First Nation Australian Burials South West Region Western Australia

When a First Nation person dies When a First Nation person dies for whatever reason, that persons family goes into mourning immediately, and the wider part of that family and the Community where that person has lived mourns along with them If the person has died at home, the body is left there for some time to allow close family and friends to come and see the deceased and to mourn with and to support the Family.

If the person has died in Hospital the hospital is asked to prepare the body for veiwing and leave the body in the bed (if its a private room) so that family members can come together to mourn. Otherwise the body will be taken to the viewing room and left there until all the family has seen the deceased.

Mourning time When a First Nation Australian person dies, the family will normally wait for at least two weeks before burial, this is to allow other family members to plan to attend the Funeral First Nation Australian families will travel from all around the nation to attend their relations Funeral. Every family relative no matter how far away they may live, needs to be notified of the death of that person.

Funeral day On the day of the funeral there is a viewing time that is set aside, normally before the Church service, in order that all family and friends have the opportunity to say their last farewells. The Church service can take up to an hour or more, depending on the tributes that are given for that person On arrival at the Cemetery there is normally more persons waiting there than there was at the viewing.

Attendance Some times there will be up to 500 plus First Nation Australian persons at a Funeral, especially if that person is a First Nation Elder or a young person, because as of late, there has been a tremendous amount of young First Nation persons at Funerals. Persons who are under the influence of alcohol are dealt with very strictly and very quickly, as it is shown as a lack of Respect.

After the Graveside service With most Burials of First Nation Australian persons, the Grave is normally filled in by Family members. This is the Traditional Custom of First Nation Australians. The Family along with close friends will remain at the Graveside until the Grave is filled in and formed and smoothed over by hands (normally the Female Family members do this) and all the flowers are carefully place on the Grave. Then a Family member will say a few words and an offer of Prayer is made before leaving.

Traditional Burials When a First Nation Australian person dies, a smoking ceremony is performed to drive away evil Spirits This exercise is done when the person dies and then again at the Burial site. If the person was in the lower South West Regions, the body would be wrapped up in either Kangaroo skin or the bark from the Paper bark tree. Tied together by cords that are made from bull rushes

The body would be taken to a suitable spot in the sand dunes to be laid to rest. A hole was dug in the side of a sand dune that would be big enough for the body, the smoking ceremony would begin again. The body would be placed in the hole sometimes in a sitting position, with the hands up on the side of the head and facing west.

The grave is then covered in by pushing the sand in with the hands. A rock would be placed in the spot, and if the person was a male a spear ( boorndoon) was inserted into the ground along with a spear thrower.(mirro) If the person was a female a rock would be placed in the spot and a digging stick (wanna) would be inserted into the ground. This is the way that they could tell if it was male or female.

If a person who lived near the mouth of a river that led into the sea, happened to die a long way up the river, there would be built a small raft and the body was put on that. It would then be covered with leaves or paperbark and was taken back down to the place where that persons family and tribes area of country would be. That person could then be buried close to his own people, and his or her spirit would rest in peace.

Some times First Nation Australians were buried at the foot of the Christmas tree (moordja) in sand plain country. Others would be buried near the Rivers where it would be soft digging. Where it was too hard to dig, they would be laid to rest in caves. Traditionally Men only were allowed to take part in the actual burial. Women came later and swept the grave over with tea tree bushes when it was all finished.

Pastor: Dennis P Jetta Aboriginal Evangelical Fellowship Western Australia Phone: mobile