LESSON 2.7 What beliefs and values shaped everyday life?
LEARNING INTENTION By the end of this lesson you should be able to analyse sources of evidence that help explain Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ cultural practices and lores.
Tune in Think about a ceremony, like a wedding, you’ve attended. Why was it important to your family or community? Read SOURCE1 . Discuss why you think ceremonies are a very important part of the daily life and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in Australia. SOURCE1 An Elder from the Ngarinyin Peoples, of the northwestern Kimberley region of Western Australia, explains the significance of the traditional Welcome to Country Before whitafellas came, it was the tradition of Aboriginals that when strangers came into their particular country to hunt or to gather, or to just pass through on their way to other places, that the host Aboriginals would go out to welcome them. When they met, there would be the formalities of greeting. Part of the ceremony of welcome would be the men sitting around and talking men’s business whilst the host women would take the visiting women and children to a women’s site to talk women’s business. When this was completed, the two groups would join again and the men would hunt for kangaroo, goannas or bush turkey — and the women would prepare an area for eating and would gather firewood and berries, fruit, nuts and lily roots for a meal. Then the ceremonies — the corroborees or jumbas would commence, and the dancing, the singing around the fire could well go on, not only all night, but sometimes for many nights in a row. Each jumba with a message — each with its own story — men, women and children taking part. Whilst during the day, the visiting tribe would be taken and shown the sites of significance and be told the stories of the spirit of the land they would be passing. In this way, the hosts believed that by the end of formalities, when the strangers were ready to move on — they would not be considered strangers but friends who now had the spirit of the Country in their hearts — they carried the Wunggud with them — just like the people who lived there. They believed that once the spirit of the land was in their hearts, then those people would never damage the land — they would love it and care for it like those whose home Country it was . . . 2.7.1 Dreaming lore The Dreaming explains how the world was created, how people should live and their connection to the land. It shapes the traditions, ceremonies and rituals of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. These include chanting, singing, dancing, body painting and wearing feathered headdresses. Ceremonies help with hunting times, initiations, funerals and marriages. Elders are respected leaders who make important decisions, give advice, judge crimes, arrange marriages and lead ceremonies. They are the guardians of the Dreaming lore.
40 Jacaranda Humanities Alive 7 Victorian Curriculum Third Edition
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