Module 6 Reading 1

Question 1

Worldviews:
Different cultures have unique worldviews, often in conflict.
Colonialism imposes one worldview, causing oppression.

Question 2

Aboriginal vs. Eurocentric:
Aboriginal: energy, spirit, interconnectedness, cyclical time.
Eurocentric: linear, material, time-focused.

Question 3

Aboriginal Philosophy:
Everything is energy and spirit, always in motion.
Time is cyclical, not linear.
Language focuses on actions, not objects; everything is animate.

Question 4

Connection to Earth:
Earth is “Mother,” central to life and creation.
Tribal territories show natural/cosmic patterns, renewed through rituals.

Question 5

Values and Customs:
Values focus on wholeness, community over individual.
Social structure: extended family; kinship web.
Core values: strength, sharing, honesty, kindness = balance.

Question 6

Aboriginal Values:
Wholeness: Balance = strength; imbalance = weakness.
Independence: Self-reliance, respect for others’ space.
Sharing: Builds harmony and balance.
Honesty: Key to trust; lies cause chaos.
Kindness: Love and gratitude sustain balance.
Collective Decision Making: Important for resources and social harmony.

Question 7

Education:
Praise & Ceremonies: Children taught through love, experience, and stories.
Storytelling: Transmits culture and values.
Collective Responsibility: Education is shared by all.

Question 8

Eurocentric Values:
Linearity: Time and social structure are progressive.
Singularity: One truth; specialists ranked.
Static Thinking: Fixed conclusions; science = measurement.
Objectivity: Materialism and external observation dominate.

Question 9

Aboriginal vs. Eurocentric Values:

Aboriginal values focus on strength, generosity, and community harmony, with social order maintained through internalized values and minimal external control.

Question 10

Jagged Worldviews:

Colonization fragmented Aboriginal worldviews, creating internal conflict and blending Indigenous and Eurocentric influences, making social control and harmony challenging. Objectivity becomes subjective as people can only fully know their own experiences.