Aboriginal spirituality Flashcards
Discuss how Aboriginal spirituality is determined by the dreaming
Dreaming, kinship, ceremonial life
Dreaming
Definition: The spiritual aspect of Aboriginal religion that encapsulates both the spiritual and physical dimension, giving meaning to all aspects of life
Aboriginal spirituality is determined by: Kinship
Sophisticated network of relationships.
Interactions and responsibilities.
Role: Relationship between tribes, sense of belonging (Skin names, moieties), totems, responsibilities
Aboriginal spirituality is determined by: ceremonial life
Song, dance, art and costumes. Acting dreaming.
Role:
Coming of age, initiation, personal connection, passing on information, spiritual connection
Aboriginal spirituality is determined by the dreaming: Obligations to the land and people
poeple’s relationship to land. Land using but not occupying.
Role: Land as evidence of dreaming, physical medium of dreaming, dwelling place of ancestors, custodianship, sustainable practise.
“We lived on the land as people of the land” Bob Randll.
(Nura) Dreaming in Dharug
Discuss the continuing effect of dispossession on Aboriginal Spiritualities in relation to:
Separation from the land, Separation from Kinship groups, Obligations to the land and people.
Dispossesion
Definition: The act of depriving someone of possessions, including property and land. When kinship was t taken. Taking of identity leads to lasting and immediate effects on wellbeing and spirituality. (In a question you need to talk about the lasting and immediate effects)
Discuss the continuing effect of dispossession on Aboriginal Spiritualities in relation to: Separation from land.
Disconnection from land is disconnection from identity and family. No access to dreaming stories and ceremonies. balance rites stolen No land= no spirituality, impacting sense of belonging and identity. Impacting to mental and physical health.
Discuss the continuing effect of dispossession on Aboriginal Spiritualities in relation to: Separation from Kinship groups
Kinship= central identity. Break of family= break kinship. Prevents passing down of knowledge through, art, dance, story. Continued impact, unemployment, overrep in jail, health issues. Cause loss of direction in life, impacting social behaviour.
Discuss the continuing effect of dispossession on Aboriginal Spiritualities in relation to: Stolen generations
Land is medium of dreaming, dwelling place of ancestors. Dispossession causes no ritualistic responsibility, no self sufficiency and disconnection from ancestors. Leading too loss of identity, sense of belonging, loss of language. Intergenerational trauma- parent passes loss onto child.
Land uses in Australia
Free hold: Land bought from the crown
Lease hold: Land leased from the crown
Mineral lease and licence: Land leased to mining companies.
Native title: After 1992 Land could;d be used by traditional owners.
Crown Land: Land controlled by crown.
Outline the importance of the following for the Land rights movements
Land rights, Native title, Mabo, Wik
Land rights movement
Religiopolitical movement.
Purpose: to gain legal and moral recognition.
Connection between land rights and movements- ATS inextricable connection to sky, land etc. Movement allows access to spirituality and dreaming. access to economic and social development.
Outline the importance of the following for the Land rights movements: Mabo
1992 court case. 5 plantiffs. Overturned terr-nullius. Initiated by Eddie Mabo from Murray Island Torres Strait. Acknoledged existence of native title provided it was not extinguished by previous acts of government. Doesn’t apply to freehold land. Initated the land rights movement, paved the way.
Outline the importance of the following for the Land rights movements: Native Title
Legislation that allows Aboriginal claim rights. 1993. Federal Law. Native title Rights existed in the past present and future. Only could claim land owned by government or leased by the crown. Cannot claim freehold land.
Outline the importance of the following for the Land rights movements: Wik
- Native title. Co-exist with interest granted by the crown through pastoral leases (A lease from the crown land). If a agreement could not be made than pastoralist would overturn native title.
Examples of landrights claims
2022 recognised wakka wakka people as native title over 1180 square kilometres of land from Bunya mountains in Southern Queensland.
March 2024 Gascoyne 30 years in the making. Aboiginal families in the middamia claim 900 kilometres of north Perth
Analyse the importance of the land rights movements.
inextricable link to land. Land=identity. Ancestor spirits gave obligations and responsibilities in expression of spirit. Sacred sites are critical for ceremonies, totems and ancestors. Connection to dreaming: Denied basics of A beliefs. Explored rights of people with maintained connection.
Continuing effect of dispossession: Separation from the land statistics
Loss of culture, 2021: only 9% of Aboriginal people spoke an Aboriginal language at home.
Ceremonial life: Bora Initiation ceremony, specifiically Bundjalung people.
Continuing effect of dispossession: Separation from kinship groups statistics
Mental Health:
Loss of sense of belonging: Disadvantage: Aus Government Suicide rates 2022: 30% per 100000 compared to 11.7% per 100000
Inequality: Over a quarter (26%) of Indigenous Australians aged 15 and over desired mental health support but did not access it in the past year.
Continuing effect of Dispossession
Life expectancy: 89% of Aboriginal Australians did not have good health. Disadvantage of intergenerational trauma, lack of self sufficiency. Causes 71% of Aboriginal people rely on government.
More likely to suffer from an alcohol disease.
New Age religion Example
Raelians:
Raelianism, founded by Claude Vorilhon (Rael), is a UFO-based religion that teaches that an advanced extraterrestrial species, the Elohim, created life on Earth. Followers believe religious figures like Jesus, Buddha, and Muhammad were Elohim messengers sent to guide humanity.
Reconciliation between religious traditions and Aboriginal reconciliation.
Support: Pressure to government rallying support from adherents and create campaigns.
Education: Incorporate ceremonies used to educate and include Aboriginal culture.
Reconciliation between religious traditions and Aboriginal reconciliation.
Buddhist peace fellowship statement of support for the Native Title Act 1993. as they stated encouragement for the ‘acknowledgement of indigenous Australian’s peoples culture-past and present’
Education: In the Australian Christian churches event in 2015 they incorporated a smoking ceremony (Gudhu-gudhu) Bundjalung people. Respected Aboriginal beliefs about warding bad spirits off land and educated others on Aboriginal beliefs.
