Aboriginal Australian Songlines Flashcards
songline (kujika)
orally transmitted sacred song that recounts the migration of spirit ancestors along a particular line/track connected to a specific community
The purpose of a songline is to…
(1) map the land
(2) connect to those who perform and listen to the land
(3) remind people of the moral/spiritual place to which they belong
Songlines are preserved through…
(1) knowledge of elders
(2) each generation of children; Responsible for knowing, learning and listening
(3) recordings by oral historians in English; No longer in context by which true songlines were traditionally created
What the primary challenges the Aborginal face in preserving their traditional knowledge?
(1) Each death of Aboriginal equates to a library of knowledge lost
(2) Colonization and missionary efforts wiped out generational knowledge
United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People
Recognizes importance of respect for Indigenous knowledge, cultures, and traditional practice and affirms that Indigenous people have individual and collective rights
How did the UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous People impact the Aboriginal people?
The revitalization of knowledge of Aboriginal peoples has strengthened intergenerational transmission.
Policies like the Aborigines Protection Act have impacted the transmission/preservation of cultural knowledge/traditions by…
(1) Forcing assimilation; Deemed practices barbaric/uncivilized
(2) Undermining community, leadership and cultural strength
(3) Causing intergenerational trauma, racism, poverty, unemployment, etc.
(4) Causing social isolation and marginalization
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities use their culture to increase access to traditional culture and knowledge by…
increasing art created/performed by these communities; Oldest living culture (adaptive)
Preservation initiatives from the Sydney Opera House include…
(1) Program built to showcase depth, diversity, and excellence of culture
(2) Attracting new audiences by creating Indigenous experience
(3) Exposing audiences to experiences that reflect change/continuity of Indigenous lives
(4) Engaging with artists and Indigenous companied from rural/remote/urban areas
(5) Highlight tradition/culture/music forms through events
Songlines are crucial in culture because they…
(1) Carry knowledge, beliefs, stories of land/sea/sky
(2) Help nurture/treasure/preserve culture for future generations
Benefits of preservation on future generations can…
strengthen connection to the land and ancestors and promote sense of identity/belonging.
