aboriginal spiritualities

Question 1

what is the dreaming

Answer 1

all encompassing network of knowledge and practice that encapsulates both the spiritual and physical dimensions, giving meaning to all aspects of life.

Question 2

kinship

Answer 2

complex network of relationships and obligations that is the fabric of aboriginal society
- provides people with belonging and identity, spiritual meaning and instils moral guidelines.

Question 3

how does kinship provide belonging and identity

Answer 3

• provides defined role in society
• governs relationships within communities
• cultural identity through totem

Question 4

how does kinship connect individuals to spirituality

Answer 4

• totem is an emblem of their ancestor being and land - connects them
• everyone in kinship group is connected back to spirit ancestor

Question 5

kinship examples

Answer 5

“completeness of the oneness” - elder bob randall

cockatoo - totem for Darug people

Question 6

what is ceremonial life

Answer 6

provides them with connection to eternal events of the dreaming, guiding society and spirituality,

Question 7

how does ceremonial life determine aboriginal spirituality

Answer 7

connect to spirit ancestors through sacred land.
pass down spiritual knowledge
initiate, cleanse, commemorate or celebrate.
determine spirituality by establishing spiritual connections.

Question 8

ceremonial life example

Answer 8

MALE INITIATION CEREMONY
- called Burbung
- perofmed by arrernte people
- young boys undego pain to show submission to elders and prove worthy of continuing to learn secrets of dreaming

Question 9

obligations to the land

Answer 9

view land as their mother
- provides them with everything they need
- have responsibility to fulfill ritual obligations and sacred duties.

Question 10

how does obligations to land determine aboriginal spiritualities

Answer 10

land is dwelling place for ancestor spirits
derive their identity from land
physical medium for spiritual expression
inextricable connection.

Question 11

obligations to land example

Answer 11

Uluru
- Not allowed to climb Uluru
- Recognising deep meaningful connection Aboriginal peoples have with the sacred site

Question 12

define dispossession

Answer 12

Dispossession is the partial destruction of Aboriginal spiritualities due to the irreversible effects of the stolen generations, separation from kinship and the land.

Question 13

effect of separation from land

Answer 13

• ability to express spirituality lost
• unable to fulfil ritual obligations that provide purpose and pass knowledge
• need land to connect to totems and ancestor spirits.
• unable to fulfill purpose of connecting to spirit ancestors
• loss of identity, purpose, spirituality
• intergenrational trauma

Question 14

separation from land

Answer 14

have inextricable connection to land as it is physical medium for expression of spirituality and without it all spirituality and idenityt is lost.

Question 15

seperation from land examples

Answer 15

1. Protection Policy - 1838

placing Aboriginal peoples on missions and reserves

deliberate effort to destroy Aboriginal culture and disconnect them from their land/people.

Question 16

separation from kinship groups

Answer 16

• unable to connect to family and spirituality.
• loss of culture
• unable to pass down knowledge, language, traditions, history.
• no guidance
• intergenerational trauma
• no purpose or direction
• don’t know anything about their purpose or history.

Question 17

seperation from kinship statistics

Answer 17

In 2019, 53% of Ind youth were detained on average.

In 2015, 1 in 3 Ind youth experience high psychological distress compared to 1 in 8 Non Ind

In 2016, 9% of Aboriginal peoples spoke indigenous language at home

Question 18

stolen generations

Answer 18

forcible removal of indigenous children from their homes.
- lose their identity
- worse outcomes
- loss of purpose
- intergenerational trauma
- elders unable to pass on spiritual knowledge
- forced to assimilate

Question 19

stolen generation stats

Answer 19

89% of Stolen generation members did not have good health in comparison to other indigenous peoples.

91% of Stolen generation members never completed Year 12.

Question 20

define land rights movement

Answer 20

The Land Rights Movement is a religious – political movement that seeks to secure the rights of Aboriginal peoples to their traditional land and ensure cultural, religious, spiritual integrity is preserved

Question 21

mabo 1992

Answer 21

RECOGNISE CONNECTION
- expressed beliefs about ownership of land on Mer
result:
overturned notion of terra nullius
acknowledged unique connection to land indigenous peoples have
paved way for native title act.

Question 22

define native title

Answer 22

Native Title is the rights which Indigenous Australians have to the land and waters according to their customary laws, but viewed and recognised by the Australian legal system.

Question 23

native title 1993

Answer 23

PROCESS FOR RECONNECTION
act passed by government
- exists where continuous connection has been maintained
- claimed based on ongoing spiritual connection
- created system for mabo decisions
- formal recognition of land rights.

Question 24

wik 1996

Answer 24

identified confusion/conflict arising from Mabo and Native title.

• pastorial leases could coexist with native title - in conflict pastoral lease will prevai.

Question 25

native title amendment 1996

Answer 25

• sunset clause - strict time limit on making claims
• made it easier to upgrade leasehold to freehold.
  cut off ability of many groups to claim native title

Question 26

native title amendment 2021

Answer 26

improving efficiency and ensuring Indigenous voices had greater control in the native title framework.

by simplifying processes to make a claim

Question 27

improtance of dreaming for LRM

Answer 27

dwelling place for ancesor spirits
physical medium for spirituality expression

identity is derived from land
ritual obligations to fulfil purpose

LRM strives to reconnect them to the land as it is central notion to all aspects of life.

dreaming connects peoples to land

need to learn about dreaming through land.