Aboriginal Spirituality

The Dreaming Past, present and future All that is known and understood How the world came into being Determines values, beliefs and relationships with the land Tells the stories of the journeys and deeds of the Ancestor Beings (creator spirits) Demonstrates good and bad behaviour (the Law).

Define Aboriginal Beliefs

Totems Serve as a link between the Dreaming and the human world. Describes the relationship between the individual and the land Originates from the place where each child was conceived by its mother. They are “ spirit children” released into the world by the Ancestor Beings. Confers responsibilities for protection of the land and for proper behaviour. Must be a living thing.

Aboriginal Beliefs Spiritual beliefs are expressed in two art forms, namely, in oral story telling and painting. Often the two work together. From the story came a painting often following a deeper understanding of the story. The painting itself, at times, assumed the nature of the sacred. At other times, it puts emphasis on a place or object that was already sacred. In painting, the deepest expression of the spiritual was through symbols. Symbols can be evolve from the roots of our cultures past. Symbols posses the power to be forever expanding and giving new insights, revealing to us more and more about ourselves - who we are and, particularly, the nature of our spirituality.

Richard Campbell

Rainbow Serpent The Rainbow Serpent is an important part of the beliefs and culture of Aboriginal people. It is described as a long mythical creature made of the parts of different animals - kangaroos or flying foxes head, crocodile's tail - joined along the body of a huge python decorated with water lilies, yams and waving tendrils. It is associated with creation, ceremonies about fertility and abundance.

Mimi Spirits The Mimi are tall, thin beings that live in the rocky escarpment of northern Australia as spirits. Before the coming of Aboriginal people they had human forms. They are generally harmless but on occasions can be mischievous. When Aboriginal people first came to northern Australia, the Mimi taught them how to hunt and cook kangaroos and other animals. They also did the first rock paintings and taught Aboriginal people how to paint.

Relationship to Land (Mother Earth) The significance of land and waterways is intimately bound in the spirituality surrounding the origins of landscapes, and the animals, plants, and peoples that inhabit them. The term “country” refers to a clan or tribal area and all the values, places, resources, stories and cultural obligations associated with that geographical area. Traditional land owners or custodians of the land have the responsibility for looking after the environmental, cultural and spiritual wellbeing of their ‘‘country.” Land generally has spiritual significance for Aboriginal peoples but some places are particularly important usually because of their sacred significance, like those that are used as a burial ground or an important meeting place for ceremonies.

The Sacred…….. Uluru

Eddie Mabo & Native Title In 1788, the British took the land from Australia's Indigenous People wrongfully and without Compensation The false doctrine of 'terra nullius' perpetuated until the High Court, on 3rd June 1992, recognized that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people may still hold common law title or native title to land where it has not been lost by valid Acts of Parliament, or the loss of traditional connection with the land. In 1993 the Australian Federal Government introduced legislation to establish procedures for indigenous people who maintained that their traditional rights had not been extinguished. This was the Native Title Act, 1993. The most significant outcome of the Mabo High Court ruling, is that for the first time, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were given legal recognition to the fact that Indigenous land ownership existed in Australia before European settlement .

and provides justice and equity for all.” Reconciliation “Reconciliation is a people's movement. It represents the hopes and aspirations of many Australians who desire justice and equity for Indigenous people in this country.” “A united Australia which respects this land of ours, values the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and heritage, and provides justice and equity for all.” This year marks the 12th anniversary of the establishment of National Reconciliation Week. The theme was "Sorry - A New Beginning". Reconciliation offers people across Australia the opportunity to focus on reconciliation, to hear about the culture and history of Australia’s Indigenous people, and to explore new and better ways of meeting challenges in our communities. It is a time for us to renew our commitment to reconciliation and to think about how we can help turn around the continuing disadvantage experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.