Definitions + Statistics Flashcards
Dreaming
Foundation of Aboriginal life, spirituality and culture, central concept that underpins all of Aboriginal spirituality, encompasses all knowledge and understandings of the universe, inextricably connected to the land
Kinship
System of relationships between a clan, defines a person’s position in the community, different roles and responsibilities outlined in the Dreaming, eg. Elder’s passing down Dreaming stories
Ceremonial Life
Communication of Aboriginal spirituality through rituals, art and stories, encompasses the expression of art, passing down o stories, performance of rituals and totemic representations, often pertain to sacred sites
Obligations to the land and people
central to establishing spirituality through the Dreaming, the land acts as a dwelling place for ancestral beings and are therefore sacred and must be protected and preserved for the future, sacred sites
Dispossession
the action of depriving someone of land, undermined the beliefs of Aboriginal spirituality and culture
Separation from Land
the Dreaming holds an inextricable link to the land, by dispossessing them of their land cultural heritage is stripped of them, without the land individuals are restricted from fulfilling obligations to the land and severing ties with ancestral spirits
Separation from Kinship Groups
Kinship allocated roles, Aboriginal society loses its structure and personal affiliation to the land, cultural, tradition, law and language are no longer able to be passed on, loss of language, identity and ability to authentically communicate.
Stolen Generation
forcible removal of Aboriginal children from their homes by government officials to be placed in missions from 1910–1970, children separated from Elders, no generation to pass down knowledge, language and traditions, loss of identity between two opposing cultures and struggle to find balance
Assimilation
Pushing for children of the Stolen Generation to adopt European/White lifestyle via the erasure of culture, loss of identify and self esteem, lost between two opposing cultures and struggles to find a balance
Land Rights Movement
Religious–political movement that seeks to secure the rights of Aboriginal people to their land and ensure their religious, spiritual and cultural integrity is preserved (connection to Dreaming)
Mabo
1992, overturned the notion of ‘terra nullius’, recognised Native Title, argued that the Meriam people of the Murray Islands had Native Title over their lands so that they may continue their traditional ways and connection to the Dreaming
Native Title
1993, legislation allowing for Aboriginal people to legally appeal for Native Title to be recognised, Native Title could be claimed for vacant crown land (owned by the government) and could not be claimed on freehold land (owned by an individual), proof of connection to land had to be shown and was difficult with no written records to support claim
Wik
1996, high court decision for Native Title to co–exist with Pastoral Leases (government land leased usually to farmers), however in any conflict the Pastoralist rights prevail
Native Title Amendment Act
Abolished the right of Native Title claimants to negotiate for government owned land, a step back in the Land Rights Movement
Importance of the Dreaming for the Land Rights Movement
the Dreaming is inextricably connected to the land and holds high esteem as motivation for the land rights movement, Mabo Case argued that the Meriam people of the Murray Islands had Native Title over their land and a connection to the Dreaming, primary motivation for Aboriginal people to connect to their land and country
Christinaity
main religion (52% in 2016) but decreasing (9.1% decrease from 2011)
