aboriginal spiritualities Flashcards
what is the dreaming
all encompassing network of knowledge and practice that encapsulates both the spiritual and physical dimensions, giving meaning to all aspects of life.
kinship
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.
how does kinship provide belonging and identity
- provides defined role in society
- governs relationships within communities
- cultural identity through totem
how does kinship connect individuals to spirituality
- totem is an emblem of their ancestor being and land - connects them
- everyone in kinship group is connected back to spirit ancestor
kinship examples
“completeness of the oneness” - elder bob randall
cockatoo - totem for Darug people
what is ceremonial life
provides them with connection to eternal events of the dreaming, guiding society and spirituality,
how does ceremonial life determine aboriginal spirituality
connect to spirit ancestors through sacred land.
pass down spiritual knowledge
initiate, cleanse, commemorate or celebrate.
determine spirituality by establishing spiritual connections.
ceremonial life example
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
obligations to the land
view land as their mother
- provides them with everything they need
- have responsibility to fulfill ritual obligations and sacred duties.
how does obligations to land determine aboriginal spiritualities
land is dwelling place for ancestor spirits
derive their identity from land
physical medium for spiritual expression
inextricable connection.
obligations to land example
Uluru
- Not allowed to climb Uluru
- Recognising deep meaningful connection Aboriginal peoples have with the sacred site
define dispossession
Dispossession is the partial destruction of Aboriginal spiritualities due to the irreversible effects of the stolen generations, separation from kinship and the land.
effect of separation from land
- 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
separation from land
have inextricable connection to land as it is physical medium for expression of spirituality and without it all spirituality and idenityt is lost.
seperation from land examples
- Protection Policy - 1838
placing Aboriginal peoples on missions and reserves
deliberate effort to destroy Aboriginal culture and disconnect them from their land/people.
separation from kinship groups
- 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.
seperation from kinship statistics
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
stolen generations
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
stolen generation stats
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.
define land rights movement
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
mabo 1992
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.
define native title
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.
native title 1993
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.
wik 1996
identified confusion/conflict arising from Mabo and Native title.
- pastorial leases could coexist with native title - in conflict pastoral lease will prevai.
native title amendment 1996
- 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
native title amendment 2021
improving efficiency and ensuring Indigenous voices had greater control in the native title framework.
by simplifying processes to make a claim
improtance of dreaming for LRM
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.
