Just wondering if anyone here observes an Aboriginal spirituality, and if so, you could share it here? I'd like to know more and live in an area where the First People have been replaced by white Australians and Aboriginal people who have moved from other areas of Victoria, and that makes it hard to know what to impart to my kids, in terms of which stories to teach them that are most closely aligned with the Country we're in.
I've got resources for this mission, and I've posted to throw a wider net, and also to create awareness of the first spiritualities in Australia
I went to a seminar recently in regards to indigenous perspectives and education. I was really moved by the spiritual aspect of the culture. The connection between the earth, the people and the spiritual self really touched me! I feel as though I have more of a similar belief or affinity with this than I do with organized religion such as Christianity. However I am not aboriginal so I'm not sure if I have the right to delve deeper into it or claim it for myself. Iykwim?
We learnt a few aboriginal dream time stories as kids. They are amazing stories & I'd love to find some of the ones I had for my kids. I don't think any of mine have had the indiginous education & experiences we did as kids. We used to spend Naidoc day doing big Aboriginal paintings that would be displayed somewhere in town & we were shown/taught how they did it & why by Aboriginal elders. We also had an Aboriginal dance group in our high school.
There are no indiginous kids at our school, so I think they just forget My kids have been learning the maori culture lately, because a big part of their family is maori, but I think I'll start bringing them back to our own roots & culture as well. We talk about it, & we watch documentaries on TV when they're on, if we see them, but its not big in our lives atm.
I think finding some of those stories online, or in a library & getting to know them would be a good start
The Aboriginal people here still maintain many traditional beliefs surrounding the dreaming. Each clan/tribe/mob/community has their own beliefs. They maintain their traditional family systems and laws. They uphold women's and men's business, pay back. They don't believe death occurs due to natural causes but that they are the result of evil spirits/spells. When someone dies the community holds 'sorry business' and all of that persons belongings are burned. They are not spoken of again.
They also believe in the Kurdaitcha Man (pronounce kur-die-cha) - akin to the boogey man. He comes out at night.
Our local language here is Arrente (Ah-ren-da) and our kids all learn it at primary school.
Spoke to some friends and they say the first point of call is to contact your local council, they should be able to put you in touch with some local First Australians.
It HAS been a long time since my post!
I completely forgot about it
I've been quite involved with my local Reconciliation Action Group, actually, and two weeks ago made a presentation to Council about the group, our aims and how council can support us (they already are - two shires involved). In fact, the council I'm in until recently wasn't that great with their record and has been taking guidance from the neighbouring council.
The local Aboriginal people, due to the nature of dispossession here in Vic, are not cohesive and there is dispute about who does what. So, there are people who just do stuff and let it fall into place from there The Learning Stones project is just one of those things and it may be the ripple effect we need.
Thanks for your replies! A bit sad how long my post was left to collect dust before interested people replied, and comforting to know there ARE interested people
Dreaming and Aboriginal spirituality
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Dreaming and Aboriginal spirituality
My kids have been learning the maori culture lately, because a big part of their family is maori, but I think I'll start bringing them back to our own roots & culture as well. We talk about it, & we watch documentaries on TV when they're on, if we see them, but its not big in our lives atm.
The Learning Stones project is just one of those things and it may be the ripple effect we need.
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