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Aboriginal Spirituality & Beliefs

The document discusses several key aspects of Aboriginal spirituality and beliefs: - Dreaming stories tell of the creation of the land and determine cultural practices and relationships. Totems link individuals to the land and confer responsibilities. - Spiritual beliefs are expressed through oral stories and paintings, with symbols evolving from cultural roots and possessing expanding meaning. - The Rainbow Serpent and Mimi beings are important mythical figures who taught skills to Aboriginal people. - There is a deep connection to "country" or homeland, with responsibility to care for the land. Specific places like Uluru have sacred significance.

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698 views16 pages

Aboriginal Spirituality & Beliefs

The document discusses several key aspects of Aboriginal spirituality and beliefs: - Dreaming stories tell of the creation of the land and determine cultural practices and relationships. Totems link individuals to the land and confer responsibilities. - Spiritual beliefs are expressed through oral stories and paintings, with symbols evolving from cultural roots and possessing expanding meaning. - The Rainbow Serpent and Mimi beings are important mythical figures who taught skills to Aboriginal people. - There is a deep connection to "country" or homeland, with responsibility to care for the land. Specific places like Uluru have sacred significance.

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Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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  • Aboriginal Spirituality Overview: The introduction page depicting Aboriginal spirituality with thematic imagery and symbolism.
  • The Dreaming: Discusses the concept of The Dreaming, encompassing the past, present, and future, and its significance in Aboriginal culture.
  • Define Aboriginal Beliefs: Illustrates the structure of Aboriginal beliefs involving the human world, physical world, and sacred world.
  • Totems: Explains the role of totems in connecting individuals with The Dreaming and their significance in Aboriginal life.
  • Aboriginal Beliefs Art Forms: Explores the expression of Aboriginal spirituality through art and storytelling.
  • Rainbow Serpent: Describes the importance and symbolism of the Rainbow Serpent in Aboriginal mythology.
  • Mimi Spirits: Details the roles of Mimi spirits in Aboriginal storytelling and cultural practices.
  • Relationship to Land (Mother Earth): Discusses how land and waterways hold spiritual and cultural significance for Aboriginal people.
  • The Sacred....... Uluru: Focuses on the spiritual importance of Uluru in Aboriginal culture.
  • The Local Perspective: Baiame the Creator: Examines local spiritual narratives and the role of Baiame in creation stories.
  • Maitland Newcastle Diocese: Provides information on the Maitland Newcastle Diocese and its community services.
  • Aboriginal Tribal Groups: Lists various Aboriginal tribes and their geographical locations in the Newcastle area.
  • Local Creation Landmarks of the Awabakal People: Describes significant landmarks related to creation stories of the Awabakal people.
  • Richard Campbell: Highlights artwork and contributions by Aboriginal artist Richard Campbell.
  • Eddie Mabo & Native Title: Discusses the impact of Eddie Mabo's work on native title and land rights in Australia.
  • Reconciliation: Addresses the themes and progress of reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

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 worked 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 put 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
culture part.
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.
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 - kangaroo's or flying fox's
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.
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
The Local Perspective
Baiame the Creator
Maitland Newcastle Diocese

The diocese provides


educational services for the
community in the Newcastle,
Lake Macquarie, Hunter and
Manning areas.

Within these areas there are


currently 50 parishes.

The territory in the diocese


extends from Lake Macquarie
to Taree and as far inland as
Merriwa and Murrurundi.
Aboriginal Tribal Groups
Kamilaroi Awabakal
Worimi
Biripi
Wonnaruah
Darkinjung
Kamilaroi
Wiradjuri
Wiradjuri

Darkinjung
Belmont - When the
Moon cried and
formed Belmont
Lagoon

Mt Yengo, Wollombi. The place


where Baiame stepped up
onto and back into the sky
after creation………..
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 government, or the loss of traditional connection with the land.

In 1993 the Australian Federal Government introduced legislation to


established procedures for indigenous people who maintained that their
traditional rights had not been extinguished. ‘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, it gave legal recognition
to the fact that Indigenous land ownership existed in Australia before European
settlement .
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.

Aboriginal Spirituality
The Dreaming Past , present and future All that is known and understood How the world came into being Determines values, beli
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Totems Serve as a link between the Dreaming and the human world. Describes the relationship between the individual and the
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The Mimi are tall, thin beings that live in the rocky escarpment of northern Australia as spirits. Before the coming of Ab
Relationship to Land (Mother Earth) The significance of land and waterways is intimately bound in the spirituality surroundin
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The Local Perspective Baiame the Creator

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