For many Aboriginal communities, the Dreaming explains the creation of the world, the relationships between people, animals and the land, and the importance of rituals and traditions. It also passes down knowledge about the environment, such as where to find water, food and shelter. Torres Strait Islander communities have their own spiritual and cultural traditions, which include stories of Tagai, Zogo beliefs, and connections to their ancestors and totems. These traditions guide their ways of living and reflect their strong ties to the sea and islands. While spiritual beliefs differ between groups, both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples share a deep respect for their ancestors, a responsibility to care for Country and Place, and the importance of passing down knowledge through oral traditions, ceremonies and art. Spiritual beliefs also teach people about their land and where to find water, food and shelter. The Dreaming is like a giant storybook, passed down through stories, songs, dances and art. The ancestral beings travelled across the land shaping everything — mountains, rivers and animals. These beings left behind clues, like the shapes of mountains or patterns in plants, to show where they went and how everything came to be. The ancestral beings also gave people the lore, the rules of life that keep harmony between people and nature. The lore protected sacred sites and safeguarded the wellbeing of the community
SkillBuilder discussion Using historical sources 1. Who is Tagai? 2. What made him angry and what did he do? 3. Why would this story be of importance to people living in the Torres Strait Islands?
SOURCE2 This text extract tells us about Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ stories. Tagai, a warrior and fisherman, shaped their world. The stars helped them navigate the ocean. In their stories, Tagai created the star patterns in the night sky. Tagai was a great fisherman. One day, he and his crew of 12 were fishing from their canoe but caught no fish. Tagai went to the reef to look for fish. As it got hotter, the crew of Zugubals (beings who look like people on Earth) became thirsty. They drank all of Tagai’s water. When Tagai returned and saw this, he was very angry. He punished his crew by sending them to the sky. Six went to the Pleiades star cluster (Usal) and six to Orion (Utimal). He told them to stay in the northern sky and not come near him. Tagai can be seen in the southern sky in a canoe made of stars. His left hand is the Southern Cross holding a spear. His right hand is a group of stars in the constellation Corvus holding a fruit called ‘Eugina’. His canoe is made from the stars of Scorpius.
2.3.2 The creation story of Bunjil the eagle Bunjil is a very important ancestral spirit from the creation stories of a number of Aboriginal Peoples, such as the Kulin Nation of southeastern Australia. There are variations of Bunjil the eagle story across different Kulin Nation language groups and among other Aboriginal groups in Victoria. These variations reflect the oral tradition of storytelling, where stories adapt over time and across regions while maintaining their core teachings. However, to all these peoples, Bunjil represents creation and connection to Country. Bunjil’s image as the eagle shows him to be a protector spirit who continues to watch over the land and its people.
TOPIC2 Deep Time to modern era 25
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