HSC Task 1 - Aboriginal Spiritualities

Question 1

What is the Dreaming?

Answer 1

A whole system of spirituality and the basis of all life for adherents.
The Dreaming is the lens through which everything is experienced

Question 2

What is moiety?

Answer 2

People and the environment are split into two halves, individuals aren’t full human beings without the other half

Question 3

What are totems?

Answer 3

Aboriginals have 4 totems that represent their nation, clan, family group and personal totem

Question 4

Effect of moiety?

Answer 4

Aboriginals are born with the responsibility to care for the land and conserve the environment

Question 5

What is skin names?

Answer 5

Indicates a persons blood line, a sequential system of 8, 16 and 32.

Question 6

Effect of skin names?

Answer 6

Allows families to have many support networks
Responsibility to care for many generations

Question 7

What is the seven sisters story about?

Answer 7

• Orion chased them to marry the sisters
• Couldn’t marry due to the wrong skin name
• The chase: shaped the land as they ran away (the sisters + the rainbow serpent

Shows the connection between dreaming and spiritual realm and how they impact Indigenous people’s lives.

Question 8

What is a corroboree?

Answer 8

A generic name for an Aboriginal dance

Question 9

What is a walkabout?

Answer 9

A ritual process where adolescent males learn to survive on their own

Question 10

Whats is the sunrise ceremony?

Answer 10

Symbolically reflected in the flag
Connect spirituality with the supernatural dimension

Question 11

Obligations to land

Answer 11

Stewardship of the land means a responsibility to care and nurture it
The land and all its forms are sacred, and need to be preserved and passed on in a timeless cycle of mutual dependence
- Bob Randall was taken by police → but has come back to the land

Question 12

The effect of dispossession

Answer 12

Spiritual separation from the land → Land is intricately influential on their identity

“The spirits don’t recognise us” says Yolngu man Dr Gawirrin Gumana (totems, moiety)

Question 13

Benefits of living on the land

Answer 13

• Constant physiological fulfilment: purpose, duty is achieved
• A feeling of belonging, connectedness
• Identity
• Fulfilling responsibilities

Question 14

Dispossession policies

Answer 14

1. Non-recognition
   
   • associated with Terra Nullius
   • no one cared about their spirituality
2. Protection
   
   • began in mid 1880s
   • ‘Aboriginal protection act’ - made WARDS of the
     state
   • not ‘capable’ of protecting themselves
3. Assimilation (Stolen Generations)
   
   • INTEGRATED into white soceity
   • loss of culture → conforming children into
     European culture

Question 15

What was the Mabo decision?

Answer 15

1992: Eddie Mabo + other Torres Strait Islanders - wanted to claim ownership of Mer Island
- Overturned Terra Nullius
- Progressing native title rights

Question 16

What is Native Title?

Answer 16

1993: Provided more legislation on the precedent that was set by the Mabo decision
- Have to be continuing their practising traditions

Question 17

What was the Wik decision?

Answer 17

1996: Australian high court case between Wik peoples and Queensland
- The high court ruled that the Wik people could co-exist with pastoral leaseholders
- new category of native title → shared rights

Question 18

Impact of the stolen generation?

Answer 18

• Concept of kinship was lost
• Separation from land and family destroys sense of belonging, impact on emotional and spiritual wellbeing
• Inability to learn relevant dreaming stories

Question 19

What is the Uluru Statement from the heart?

Answer 19

A statement put together by a group of First Nations peoples:
- Invitation asking Australians to walk together to establish a First Nations voice to parliament ENSHRINED in the constitution
- Sets a precedent for a relation between policy-making and indigenous connection to land, spirituality, etc

Question 20

What is the bringing them home report?

Answer 20

1997: Recognising that all Indigenous children will never come home

Question 21

Dreaming quote

Answer 21

‘The Dreaming is always; forever; it circles around and around. It never ends.’ - Kate Constable

Question 22

Contemporary example: Voice to Parliament - Uniting Church response

Answer 22

“I encourage Uniting Church members, and all Australians… let’s do whatever we can to show support and care for First Nations people right now.” - Uniting Church Australia