...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...
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...Dreaming encompasses all aspects of Aboriginal life and spirituallity" Australian Aboriginals were the first people who arrived in Australia. They established spiritual beliefs, which emerged into a religion. A significant aspect of Aboriginal belief is the 'Dreaming'. Aboriginal spirituality is extremely linked to the land. According to Aboriginal belief, Spirit Ancestors are a fundamental importance to the continuance of life. Kinship is designed as a structured way of social communication and relationship obligations. Symbolism and art are of religious significance to Aboriginal culture, as they helped with the understanding and connectedness of their religion. Aspects of Aboriginal life and spirituality that encompass...
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...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...
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...A concept of Aboriginal spirituality from another culture does not adequately express and articulate to all other clans, as it is unique for each clan. As they come from an oral tradition and are all at different stages of understanding their own spirituality, spirituality cannot be studied like theology or written down, rather they must talk. Aboriginal spiritualities are determined by the Dreaming, a metatemporal concept that expresses the continuity of connection to the land, the Ancestor Spirits and the responsibilities of the individual and community. The Dreaming sets out the structures of society, the rules for social behaviour and the ceremonies performed in order to maintain the life of the land. The influence of the dreaming is embedded...
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...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 ...
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...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...
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...Religion and Belief Systems in Australia post Students learn about: | Students learn to: | Contemporary Aboriginal Spiritualities * Aboriginal spirituality as determined by the Dreaming * issues for Aboriginal spiritualities in relation to: * the effect of dispossession * the Land Rights movement Religious expression in Australia – 1945 to the present * the religious landscape from 1945 to the present in relation to: * changing patterns of religious adherence * the current religious landscape * religious dialogue in multi-faith Australia * ecumenical movements within Christianity * Interfaith dialogue * The relationship between Aboriginal spiritualities and religious traditions in the process of Reconciliation | * discuss how Aboriginal spirituality is determined by the Dreaming * kinship * ceremonial life * obligations to the land and people * discuss the continuing effect of dispossession on Aboriginal spiritualities in relation to: * separation from the land * separation from kinship groups * the Stolen Generations * outline the importance of the following for the Land Rights movement: * Native Title * Mabo * Wik * analyse the importance of the Dreaming for the Land Rights movement * outline changing patterns of religious adherence from 1945 to the present using census data * account for the present religious landscape in Australia in relation to: * Christianity as the...
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...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...
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...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...
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...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...
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...Jainism is an ancient immanent religion from India that teaches that the way to liberation and bliss. The religion still lives on today and has around 5-6 million believers. The religion is traced back to over 8000 years old. Below is an image and explanation of the Jain symbol. Aboriginal spirituality is an ancient transcendent religion from Australia. It consists of the Dreaming belief that spiritual ancestors of the people. Dreaming is the environment the Aboriginal people lived in and it still exists today “all around us”. Below is an image of the aboriginal flag that represents the traditional aboriginal religion and is still present in Australia today. Black: represents the aboriginal people of Australia. Yellow: represents the sun, the giver of life and protector. Red: represents the red earth, the red ochre used in ceremonies and aboriginal peoples spiritual relationship to the land. Black: represents the aboriginal people of Australia. Yellow: represents the sun, the giver of life and protector. Red: represents the red earth, the red ochre used in ceremonies and aboriginal peoples spiritual relationship to the land. Origins of the universe: Jainism believes that universe and all its substances are eternal (everlasting). Jain cosmology states the world was created perfect but has steadily decayed ever since. All substances continually undergo changes. Previous forms give way to new ones without loosing their own inherent qualities. The Jain belief is that...
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...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...
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...The Aborigine Walkabout vs. The Native American Vision Quest Curtis Shane ANT101 Instructor Kathryn Cohan May 12, 2014 The Aborigine Walkabout vs. The Native American Vision Quest There are many different tribes all around the world that have their own individual types of rituals they perform for a rite of passage. This paper will discuss the differences and the similarities between an Austalian Aborigine walkabout versus a Native American vision quest, and how and why the differences may exist. The ancestors of today's Aboriginal people arrived in Australia about 50,000 years ago. Scientists believe that these first people came by boat from the Southeastern part of Asia which was the closest land that was inhabited by human beings at that time. This consisted from the tropical rain forests to the central deserts. There were probably from 500,000 to 1 million Aboriginal people living in Australia when European settlers first reached the island continent in 1788 (Rose, D 2014). So it’s safe to say these type practices have been around for a very long time. The aborigine were the first people of Australia. “The word aborigine comes from the Latin phrase ab origine, meaning from the beginning. When spelled with a small a, the word aborigines refers to any people whose ancestors were the first people to live in a country” (Rose, D, 2014). Also, the world was not evolved like it is today, so this type of scenario would seem more common and accepted because life was...
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...The first settlers arrived in Australia 35,000 years ago during the great ice age. The sea levels lowered between Indonesia and New Guinea and created a land bridge that would allow nomadic tribes to cross from Southeast Asia. Like many other humans of that epoch, they were hunters and gatherers and traveled from place to place in search of young creatures. Thousands of years after these drifters arrived; the glaciers thawed and brought up the seas once again, which kept the citizenry of Australia permanently in that esteem. The people that inhabited Australia before the English settlers were known as Aborigines or the Australian Aboriginals. Aborigines occupied most of Southeast part of the continent on the shoreline, as well as all parts...
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...The Emerging Issue of Crystal Methamphetamine Use in First Nations Communities A Discussion Paper First Nations Centre May 2006 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION PART I CRYSTAL METHAMPHETAMINE: WHAT IS IT? WHO USES CRYSTAL METH HOW CRYSTAL METH IS USED HOW CRYSTAL METH IS MADE HOW CRYSTAL METH AFFECTS THE BODY, MIND, RELATIONSHIPS AND THE ENVIRONMENT PART II GOVERNMENT, ORGANIZED CRIME AND THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY IN THE UNITED STATES CRYSTAL METH AND ILLEGAL DRUG STRATEGIES IN CANADA FIRST NATIONS AND CRYTAL METH TREATMENT STRATEGIES PART III TALA TOOTOOSIS’ STORY CRYSTAL METH ON THE NAVAJO NATION CONCLUSIONS APPENDIX A 1 INTRODUCTION Crystal methamphetamine 1 use among people in some First Nations communities (both in Canada and the United States) has evolved into an issue that is requiring more and more attention. Indicative of this, in July of 2005, the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) in Canada passed a resolution specifically directed at this emerging issue. 2 As a result of this resolution, the AFN has identified the need for the development of a First Nations National Task Force on Crystal Meth to develop a Strategic Action Plan to Address the Emerging issue of Crystal Meth in First Nations Communities. Generally speaking, this paper provides basic information about crystal methamphetamine as well as information that is First Nations specific. The first part of the paper discusses: what crystal meth is; who is using it;...
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