacred laws. Also known as customary law, these guidelines are an integral part of the Aboriginal culture as it maintains societal normalities. (ALRC, 1986) The Dreaming is a philosophy that binds every aspect of life together, it assists in knowing the past, present and future, and how to make conscious decisions to ensure the world continues triumphantly. According to Korff (2015) white man cannot comprehend the depth of the Dreaming, as it is more an analogy for providing identity and spiritualism to individuals. The diversity within the various communities explains how in-depth the spirituality is and how important this religion is to each Aboriginal person. Each tribe has their own definition and reason behind the Dreaming. The Ngarinyan kin refer to it as ‘Ungud’; the Pitjantatjar know the dreaming as ‘Tjukurpa’, and Yolngu as ‘Wongar’. (Edwards, 1998) The Bundjalung community believe the Dreaming is personal...
Words: 2469 - Pages: 10
...For many young Australians, little knowledge is known about Aboriginal issues. The Stolen Generations is a historical series of events well known to many young Australians. It was important as many Australian Government bodies, alongside with other establishments, were removing children from Aboriginal families and putting them into foster homes. It was expected to cause a disconnection of the culture and structure of Aboriginal clans. From tutorials and lectures, I think that Indigenous issues are often misunderstood. I understood lecture material as providing insight into surviving problems due to the Stolen Generations. This was seen with a disconnection from land and country, and a loss of identity for Indigenous Australian. This had led...
Words: 1543 - Pages: 7
...The plays Ruby Moon (RM) by Matt Cameron and Stolen by Jane Harrison are extrapolations of the Australian identity and the issues and concerns contained within the places, people and the wider Australian community. The societal issues of missing children and national and personal identity are artistically weaved into the stories of the plays. Audiences are not only entertained by these strong pieces of Australian Contemporary Theatre (ACT), they are encouraged to connect with and appreciate the message within. Cameron’s portrayal of an idyllic Australian neighbourhood provides the ideal setting for the message he conveys throughout RM. The sinister characteristics of suburbia are buried deep under the perfect veneer of Flaming Tree Grove, behind the closed curtains of each house. In contemporary Australia the picturesque understanding of a friendly neighbourhood is no longer relevant as nightmares of children going missing and being unable to trust your neighbour occur constantly and nobody can be trusted, this clearly elucidates Cameron’s vision in which he comments on “proximity does not equal intimacy”. The corruption of innocence does not only affect the immediate family of missing children but also extends to the community as each person is trapped within the internal world of Flaming Tree Grove. The fractured fairy-tale motif runs concurrent throughout the entire play. Fairy-tales, which teach morals and warn of wrong doings, are overturned as Ruby is taken upon a visit...
Words: 968 - Pages: 4
...they share some common understandings with one another. Being taught the customs, members of society are expected to follow the traditional customs of the group. Cultural relativism recognizes that different cultures have distinct social trajectories, or chosen paths (Carpo, 2013). In understanding a specific custom within a culture, it is important to view the culture from an outside perspective (etic). This is exactly what I will demonstrate within the first section of this paper while expanding and discovering another culture from an inside perspective (emic) which shows how even though customs are different within various cultures a different viewpoint can illuminate the entire picture and bridge the gap between both cultures – the Aboriginals and African Americans. Part I – Religion and the African American Culture among Other Things Religion and the Black Church in African American society, in regards to the socio-cultural, economic and political issues of the 20th century, has branched the African American experience of mere individual survival into one of prosperity and a sense of community. According to Editors of the Norton Anthology of African American Literature (1997), from the days of slavery, Africans have struggled to survive in America due to the unfair treatment based on the color of their skin; despite the fact that they were granted their freedom in 1865, they were still not seen on treated as equals. Since...
Words: 2768 - Pages: 12
...PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION Philosophy of religion is the examination of the core concepts and themes involved in religious practices. Searching for a rational and logical explanation for every aspect of religion it also investigates the significance religion and spirituality plays on society. (Taliaferro, 2007) The examination of forms of religion and spirituality including geosophical and theosophical, analysing an argument that support these core values includes the cosmological argument where interconnected yet divergent notions are established. Geosophical religion and spirituality is profoundly linked to the land. Through a mental, physical and spiritual connection by which the land and people are interconnected, all objects are alive and share the same spirit. (Grieves, 2015) This argument is demonstrated through Australian aboriginal spirituality in which their behaviours in everyday life are a clear reflection of their beliefs....
Words: 606 - Pages: 3
