• Skin names show a person’s family history and connections, helping people understand their relationships across generations: Husbands and wives have different skin names, as do parents and children. Each nation has its own skin name, often with a gender-specific prefix or suffix. Note: Not all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community groups use skin names. Kinship networks grew stronger through ceremonies and exchanging gifts. Trade often happened over long distances and through different areas, so kinship agreements were complex. Goods had to be shared carefully to honour all connections. Learning and respecting traditions and ceremonies helped keep alliances and trade connections strong.
SkillBuilder discussion Communicating 1. Read SOURCE2 . How many Aboriginal tribes made the Kulin nation? 2. What similarities do they share? 3. What did the Aboriginal tribes do to strengthen their ties?
SOURCE2 Excerpt from a speech by Bryon Powell, Kulin National Heritage Organisation, May 2000
The Kulin nation had five Aboriginal tribes in Central Victoria, around Melbourne. They were made up of clans and family groups. The tribes shared the same language, customs, traditions, and trade links. The Woiwurrung and Boon Wurrung tribes were very close. They married each other to strengthen their ties and traded goods with one another.
SOURCE3 When outsiders visited Wurundjeri lands, they participated in the Tanderrum ceremony, which granted safe passage and involved exchanging gifts. A nineteenth-century painting by Charles Troedel depicts Wurundjeri members fishing and camping at Merri Creek near Melbourne.
In the Torres Strait Islands, kinship was crucial, often leading to conflicts over limited resources. Trade was vital for survival on small islands, but it could be tense due to disputes over property and kinship rights. Trading groups kept their canoes close to shore to quickly leave if issues arose among different clans and language groups.
TOPIC2 Deep Time to modern era 37
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