Aboriginal Beliefs Essay

Aboriginal Beliefs Essay
BELIEFS
пѓ The aboriginals have no single god that they believe in like Christianity, they believe in a number of different deities, whose images is tangible.
The most common deities that we here of is kangaroos and large rocks etc.
пѓ They do not believe in animism ( the belief in a supernatural power that living souls are in plants, inanimate objects and natural objects)
пѓ The dreamtime creation story ( The creation of the Earth)
пѓ They believe in totems. Totems are symbols that acknowledge specific birds, animals, rocks or flora species and are considered sacred.
Aboriginals receive totems from their mother or father and they connect a person to the land or their tribe. They are extremely important as they
showed loyalty to the past ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Between the ages of 10 and 16 years, only those boys and girls who had proven themselves worthy of the duty of adulthood mentally and physically
are initiated. They are instructed and prepared for their roles within the ceremony and for later in life. During the ceremony they are decorated with
body paint and ornaments and are often given a permanent symbol on their bodies to prove that they have moved on from childhood. They would
sometimes have a tooth removed, their ears or nose pierced or their skin cut with a certain sacred marking. Other members would mourn the death of a
child and later celebrate the birth of a new
... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...

Australian Dreamtime Mythology
Entering a Dream World
Myths influence the beliefs, theories, and the life style of people and their culture. There's a huge variety of myths around the world belonging to
cultures based on how the world started. Australian mythology says the myth of Aborigines believe that during Dreamtime the god Wandjina created
the galaxy and earth along with Baiame teaching the humans their morals. Dreaming stories vary throughout all of Australia, but are all based on the
same theme. "It is a complex network of knowledge, faith, and practices that derive from stories of creation" (Australian Aboriginal Dreamtime
Mythology). It's the story of how everything came to be. The dream stories shared across Australia tell a story within the Aborigines local... Show more
content on Helpwriting.net ...
Wandjina created Earth, rain, plants and animals. The Aborigines believe they have much to do with monsoon season. Wandjina, also creating Earth,
and creating laws for the people. Wanjina belongs to the Ngarinyin, Worora, and Wunambal tribes in Western Australia. Wanjina is more than just one
body. "Rosendale's article contains a drawing of Wandjina, which just like the paintings Elkin described, has two eyes, a nose, but no mouth" (Cox).
They believe Wandjina once caused a great horrific flood by opening their mouths eliminating the human race, disappointed in their actions. They then
spread to different landscapes creating a new society keeping their mouths closed to keep from any more destruction. Over time their mouths were
soon to disappear. Another theory, "Rosendale interprets the fact that Wandjina has no mouth to symbolize God "has given the teachings and laws" but
it is the elders who "are to speak and teach today" (The Wandjina's power of creative

Aboriginal Australia as a Dream Culture
To better understand Aboriginals as a Dream Culture I want to give more insight into Aboriginal Australians general culture and their conceptions
of "Dream Time." In his discussion of religion, Mircea Eliade describes a concept of Cosmos vs Chaos (Eliade 1957). In this notion an unordered
world is chaotic only until is it transposed during a sacred time: "By occupying it and, above all, by settling in it, man symbolically transforms it into
a cosmos though a ritual repetition of the cosmogony" (Eliade 1957:31). In other words until a land is tamed or created it is considered unordered.
This can be applied to Aboriginal's understanding of the world prior to their current presence. Aboriginals believe that in a time before the Dreamings,
the land and world was a featureless earth. It was not until the dreamtime, or time of creation: "where there is contact with appearances from both
realms of inside the earth itself as from ill–defined upper region" that the earth began to have its composed landscapes (Cowan 1992:26). The Dream
Time is not only a period but more of a dimension where ancestral beings moved across the earth and created not only land, but every aspect of the
earth including animals, plants, and man. It is important to realize that the ancestors created the natural earth and that is why Aboriginals live a
particular lifestyle. Most Aboriginals living in this cosmogony are hunter–gatherer tribes. This aspect of their life can be traced to stem from the idea of

Aboriginal Religious Creation Stories
One of the biggest and most controversial questions in life is how was the universe created? Aboriginal people believe in the dreamtime as there
understanding of evolution. But due to advances in modern science has been able to give us answers to some of the big questions in life by giving us
the facts, however the religious creation stories still play an important role in humankind as they give life purpose and meaning. I will be testing this
thesis further by talking about the aboriginal cultural connection with their religion, a dreamtime story "the sun mother", science and its contribution to
our understanding of the universe. Then I will undergo an ethnographic study on Brent Miller to get his view on science and religion.
The Dreamtime ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The most common scientific explanation of how our universe came to be, is the Big Bang Theory. Around 13. 8 billion years ago there was no sign
of anything apart from darkness. Until astronomer Edwin Hubble made a remarkable discovery about how the universe was created. Edwin Hubble
hypothesised the matter and energy in the universe was initially condensed in a very small and infinitely hot mass. A huge explosion, known as the Big
Bang, then sent matter and energy expanding in all directions (Howell, n.d.). As the universe expanded, matter collected into clouds that began to
condense and rotate, forming the forerunners of galaxies. Changes in pressure caused gas and dust to form distinct clouds. If the mass of material in
the cloud was sufficiently compressed, nuclear reactions began, and the sun and the stars were born (Sciences, n.d.). The creation story "the sun
mother" explains why the universe was created, whereas this differs from the scientific explanation where it focusses more on how the universe was

A New Kind of Dreaming
"Conflicts and challenges cause the characters to change and grow"
Introduction:
Anthony Eaton's a new Kind of Dreaming helps the reader to recognise the various challenges and conflicts that cause the characters to change and
grow. Anthony Eaton best expresses Jamie as an outsider that is trying to find his place in the world, while uncovering the secrets of Port Barren's
shady past. This changes Jamie from an adolescent delinquent to a responsible and admirable person. Jaime develops friendships that lead him to
trusting and sympathetic qualities that are unusual for him in his past of crime. Jamie faces a challenge to build a stronger relationship with Cameron,
but this is an obstacle for Cameron as he tries to understand Jamie and ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Having Cameron in his life changed Jamie and challenged him to become a more preferable person.
Body Paragraph 2:
A challenge that Jamie has to face and overcome is when he tries to have some sense of belonging to the community of Port Barren. Archie, his
guardian throughout the novel, tells him his version of a dreamtime story called 'The wanderers and the lost ones'. This story challenges Jamie to think
whether he is lost or a wanderer. This makes him feel responsible for finding out who is disturbing the balance and it is up to him to try and restore it.
This is shown to the reader when Jamie thinks, "It was weird, no beginning, no middle, no end, no plot. And yet he couldn't shake the feeling that there
was something important behind the strange words. He pondered it but couldn't make anything of it" [page 126]. The story makes Jamie wonder who
he is and how he belongs in the community. This challenges him to think more about himself and what he needs to do to change and become a better
person. This also made him change the way he thought about himself, it made him to thrive to do the best he can.
Conclusion:
Jamie faces many conflicts and challenges throughout the novel and they all have an effect that makes him change in character. Jamie's close
relationship with Cameron helps him to thrive to be more confident

Uluru: A Brief History
Uluru is the 2nd largest monolith in the world. It covers an area of 3.33 square kilometres and has a circumference of 9.4km. It is 348 metres tall and
over 860 metres above sea level. Uluru is located 450km away from Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. It has geographical coordinates of 25В
є
20' 42" S and 131Вє 01' 57" E. In summer Uluru reaches up to 47Вє Celsius and it is a Natural World Heritage Site.
Uluru is around 600 million years old and the Aborigines believe that it was formed in the Dreamtime. The Dreamtime was "the ancient time of
creation of all things by sacred ancestors" . For the aboriginal people the dreamtime is at the heart of their cuture, society, traditions and spirituality and
of the many sacred sites around Australia, Uluru is one of the most important. They believe that Uluru was created by the activities of their 10 spirit
people ancestors in this area and ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
He then named it after Sir Henry Ayers who at that time was the chief secretary of the Northern Territory. The Europeans at this time valued Uluru for
its looks (aesthetic) because Uluru was a unique large rock. Today the government still values Uluru for its aesthetic value, but also its economic value
because it is a popular tourist destination.
Over time Uluru has had competing values as the Aborigines valued Uluru for its cultural and spiritual history and the government valued Uluru for its
economic and aesthetic side of things. The government decided to have Uluru as a National Park and return the land to the Anangu people (also
known as the Yankunytjatjara and the Pitjantjatjara people). The Anangu people now own and run the national park. The national park was named
Ayers rock/Uluru but in 2002 this name was official reversed to Uluru/Ayers rock. The Anangu people continue to be guided by Tjukunpa (law) and
keep the culture and sprit at Uluru

Australian Aboriginal Culture
Introduction Aboriginals or indigenous Australians are the native people of Australia. Aboriginals were nomadic people who came to Australia about
40,000 – 60,000 years ago from Southeast Asia. Religion is a great part of Aboriginal culture. The essay answers these questions: What do Aboriginals
belief? What is a Kinship system? What is Dreaming and Dreamtime? What rituals does Aboriginals have? Religion The Aborigines have a complex
belief in creation, spirits and culture that gives a definite distinctiveness from any other religion in the world. Thousands of years ago, Australian
Aboriginal people were living in accordance with their dreamtime beliefs– today, a majority of the Aboriginal community profess allegiance to
Christianity,... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
In Aboriginal culture the language isn't only a form of communication, it is used to mark territory. It is possible that people from tribe only fifty
kilometres away cannot understand the other tribes language at all. Aboriginal Language groups (http://www.ewb.org.au/images/uploads
/2010challenge/Language%20Map.jpg) Elders Certain senior male members of traditional language groups may become Elders. Elders are initiated
men who are selected to be ritual leaders upon the basis of their personal qualities such as bravery and compassion and their knowledge of the Law.
Elders provide leadership in matters affecting the group, including dispute resolution, educating the young and advising on marriage partners. In
traditional Aboriginal society the advice of the Elders is usually unquestioned. Elders assume responsibility for sacred objects, spiritual matters and the
performance of ritual. The Elders are vested with custodianship of the Law. Their duty is to honour and maintain the Law, and pass it down to the next
generation. Elder(http://www.digital–photo.com.au/gallery/d/4113–1/Aboriginal–Elder–Cedric–Playing–Sticks–IMG_4397.jpg) Kinship System In
traditional Aboriginal society inter–personal relationships are governed by a Complex system of rules, known as the classificatory system of kinship.
The kinship system

Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islanders
An indigenous person is a term used to describe the original inhabitants of a land, the people who were there before any settlers of a different land
came and took over. Indigenous people will have generally retained their cultural practices and traditions that will differ greatly from that of the settlers.
The term 'Indigenous person' is used to describe Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. (Australian Human Rights Commission, n.d.)
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are the original land owners of Australia, having lived here for more than 40,000. They were free to practice a
different way of life and culture before European settlement in the late 1700s.
Aboriginal people originally inhabited mainland Australia and the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Things like poverty, drug and alcohol use, unemployment and health problems are high among indigenous people because they either don't trust the
systems in place to get help, or because they don't understand the processes involved in using them.
(Learner Guide, n.d)
Dreamtime is the beginning, the aboriginal equivalent of the Big Bang theory. According to aboriginal understanding, The Dreamtime is the creation
of the world, the time when their Ancestor Beings existed. These Ancestor Beings awakened the dark and silent world by breaking through the earth
's crust, causing the sun to rise from the ground and shine light on the earth for the first time. It is believed the Ancestor Beings of Dreamtime were
half human in form and resembled creatures or plants. They travelled the earth creating the landscapes of the world on their journeys. They made the
aboriginal people, who are the decedents of the dreamtime ancestors, as well as 'the native animals and creatures of the land. They are also
responsible for the moon and the starts, as well as the natural elements, water air and fire. Once they had made all of this, they went back to their
sleepy state into the earth. (Aboriginal Art, n.d.)
Now, aboriginals continue the Dreamtime with what is referred to as The Dreaming. The Dreaming is practiced in stories, song, dance, artwork

Aboriginal Dreaming
One of the central characteristics of Aboriginal worldviews is the concept of the dreaming. The dreaming has numerous elements three of these include
land, plants and animals and art. These three elements have a significance to spiritual connections and closely relate to dreamtime law. There is a vast
difference between the dreaming and my personal world views due to my non–spiritual upbringing. Australia is a huge continent and due to this there is
huge diversity of Indigenous Australian philosophy and practices as well as Anglo Australians and their worldviews.
The dreaming is known to Aboriginal people as the beginning of their history, culture and existence (Edwards 2005, p. 12). Edwards (2005, p.14)
states that the significance of land to Aboriginal people is due to its relation to sacred site or sites of significance. According to Grieves (2009, p.
367) Aboriginal people have a spiritual connection to the land, sea and all that it encompasses including natural life and landforms. This connection
was developed during the time of creation therefore each person or entity is linked through the spirit of creation (Grieves 2009, p. 367). Furthermore,
land relates to Aboriginal law and the connection that Aboriginal people have in addition to their responsibility to be custodians of land, sea and the
sky (Grieves 2009, p. 367). Reflecting on the world views of Aboriginal people, Anglo–Australian and global Eurocentric interpretations of the land,
demonstrates a distinct

The Songlines, Ovid 's Metamorphoses, And The Book Of Genesis
Creation stories are used to tell the tale of how the world came to be. They vary culture to culture and help people connect with and understand new
perspectives. In the works The Songlines, Ovid's Metamorphoses, and the Book of Genesis, three very different stories of creation are depicted and are
each significantly impactful in cultures and societies. In The Songlines, written by Bruce Chatwin, the beginning of the world is explained from the
perspective of the Australian Aboriginals. The first day began with the Sun feeling the urge to be born. It, "burst through the surface, flooding the land
with golden light, warming the hollows under which each Ancestors lay sleeping," leading to the awakening of the Ancestors and the birth of... Show
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All Aboriginal people believe that through walking and singing the land, they will one day find their tjurunga and their ancestor their dreaming
matches up with. Even though many people disagreed with the way the Aboriginals lived, they have stood true to their beliefs since the beginning of
time. In Ovid's Metamorphoses, the world came to be in a much different way than in The Songlines. A "Great Creator" separated theEarth and the sky,
the sea from the land, and the heavens from the the air.3 In this work, not only did Ovid describe the creation of the world, he also wrote about how
the "things" of the world came to be. The Metamorphoses are filled with stories about the gods getting angry with the humans and punishing them for
their actions. The first one written is about Lycaon and the god Jupiter. Lycaon questions Jupiter's legitimacy and then tries to trick him. Outraged,
Jupiter turns Lycaon into a wolf and floods the earth, only sparing one man, Deucalion, and one woman, Pyrrha, because of their devotedness to the
gods. This is not the only example of this and is seen again with Arachne and the goddess Minerva. Minerva, a cunning and confident goddess,
approached Arachne and challenged her to competition: weaving. After the competition came to an end, Minerva turned her rival Arachne into a spider
out of rage for being defeated. 4 Stories like these can be found throughout the entirety of the Metamorphoses. The whole

Explain How Would There Be Treated More Equally If They...
Legal System
Inquiry Questions
пЃ¬1. Does Aboriginal want they own custom to be accepted?
пЃ¬2. How would the Aboriginals benefit from their own legal system?
пЃ¬3. Would there be treated more equally if their have their own legal system?
Two legal systems will work for the Aboriginals and Australians.
If there had been to law for the aboriginal and the Australia there would be much better for the aboriginals such as following their own culture and they
have a better understanding of the past.
I think they should be two custom one for aboriginal and one for Australians because the aboriginal's people want a custom of their own and it will be
much better for them to use they own custom.
Traditional indigenous people believed that all of their customary law was made during the dreamtime bye they ancestors. These laws represent
appropriate behaviors, also decided which food could be eaten, and how food could be shared. The most important obligation rules is family rules,
marriage and arrangement, if anyone has broken there rules they will be a punishment. It depends on the situation and what did the person do, if it
serious they would be a punishment called spearing is one of the traditional tribal punishment it happens when you don't follow the tribal law, the victim
gets speared in to the leg for the punishment. This type of punishment happens when you go out with ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
When the ancestral spirits had created life, law and food it believed that they will returned to the land. And people say that they made themselves into
creeks, water, mud and pools which it remain today. And all the traditional indigenous people believed that are being formed during the dreamtime, and
the way that they hunt food, and they this is how dreamtime helped

The Origin Of Australian Music
Australian Aborigines are native to Australia and have lived in a territory called the Arnhem Land or northern Australia for almost forty thousand years.
Some of the Aborigines live in government housing today, while others still live among the land as their ancestors did. Aborigines are an ethnic group
that also has many religious beliefs. They believe in Animism which is the belief that living creatures and the outside environment contain supernatural
powers. Their culture and beliefs resonate in their music. Their belief in Animism is reflected in the rhythms that they use that originate in the
environment. Another part of Australian music that is characteristic of that country is the use of the didjeridu. This instrument has become a symbol of
Australian music and has a rich history in the ethnic music that the Aborigines play. It is also made and performed by these native people in very
unique ways. The history of Australian music would not be complete without highlighting the importance of the didjeridu. Some believe that
Aborigines have been playing the didjeridu for up to forty thousand years. However, most historians believe that the didjeridu dates back about fifteen
hundred to two thousand years because of the cave art that the Aborigines have left behind. These cave drawings consist of figures playing a didjeridu.
The didjeridu is believed to be first constructed in eastern Kimberly or northern Australia, and is also considered by some to be the

Themes Of Ashala Wolf By Ambelin Kwaymullina
Ashala Wolf by Ambelin Kwaymullina explores a rich cultural tapestry, through intertwining aboriginal culture and history through a unique dystopian
novel. Exploring themes of Dreamtime stories, largely prevalent in Aboriginal history. Kwaymullina creates subtle ties and links between modern life in
Australia and the history of Australia. She explores dystopia throughout the novel, linking it to contemporary Australia through the concept of refugees.
Special powers are also prevalent in this novel, Kwaymullina focuses on how individuality is important. She also explores the idea of the invasion of
people's rights and privacy. Kwaymullina also brings light to how throughout time, experiences and relationships can change.
Kwaymullina uses the concept of dystopia in her novel to express how people in contemporary Australia are afraid of being different. This can be
seen through the existence of detention centers in the novel. Ashala and her tribe are treated unequally in society, through their ostracism to
Firstwood we can see that the society is afraid of difference amongst the civilization. The society, in particular people such as Neville Rose, are
afraid of what they do not know. The Tribe have been branded as 'Illegals,' this shows that they are made out to be villains in society and are isolated
from the world, although they are doing no harm, they are vilified and are suppressed by society. Kwaymullina uses a nuanced approach to convey to
the readers of Ashala Wolf

Aboriginal Religion Summary
Aboriginal Religions Analysis
Aboriginal people believe that the dreaming stories give meaning to life. It is through their dreamings that Aboriginal people experience wholeness and
the holiness of all aspects of life. Aboriginals are born into the dreaming and learn through initiation rituals what life means to them. Thedreamtime is
about the stories of their past and how everything in their lives has been tied together. Traditional aboriginals believe that the sky always existed and
the earth was the home of their mythical ancestors; they believe the earth was covered in eternal darkness because the sun and moon were sleeping
underneath the earth's crust with the mythical ancestors. They believe time began when their mythical ancestors awoke ... Show more content on
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This is of enormous value in the kinship system as it structures people's relationships, obligations and behaviours towards each other and in future this
can help people decide who looks after the children when their parents die.
The main religious rituals for aboriginals include: Rites of passage, rituals celebrating the ancestral spirit–beings, rituals of reconciliation and healing
and harming rituals. Burial practices are also major rituals which differ from one aboriginal tribe to another. A well
–known burial ritual is when the
dead body is wrapped in wood and left to rot, the clan of the dead person dance and sing to help the spirit leave the person so that later it can be reborn.
Once the flesh has rotted off the body, a relative will carry some of the bones with them for about a year to show their sorrow.
Harming and healing is one of the religious experiences for aboriginals. The harming is usually performed for the good of the community and
punishment of wrongdoers, rather than as an isolated act of malice. Aboriginal spirituality is linked to the belief that the land owns the people, and that
the people have to respect the

Examples Of Aboriginal Spirituality
'The Dreaming' is an important part of Aboriginal's spirituality. It refers to past, present and future, and, like other religions, it explains how the land
came to be and connects the Aboriginals to their ancestors.
The Dreaming is foundation for Aboriginal culture and features transcendent and immanent world views. The term 'Transcendent world views' refers to
a person's belief in a higher dimension and/or a higher power than themselves. There are many examples of transcendent world views in The Dreaming.
The supernatural world that the Aborigines believe in is closely linked with the land. In fact, they believe that the land and themselves were created by
ancient spirits and the land is the mother of all living things.
These spirits are part of the spiritual dimension which makes them part of the Dreaming's transcendent worldview. One of these spirits is known as the
Rainbow Serpent. The story of the Rainbow Serpent creating the world ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
There are also features of The Dreaming that are considered as an immanent worldview. The Aboriginals pay their spirit ancestors with great respect
and honour them as they are said to have created the land and mouldered all the humans from the ground. These spirits visit the land in different forms,
e.g. animals. As these spirits moved through the land they created animals, rocks, rivers, plants, and other forms of land that we are aware of today.
Once the spirit ancestors had completed their work they all turned into different objects such as rocks, trees, and waterholes. Today, these places are
sacred to the Aboriginals and are treated with great respect. Since these spirit ancestors did not disappear after they had finished creating the world but
remained in different places/objects in nature, the Dreaming stories are everlasting and they connect the Aboriginals to their ancestors, their past and to
the

Magic Boomerang Short Story
In a faraway land called Australia lived a tribe of aboriginals called the Luritja people. The land they lived on was harsh and very hot but they had
adapted over hundreds of years to be able to survive in this rough country. They caught fish, hunted kangaroos, wallabies, lizards and snakes. In this
tribe lived a boy called Charlie and he spent his days playing with the other boys in the tribe, learning to fish, hunt, track animals and he even learned
what animals made the footprints in the red dirt. His uncle would tell him stories of long ago (these are called Dreamtime stories) and he would sit
really still so he could listen to the whole story and not miss any of it. His grandfather made him a spear that he could practice with and although it
was not as large as his father's spear it could still be used to hunt small creatures like lizards.
One day while Charlie watched his older brother practice throwing a boomerang and making it return to him. He thought this must be a magical
boomerang and he wanted a magic one too but he did not know how he would get it. His father told him he was too small for a boomerang as he
would not be able to throw it and have it return to him. Charlie thought that was not fair he really wanted a magic boomerang and no one was going
to help him so he decided he would make one for himself and it would be a magic one.
Charlie walked over to the little house where his grandfather lived (in the aboriginal language these are called humpies). His

Aboriginal Dreaming
Aboriginal people are spiritually connected to country, their sacred land in which their ancestral beings were formed. The Dreaming is the core of
Aboriginal spirituality that's embedded with explanation of the creation process along with rules and 'laws of social and religious behaviour'. that is
vital to live by. TheDreaming is a complex metatemporal concept that includes the understanding of the world creations and its great stories that are
linked to the creation process, and the spiritual ancestors of the land. The creation process explains the formation of the land and all living contents
created by Ancestral beings who transformed into particular sites and left their spirits behind. These spirits are believed by Aboriginal people to... Show
This dependent nature enables Aboriginal people to feel "that every aspect of their lives is connected to it" whereby, their identity, sense of belonging
and way of life depends on country and the Dreaming. "For Aboriginal people, the relationship is much deeper." This statement is demonstrated by the
performance of rituals, their power to enhance the relationship between Aboriginal people and country, and the strength within country. Rituals gives
guidance and purpose in maintaining relationships with ancestral beings by which this "deepen the relationship" as these rituals were first
demonstrated by the ancestors, hence, by performing them, it brings life and power to the dreaming, resulting in the Aboriginals identity. This further
develop the belief of, "I belong to the land, the land belongs to me I rest in it, I come from it" whereby, supporting the statement by Jens Korff "The
land owns Aboriginal people." Expressing how the country taught the way of life to the Aboriginal people and guided them to an Aboriginal life with
laws of social and religious behaviour such as forms of initiation or

Creation Legend Research Paper
Throughout history myths and legends have laid the foundation for us to make choices about our lifestyle and provided us with a framework for our
moral and ethical decisions. Myths and legends are told in a story format, this makes it easier to understand and apply to our own life. The legend of
Creation has been told for centuries and remains the foundation to Christian belief today. For the Aboriginal community, the legend of how the sun
came to be is a very important dreamtime story. It plays a meaningful role in their beliefs and the shaping of their culture.
How did the world begin? The great mystery of life. It's a question that is asked by people all over the world. The legend of Creation sheds light on
this topic, providing us with a meaningful story and religious explanation of how the world began. This story makes us contemplate how each element
of the world today was made. It provides us with an understanding of God's plan and provides us with perspective and understanding around the part
we as people play. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
He created them male and female, blessed them and said, ' Have many children, so that your descendants will live all over the earth and bring it under
their control' " – Genesis 1:27–29 (Bible Gateways).
Adjectives are used frequently to help people think more deeply about the story; these descriptive words are also used to entice people to read further
into the legend and help to provide clarity. Using this technique has helped readers today understand the text and the deeper meanings that are written
within the layers of the story. This legend remains relevant to readers today by using these language techniques and providing messages that we can
apply to our everyday

Aboriginal Beliefs
The Aborigines had, and still have, a complex belief in creation, spirits and culture, that gives a definite distinctiveness from any other religion in the
world. Thousands of years ago, Australian Aboriginal people were living in accordance with their dreamtime beliefs– today, a majority of the
Aboriginal community profess allegiance to Christianity, and only 3% still adhere to traditional beliefs. These beliefs have provided the Aboriginal
people with guidance and perspective on all aspects of life. There were many variants to these beliefs and practises throughout the many Aboriginal
tribal areas, but all Aboriginal people have developed an intimate relationship between themselves and their environment. They see themselves as ...
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Likewise, in initiation ceremonies, boys are circumcised as well as subincised, and the first ceremonies of initiation, with the use of
‘bullroarers’, are intended to make them independent (and separated) from their mothers and other females. Subincision, from the view
of the Arunda tribe, was designed to cause the male organ to resemble the vulva, and that the effusion of blood was regarded as serving the same
function as menstruation, which in the female enabled her naturally to dispose of the evil that accumulate in the body. To continue the same effect,
males periodically engage in incision of the penis and called it menstruation. Marriage arrangements were made when the children were very young
and even before they were born. Girls were usually married (through a handing–over ceremony) when she was about 11 or 12 years old–when she
reached puberty. Most marriages took place at a particular place. For example, in the Shoalhaven region, Coolangatta Mountain was a traditional
marriage place or site. It would have been significant because particular ancestors married there (according to a Dreamtime story or stones), and
because of tradition of thousands of couples marrying over time. For marriage purposes, every tribe was divided into four main groups, sometimes
called marriage moieties. When each child was born, he or she was given a totemic name according to which group he or

Australian Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islanders Research...
to refer to the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander People.
Aboriginal and
Torres Strait
Islander
An Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander is someone who identifies themselves as being Aboriginal and/or Torres
Strait Islander, they can also be accepted within an
Aboriginal abd/or Torres Strait Islander community.
Dreamtime The Dreamtime is a part of the Aboriginal belief that all life the way it is today is connected to an unchanging network of relationships that
are all connected to the great spirit ancestors of the Dreamtime.
Kinship/skin
system
A kinship is described as a part of an extended family, everyone that is a part of the kinship knows exactly where they stand within the community. A
skin system is the law that governs

Aboriginal Spirituality Research Paper
Aboriginal spirituality is deeply linked to the land and they believe that all objects are living and share the same soul or spirit, which they themselves
share.
It is primarily characterised by a belief in spirits who created the native environment, animals and people. This occurred during a particular creation
period at the beginning of time called the "Dreamtime". It is appropriate to use the plural, "spiritualties" because there is great diversity throughout the
different tribes and clans of Australia. Aboriginal spirituality is tightly linked with the land through things such as the Dreamtime, ceremonial life and
the many different totems.
The Dreaming, or Dreamtime, are general terms that are at the core of Aboriginal beliefs and practices, they involve the Aboriginal peoples beliefs and
history of how the Earth was created and how many of its natural things have evolved and came to be. The Dreaming is integral to Aboriginal society
as it establishes the values, symbols, and laws of Aboriginal culture and society. For example, the ancient story of The Origin of Water is very unique
in the way that it provides an ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Ceremonial life is an important part of the relationship between Aboriginal spirituality and the land as they are a means of connection between the
natural environment, including plants and animals and the Indigenous Aboriginal people. Ceremonial life also varied amongst the different tribes and
clans around Australia. Ceremonies comprise of a mixture of dance, song, rituals and share a heavy focus on body decoration and costumes. Aboriginal
elders conduct many ceremonies to teach different aspects of their clan, of survival and spirituality, knowledge is handed down from generation to
generation. Many ceremonies provide Aboriginal people with a means of connecting with their tribe and the surrounding

Yolngu Art Analysis
The concept of the Dreaming is inextricably connected to Aboriginal relationships with the land, as the land is the physical medium through which the
Dreaming is lived, and communicated, which each person exists timelessly. Dodson further emphasises this as he states, "For the Aboriginal people,
land is a dynamic notion... land is the generation point of existence, the spirit from which Aboriginal existence comes". This portrays that the land is of
prime importance for Aboriginal people, it is their "human mother", and they respect it like a human person, like a spirit. Like a mother provides for
her children, the land provides both physical and spiritual necessities for Aboriginal people. These necessities include; shelter, resources, nourishment,...
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Kinship is determined by both family relationships and a person's totem thus crossing paths with ancestral spirits, the land and the Dreaming.
Accordingly, being part of a kinship group emphasises a sense of belonging and responsibility within a clan in taking care of one another. For example,
in Aboriginal religion an Aunty may not be blood related but she is an Aunty to many within her clan. The land is the foundation in which Aboriginal
people come together, that being so, "It is, then, the land which is really speaking – offering, to those who can understand its language, an explanative
discourse about how it came to be as it is now..." Thus, Aboriginal people constantly teach each other on how to be true stewards of the

The Culture Of Aboriginal Australians
Demolishing the Culture of Aboriginal Australians In Australia before the late eighteenth century, the native Aboriginal people's unique culture
flourished, fostering a great sense of pride within its inhabitants. The Aborigines were able to familiarize themselves with their geographical
surroundings, which in turn helped them to obtain food, while simultaneously upholding their many traditional spiritual and ancestral beliefs. Many
native songs, dances, and collections of art were referenced by the Aborigines in their "Dreamtime", a collection of cultural stories that connected the
spiritual world to their modern world and its creation. These stories conveyed the importance of treating nature with respect, a view that starkly
contrasted with European philosophy. The Aboriginal people thrived in the terrain of Australia for nearly 40,000 years before British colonization in
1788. Many distinct tribes lived throughout Australia, and the Aboriginal population peaked at 500,000 people in the 1780's during the
pre–colonization era. During the early stages of their colonization of Australia, European forces did not intend to harm the Aboriginals, but due to
Europe's unrelenting racism and Social Darwinism, the Aboriginal culture was eventually obliterated. During their first European explorations of the
Australian Continent, Captains Willem Jansz, James Cook, and Arthur Phillip had no intention of obstructing the Aboriginal peoples' way of life. In
1606, Dutch fleets led by

Dreams Influence On Aboriginal Culture
Have you ever found yourself remembering dreams from long ago, to the point that you wonder if they were dreams or actual memories? It is this
concept, expanded, that defines the Aboriginal culture.
Dreams play a role in nearly everyone's life. Unless you're sleeping like the dead every night of your life you've probably had some dreams.
Sometimes they seem completely random, other times terrifying, or maybe they are triggered by events that happened in your awake state. Most of us
leave dreams as dreams. Sure, we throw the word dream around in various contexts, "I have a dream," anyone? Occasionally they seem interesting
enough and we'll make a weak attempt at explaining them to someone and then move on. Dreams, mainly in Western society... Show more content on
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They believe that their Ancestral Beings created landforms and animals & plants. The Aboriginal word for this Creation Period varies according to
each linguistic region throughout Australia. Aboriginal people often interpret dreams as being the memory of things that happened in this Creation
Period. Dreams are important to Aboriginal people as it is a time when they are transformed back to their ancestral time. This inclusion of the
Creation Period and beginning of Earth time in dreams has led to previously referred term, "The Dreamtime" to describe the time of creation in
Aboriginal religion. The Dreamtime does not mean that a person is dreaming just as much as it means they are dreaming. It is a reference to the
present just as much as it is to the Creation Period. It sounds more confusing to us on the outside than it actually is. Where we live on very linear
depictions of time, laying out the past in a series of chronological events, the Aborigines have singular time. It is fluid and one.
Tribal elders explain bits and pieces of truth from these dream stories, in a way that's applicable for the present via a Code of Law set up by previous
generations. The Dreaming or 'Tjukurrpa' also means 'to see and understand the law' as translated from the Arrernte language. These stories pass on
vital knowledge to the incoming generations; everything from moral values to belief systems. Dreamtime stories dating back

The Origin Of The Aboriginal Noongar People
In the south–west of Western Australia lay over a dozen tribes of the Noongar people. The aboriginal Noongar tribe is one of the largest Aboriginal
cultural blocks in Australia, and their names stems from the meaning of the "original inhabitants of the south–west of Western Australia." The Noongar
people are deeply, spiritually connected to the earth, nature, and their ancestral past through what they call "the dreaming", or "dreamtime". For
Aboriginals, the Dreamtime is how their cultural knowledge is formed and how they understand the creation of the world, passed down traditionally
through oral telling and stories. The Dreamtime is the world of their ancestors and how the spirits were born out of darkness. One of the most
well–known deities/spirits and its corresponding origin story is that of the Waugal, or the RainbowSerpent.
The serpent is believed to be the first thing that moved across the land, making the paths in the land such as dunes, rivers, mountains, valleys, and
where the serpent stopped to rest is where lakes and bodies of water were formed. The Noongar recognize the Waugal as the giver of life because it
mainly created waterways to provide for the people.
The story of the Waugal comes with a story of the creation of the earth, when it was dark, flat, and featureless. The serpent is said to have awakened,
aware of what would happen when he "becomes real," because how could the serpent be able to shape the earth if he was no hands or feet? Suddenly, as

Cultural Changes : The People Of Indigenous Australia,...
Cultural changes are cause by many different factors. Some of these factors are caused internally and externally. The people the changes affect usually
have no say so of the matter and eventually have to adapt under the circumstances. I am going to address 3 specific forces of change. These forces of
change impact several cultures, but it various ways. The people of Indigenous Australia, Minangkabau, and San/Ju'Hoansi are great examples of
cultures that were forcibly changed. In this essay I will explain what forces of change each of these cultures endured, how it affected them negatively
and positively, and how each of these cultures compare and contrasts to each other.
Globalization and transnationalism has had major impacts on many cultures. Globalization and Transnationalism alone has transformed the entire
world. It has intertwined cultures within other cultures, changing the way people live, eat, work, and think. The connecting of people of other
nationalities, voluntarily and involuntarily, caused globalization and transnationalism. This force of change has impacted the world greatly and
variously within each culture.
Indigenous Australia was impacted by being colonized. When non indigenous people began to surround them, they allowed it with caution and
curiosity. They did not know what changes were going to happen soon after these encounters with non–indigenous people. One of the major changes
they experienced was the transportation of pregnant women to hospitals

The Importance Of Myths
Myth are traditional stories and are usually concerning people in history or the explanation of natural phenomenon's. Legends are also stories and are
popularly regarded to be about historical figures. Legends can also be stories that over time have been exaggerated. Us as humans have believed in
these myths and over time they have become a major part in our lives. Some people believe that they have been a key influence in our religions as
well. Because of this people have come to question whether myths and legends are just superstitions from a former time and should be forgotten or
whether they are an important part of our culture and heritage. There are many types of myths; natural myths, modern myths and creation myths. They
all make up who we are.
Paragraph 1 draft
Myths and legends help us understand historical societies. Natural myths and legends have helped historians understand the past. Take the Northern
Lights for example. The traditional name for the northern lights, 'Aurora Borealis' originated from the Greek words that mean sunrise (Aurora) and
wind (Borealis). These words tell us what the Greeks thought was happening and how it was caused. From these words we can infer that they thought
it was some sort of wind and it interacted with the sunrise.
It also shows us the importance of imagination and creativity and that these ancient societies used these as well. It also shows us the importance of
imagination and creativity and that these ancient societies used

The Interpretation of Aboriginal Dreams
Introduction:
Typically to understand a foreign culture's ontology, ethnographers and anthropologist examine aspects of the selected group's life such as
researching into their methods of communication, religious values, if any, and their orientation within the world. An alternative and more modern
way of learning ontological views of a culture is by taking a more interdisciplinary approach and looking towards analyzing not just how they view
aspects of the world but why. There is a cross between fields of psychology and philosophy when anthropologists begin to analyze aboriginal
conceptions of "Dreamings" as a way to shed light onto their epistemology. Many studies have been done to signify the importance of these Dreamings
in the cultural shaping of their world. However, because emphasis is focused on the distinction and differences between Aboriginal and Non
indigenous models of dreams, these two ideologies are often binary. After learning about the concept of Dreaming in philosophical, psychological, and
ethnographic terms through the course of 10 weeks I want to propose that Aboriginal Dreamings are not so distance from the basis of non–indigenous
formation models of dreams.
There is a large emphasis of the distinctions between Aboriginal Australians concept of the "Dream Time" or "Dreamings" and the (Western)
formulation of Dreams. This connection has caused interest because of the similarities between names. Patrick Wolfe accredits the term Dreamings to
come from

How Did Yugambeh Influence Australia's Aboriginal
1.0 Introduction
The Yugambeh (Kombumerri) people in the Burleigh Heads region are important because of their rich indigenous Spirituality that has been significant
since pre–contact time.
Australia's aborigines are one of the oldest ongoing cultures in the world. Their traditions date back up tens of thousands of years. Before European
settlement, there were around 600 different aboriginal nations, based on language groups. Southport was part of the territory of the Indigenous people
of the Yugambeh language group. Their land stretched south from Beenleigh along the coast to the tweed and inland to the mountains. The language
group was composed of a number of subgroups including the Kombumerri saltwater indigenous people of the Gold Coast. ... Show more content on
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All aboriginals are linked to the Dreamtime through their totemic creation ancestors, whose stories are passed on through generations. Just as they
would care for their family or tribe, they are obliged to care for their ancestral spirits existing in their land. It is important to remember that ancestral
spirits are not necessarily 'Gods', but instead they are natural features of the land. As the Ancestor Spirits travelled the land, they taught the Law. When
Aboriginals say they have a spiritual connection to the land, this relationship exists through the Law developed at the period of formation that includes
a system of totemism. A totemic being represents the original form of an animal, plant or other object as it was in the Creation Period. The
Kumbumerri Yugambeh people's totem is the Eagle. 'What is meant by totemism in AboriginalAustralia is always a mystical connection, expressed by
symbolic devices and maintained by rules, between living persons, whether as individuals or as groups or as stocks, and other existents–their 'totems'
–within an ontology of life that in Aboriginal understanding depends for order and continuity on maintaining the identities and associations which
exemplify the connection.' (5.3) Totems not only create a sense of belonging and spiritual connectedness to the land and others in the tribe, but they
also offer hints to the person's

Aboriginals Dreaming Research Paper
What the dreaming is
The dreaming is the core of Aboriginal life and religion. To the Aboriginals it depicts the formation of the world and its creation through ancestral
spirits. There are many different dreamtime stories and characters as there were many different aboriginal language groups. Whilst there are various
different Aboriginal tribes, they each tell the fundamental stories but in different variations. Dreaming and Dream Time Stories address issues such as
creation of the universe, creation of life, reason for night and day, reason for the season, why people die, reason for tribal languages, reason for
natural disasters, how life came about and many more. All these stories tell a different part of the Aboriginals beliefs and life.... Show more content on
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Both Aboriginal and Christian only begun with two people (Adam and Eve) or two tribes. Both religions believe in a supernatural being, Aboriginals
believe in Ancestral and Creator beings, and the Christians believing in God. The Christians believe that God created the Earth, whereas the
Aboriginals narrate through dreamtime stories that Guthi–Guthi created the earth. The Aboriginal and Christian creation stories both explain that we
have responsibilities for the things created by God or spirit including themselves.
Discuss in what ways can the Holy spirit's presence be seen in Aboriginal Spiritually
Christianity has had a strong impact on Aboriginal society influencing their spirituality in various ways. Some Aboriginal signs that can be compared
to symbols used in Christianity are, smoke, which can be compared to the incense used in Christian ceremonies. Fire, which can be compared to
when the holy spirit was sent down to the disciples and when God spoke to Moses through fire. Water, which is a symbol of baptism in Christian
society and Blossoms which can be related to the sacraments. Both Aboriginals and Christians believe that God or Gods can still be seen in

Dineh and Walbiri Cultures: A Comparison of Art Essays
Art originally in earlier cultures had a different purpose. Currently people create art for an aesthetic purpose for others to view in galleries, theaters, or
museums creating distance for the audience. Initially art was created for purposes other than aesthetics, and people participated and interacted with the
art and artist. This intertwined relationship between humans and art is especially seen in the Dineh and Wilbiri cultures. These two groups created
drypaintings. People in both these groups directly interacted with the paintings instead of viewing them from a distance. Currently, there is a sense of
distance instead of interaction. In these groups, humans participated directly with the artist and the art itself. In both... Show more content on
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The guardians can be Gods as seen in _____ Figure 1. The guardian holy spirit in white at the opening of the painting in the east is the male TalkingGod
. In the west, there is a male holy spirit named Calling God. This emphasis on deities within the drypaintings furthermore accentuates on contagion. As
the patient sits on the dry paintings, not only is the patient coming in contact with the drypainting that has power flowing from holy spirits making it a
deity, but the holy spirits within the painting itself.
The Navajo believe in hГіzhГі, a Navajo term for balance. When hocho or imbalance occurs, there is a need for a chanter or a sand painter to perform
a ritualistic prayer, which is known as a chant, an example being a Night Chant. Highwater, in the article The Navajo Night Chant, outlines the
procedure for this ritualistic prayer. The first four days are devoted to purification, and the last four days are for healing. "At the midnight on the fourth
day the divinities are ceremonially awakened. These powers descend from their homes and appear in the great sand paintings that are made by the
chanter (a shaman) on the fifth day through the eighth days of the ceremony. These complex iconographic drypaintings manifest the divinities and
make it possible for them to touch their bodies to the patient's body and in this manner to transmit

The Dreaming Vs Western Law Essay
The Dreaming embraces time past, present and future, stories that describe the travels of the spiritual ancestors, which are integral to Aboriginal
spirituality that relates to Aboriginal law with stories passing on important knowledge, cultural values and belief systems to future generations
through song, dance, painting and storytelling (Bourke & Cox, 1998, p. 56). The Dreamings came from Aboriginal ancestors who created the law;
however Aboriginal people are unable to change it, as it is part of their history, therefore Aboriginal law and Western law can conflict with one
another, as during the colonial process Western law did not recognise Aboriginal customary laws (Roy, 2008). But as will be discussed, the Dreamings
play a role in Aboriginal law in contemporary urban Aboriginal life through their culture and history, however Western law still does not recognise
Aboriginal customary law; a law that influences and... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The Law has been passed on for generations of people through the remembrance and celebration of the sites, which were the scenes of the ancestral
exploits (Bourke & Cox, 1998, p. 56). The role and responsibilities of men and women in scared ritual, economic affairs, marriage and other aspects of
their daily lives had been laid down to them in The Dreaming, while ancestors were the source of Aboriginal life and there were religious sanctions
for traditional dictates of right and wrong (Bourke & Cox, 1998, p. 57). Today, traditional Aboriginal law is referred to as customary law and it is
difficult to define in non–Aboriginal terms as it covers the rules for living and is backed up by religious sanctions (Burke & Cox, 1998, p. 56). Burke
and Cox state the Dreaming prescribes daily behaviour, the land, as well as its inhabitants (1998, p.

Wakirlpirri Jukurrpa ( Snake Vine Dreaming ) By Liddy...
Wakirlpirri Jukurrpa (Snake Vine Dreaming) by Liddy Walker Napanagka Different Aboriginal groups have a common characteristic and that is that
they have a similar belief system which is called the К»DreamingКј. The dreaming may be well known as a religious system but it does not always
convey its true eminence. However it does convey a sense of enlightenment through visions and dreams. The dreaming provides a strong bondage
between The Aboriginal people and their land and identity. In the Indigenous community, Aboriginal people learned about their environment before
they were able to identify the characteristics of animals, plants, sources of food and water, useful materials and the weather. The stories that they tell
provide them with a map of their environment and information such as trade routes and resources. With the knowledge they had due to their access to
information about their land led them to know how to travel successfully around the Australian landscape which then enhanced their imagination that
helped them compose more dreamtime stories. The Aboriginal people are introduced to the spiritual world through the dreaming stories which are
important teachings that make up their identity.The Aboriginal people travelled the same routes through the lands that their ancestors once used, these
are called the dreaming trails. This strengthens their communication with the ancestors and are able to build on their relationship with their land and
identity. In the painting

Mutjinga Myth Summary
The story about Mutjinga, a woman of spiritual and asomatous power, is a tale that seeks to explain the relationships between men and women in early
Australian societies, while also tying these motifs and themes into the greater collective Dreamtime cosmology of the Aboriginals. This story suggests
that women and men did not hold tantamount positions within their early societies – justifying the superiority of men, while also implying that there
was a time when women had the upper hand, and may return to challenge male authority once again. To explain, the myth illustrates that in the
Dreamtime land of the Murinbata people, a place existed where an old woman named Mutjinga, a woman of power, lived. Aboriginals believed that
all the things in the world had both a palpable physical form as well as a spirit form, which was invisible. When living things passed away, it was
regarded that their spirits went to a secret cave, of which Mutjinga was the caretaker; and only Mutjinga had the power to speak with these spirits. The
tale insinuates, that women, such as Mutjinga, once had the power and authority over men, because they possessed abilities men did not have. As
evidenced in "The Man–Eater: The Mutjinga Myth," "Mutjinga could speak with the spirits. Because she had this power, she could do many things
which men could not. [...] The men feared the power of Mutjinga and did not consort with her. They called upon her to lead their dances and teach
them songs, but none came to

Compare Brotherhood Of The Tomol
Although it has been assumed for a long period of time that early Paleolithic people have a very uninteresting and uniform history, studies have shown
that many cultures of the time have demonstrated many different ways of expressing beliefs, relationships with others, and ways of getting food by
hunting and gathering.
1.Brotherhood of the Tomol: The Brotherhood of the Tomol was a group of highly
–skilled Chumash Native Americans who built the tomol, which is a
large canoe with planks that was developed by the Chumash. The purpose of the Brotherhood was to make tomols for the very wealthy, because
ownership of these boats showed that they had money and could afford them. Class distinctions like these were caused by conflicts caused by a
growing population in the Southern California areas where Santa Barbara and Los Angeles are. They are an example of a culture that changed its
ways quickly to cope with factors such as population growth. Economically, the Brotherhood of the Tomol were very rich, as they had the ways of
making the boats that they would sell to the wealthy Chumash. They are also socially connected to each other, as interactions had to be made in order
for money to be exchanged among people. (Economic and Social)
2.Chumash ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Megafaunal extinction is a reference to how large animals such as the woolly mammoth became extinct, especially in North America. This extinction
had an effect on Paleolithic cultures at the time, because some were extremely affected by it. In fact, the Clovis culture around North America became
extinct with the animals. This is important, as it showed that after the extinction, the people didn't die out, but instead they spread out, with groups
hunting smaller animals or bison instead of mammoths. It helped evolve Native American cultures, as after the megafaunal phase, some of the cultures
became farmers or developers of cities. (Social and

Analysis Of Dreamtime: The Myth Of The Rainbow Serpent
Dreamtime
In Australia there is a religion practiced by the aboriginal people called Animism. Animism is the attribution of a soul to plants, inanimate objects, and
natural phenomena. Another definition is power that organizes and animates the material universe. These aboriginal people practice animism,
especially in what they believe is the period of time when the world was created, which they call Dreamtime. They believe everything in the world not
only has a soul but is related to them through the creator that made the world– the Rainbow Serpent.
The myth of the Rainbow Serpent is taken for fact in the aboriginal religion of animism. It is the basis for the rest of their way of life. They believed
the Rainbow Serpent was a snake who when chasing after people turned some into plants and animals then escaped into the sea leaving the remaining
people to care after their brothers and sisters. This is the reason their religion is categorized as Animism because they believe all objects of the earth
still contain the souls of their brothers and sisters.This also fosters a great respect for nature in their community. Their ethos is that humans should live
in harmony with all other things on the planet.
Bias can be an issue when studying a religion anthropologically. For example, someone from the Christian religion might compare the myth of ... Show
The plants and animals are their brothers and sisters,. The people hear the retelling of the myths of the dreamtime through their elders and through
music. While I was not able to participate in any of the culture I did observe it through a documentary. The ethnographic method is a valuable way of
anthropologically studying a culture or religion. It provides a understanding of a culture in a very non–biased way and provides accuracy through the
observer having to participate in the religion or culture of study for about a

The Dreaming Is A Way For Indigenous People
The dreaming
The Dreaming is a way for Indigenous people to understand the world through its creation and stories. It was created a long time ago when creation
began and a way for Indigenous people to express life and what The Dreaming means to the Indigenous community.
(Stanner, 1958, p. 48)
The Dreaming can be described as Aboriginal creative epoch and each language group have their own values and beliefs, and what associates with it.
(Edwards, 1998, p.79). For example, Kamilaroi of Northern NSWs nation explores the spiritual connections through a name called Baiame, known as
'All Father" who they believe is the supernatural ancestor and creator of earth. Baiame's stories of creation are shared from generation to generation of
... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
It is an act of creation and of many Aboriginal creation myths. (Edwards, 1998, p. 79).
The kinship
The kinship is a system that enables people to know precisely where they stand in relation to every person and a group. It is the heart of Aboriginal
culture, and controls all facets of social behaviours. The Kinship system has been around for tens of thousands of years and is still used today.
(Nations, clans, family groups, 2016). It is a system that determines how people interact with others and how people become related. Thus, controls
who can get married and who supports who. Because there are over 500 Aboriginal nations across Australia the system is helpful because it simplifies
the different clans and groups that share common kinship and language. (Nations, clans, family groups, 2016)
The Kamilaroi nation's kinship is based a lot around totems, that link between the spiritual world, creation and the living world ("A Nations Identity
Totems", n.d; para 1). Totems are a system that looks at the community, how people work as a team, and the value of individual skill. (Totems, 2016).
In a way totems provide people with a sense of belonging in relationships between a person and group. In Kamilaroi, totems allow individuals to
understand their connection to the scared land. ("A nations Identity Totems, n.d; para 2)
Jawoyn nation is very much in line with moiety. To understand Moiety, it is a social division

Religion: Aboriginal Ceremony
Aboriginal Religion
Aboriginal Ceremony. PH 413/86, Karilyn Brown Collection, Northern Territory Library. Aboriginal Ceremony.
Aboriginal religion, like many other religions, is characterised by having a god or gods who created people and the surrounding environment during
a particular creation period at the beginning of time. Aboriginal people are very religious and spiritual, but rather than praying to a single god they
cannot see, each group generally believes in a number of different deities, whose image is often depicted in some tangible, recognisable form. This
form may be that of a particular landscape feature, an image in a rock art shelter, or in a plant or animal form.
Wandjina bring the Wet Season rains to the people of the Kimberley.... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
This "Creation Period" was the time when the Ancestral Beings created landforms, such as certain animals digging, creating lagoons or pushing up
mountain ranges, or the first animals or plants being made. The Aboriginal word for this Creation Period varies throughout Australia and each linguistic
region has its own beliefs pertaining to that particular area. For example, it is known as Alcheringa (Aldjuringa) amongst the Aranda of Central
Australia, as Lalai in the Kimberley, and as Nayuhyungki amongst the Kunwinjku (Gunwinggu) east of Kakadu National

Aboriginal Dreaming
The Aboriginal Dreaming or Dreamtime is a complex system of beliefs that encompasses all aspects of Aboriginal life including their social
connections and laws and their relationship to the land. Their belief system has been likened to the western idea of a 'religion' but that definition tends
to fall short when trying to explain Dreaming . The aspect of Aboriginal belief that everything, including rocks, trees and animals in the world are
conscious and interconnected is in line with my own personal belief.
Even though there are many Aboriginal tribes with often different Stories to explain the creation of themselves and the land, there is a similarity in all
the stories across the continent. (Rose D, 1996). As Western society attempts to explain their world view through a creation story involving a central
God, the Aboriginals explain their world view through a creation story involving Ancestral Spirits. (Dean C, 1996)
The Dreamtime Stories gave the Aboriginals laws to follow including how they were to interact with the land and environment. There is
interconnectedness between everything including inanimate objects. Ancestor Spirits can be in anything and can communicate with the living.
Aboriginals believe that everything is conscious. (McBride G, 2000) This is very similar to the thoughts ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The people feel kinship with the environment and all the elements in it. Their laws tell them how to care for the land and interact sustainably with it.
I feel we should care for our environment better and live more sustainable lives. I find Buddhist teachings to be similar to this way of thinking also.
You should care for all creatures and things in our environment as you don't know the flow on effect. It's a bit like the Butterfly Effect theory which
says, "that a single occurrence, no matter how small, can change the course of the universe forever".(The Urban

Aboriginal Beliefs Essay

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