Contemporary Aboriginal Spirituality

Contemporary Aboriginal Spirituality:

 Discuss how Aboriginal spirituality is determined by the Dreaming

- kinship

- ceremonial life

- obligations to the land and people

The land and country of Aboriginal people holds the sacred places and spirituality of their beliefs. The Aboriginal people have relationships within their kinship groups that connect them to a particular place and which defines their responsibilities to one another. The land is the framework of the Dreaming stories especially those associated with time and creation. The Ancestor Spirits of the Aboriginal people that occupy the land and are a part of their community's association with the area. 'My Country' is the ritual land of the people, Indigenous people travel over the lands of other kinship groups in search of food and water but in doing this they must be careful not to enter the sacred spaces of other Indigenous communities. This shows an example of the interconnection that exists between commitment to the land and people. The Aboriginal people do not own the land the land owns them therefore they have a responsibility to care for the land. An example of this is the artwork of the Tiwi People of Bathurst and Melville island reflecting their relationship with the Ancestor Spirits. Another example is the people of West Arnhem Land that believe that the MiMi Rock pictures were painted by the MiMi Spirits thousands of years ago. This allows them to understand the relationship that they have with the Dreaming, their 'Country', and their ancestor spirits and this reveals the responsibilities between the people illuminating how Aboriginal Spirituality is linked to the land and people.

 discuss the continuing effect of dispossession on Aboriginal spiritualities in relation to:

- separation from the land

- separation from kinship groups

- the Stolen Generations

Terra Nullius resulted in the forced removal of indigenous Australians from their land. Further dispossession occurred due to the mission and government policy of protection that was established. Separation from the land and separation from kinship groups was the greatest effects of dispossession. The land is intrinsic to the custodians as it is used for ceremonial life. The dispossession of Aboriginal people meant that they were unable to draw effectively on the spiritual power of the Dreaming and ancestral spirits. This also restricted them from their access to sacred sites and much tribal lore and law was lost. Due to their separation from kinship groups their language was often lost and also their ceremonies. The role of their tribal elders were undermined and the kinship obligations and taboos were also lost. The Aboriginal people lost their sense of identity and belonging, not only to the land but also to each other and an example of this is the Stolen Generations. Hence the dispossession had a major impact on the lives of many indigenous Australians.

 outline the importance of the following for the Land Rights movement:

- Native Title