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aboriginal culture

dream traces larrakitj poles collection exhibition brighton uk

Aboriginal culture is diverse and complex. Culture can be an all encompassing spiritual path and way of living, based on complex relationships between people, spirit ancestors, animals and the land. Traditionally, Aboriginal people gain their prime identity from the area of land where they originated - their ‘country’.

During creation, spirit beings traveled over the land creating the natural environment and remaining as rocks, rivers and waterholes when their work was done. Traditionally, Aboriginal people learn from childhood the history and spiritual significance of each feature of their country’s landscape. The land nurtures them, and in return they have sacred responsibilities to protect it.

This is why Aboriginal groups maybe opposed to mining and other invasive activities on sacred and special sites on their traditional lands. But they also recognise that land is a communal resource. If their right to control use and access is recognised, they are usually ready to negotiate shared access or use agreements.

The other fundamental relationship is with the extended family and with clan and ‘skin’ groups established by religious law and custom. Everyone has a place and a relationship with all other members of the immediate and extended group. This involves defined rights and obligations which must be observed.

Emphasis is on the welfare of the community rather than the individual

Tracey Moffat's film Night Cries. Moffatt has work hanging in Tate Modern, and New York's Museum of Modern Art

Isabell Coe lighting the Sacred Fire for Peace and Justice on the docks of Deptford — at the place where Lieutenant Cook and the Endeavor embarked from on their voyage to Australia in the late 1760s.

who is indigenous?

The Federal Government defines an Aboriginal or Torres Strait person as someone who:

• is of Aboriginal or Torres Strait islander descent
• identifies himself or herself as an Aboriginal person or Torres Strait Islander and
• is accepted as such by the indigenous community in which he or she lives.

Although the culture and lifestyle of Aboriginal groups have much in common, Aboriginal society is not a single entity. Aboriginal and Islander people identify themselves primarily by their place of origin.

The final estimated resident Indigenous population of Australia as at 30 June 2006 was 517,000 people, or 2.5% of the total Australian population. (ABS)
.

what is ‘indigenous’?

Indigenous means the first peoples, and includes both Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islanders.

Aboriginal groups claim that indigenous people have two different forms of rights:

• The rights of all citizens to health, housing, education, job opportunities, power, and water
• Recognition of their status as indigenous peoples and their special rights relating to land, laws, customs and self determination.

The Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was adopted by the United Nations in 2007.

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external links

• AIATSIS
  Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander resource links
• Aboriginal plant use
• Aboriginal Writers OzLit@Vicnet 
• Australian Film Commission (AFC)
  Within the AFC, the key role of the Indigenous Branch is to resource and facilitate the participation of Indigenous Australians in the industry.
• Australian Legends 
  By C. W. Peck (1933), e-text from the Internet Sacred Text Archive.
• Aboriginal Languages of Australia
  There are more than 200 Australian Indigenous languages, most of which have been destroyed; all the others are endangered. This site has annotated links to 140 resources for nearly 40 of these languages. About 30% of these resources are produced by Indigenous people.
• The Bangarra Dance Company
  Australia's leading Aboriginal + contemporary dance company.
• Descendance Aboriginal World
  Descendance preserves and promotes Aboriginal culture. We represent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander performers from many diverse tribes. Descendance has both traditional and contemporary performance.
• Didgeridoo Breath
  Authentic didge makers
• Didjeridu Myths and Legends 
  From Ed Drury's Didjiridu site.
• Dijiri-Tube®
  Didgeridoos
• Echo Tree
  Authentic didge makers
• Fire as an Aboriginal Management Tool in South-Eastern Australia
• Garma Festival of Traditional Culture
  A unique and special event that is basically a Yolngu ceremony wrapped into a festival which include an academic forum, didgeridu masterclass, eco tourists. This year the forum looks at sustainable futures and caring for country and much more.
• Gary Foley's Koori history website
  The legendary activist has compiled a extensive photo history of the struggle for rights for Aboriginal people.
• Golden Seahorse Productions
  Created in 1993 by Richard Frankland and John Foss. It is Australia¹s first independent Indigenous film and television production company.
• Goomblar Wylo
• Harry Nanya Tours
• iDIDJ Australia: Australian Didgeridoo Cultural Hub
  Authentic didge makers
• Indigenous languages - David Nathan
• Indigenous languages - Wikipedia
• Indigenous languages from around the world
• Ilbijerri Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Theatre Co-operative Limited 
  Producing Indigenous theatre and listing stage and radio performances.
• Indigenous Australia 
  Videos, photographs and information related to Australian indigenous people.
• Indigenous Peoples And The Information Society
• Indiginet Multimedia & InterNet Services
• In Search of a Boomerang Theology
  Australian Aboriginal Religion
• Indigenous Religion in Secular Australia
• Language and Culture: A Matter of Survial
  Reconciliation and Social Justice Library
• Lights Camera Action
  Acts as the Agent for young people aged 11-24 living in the City of Sydney Local Government Area who want to get started in the industry.
• Mangkaja Arts Resource Agency
• Maruku Arts & Crafts
• Magabala Books
  Publisher of Australian indigenous books, by Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island authors.
• Maps & Mythologies
• Mark Atkins
  Contemporary Aboriginal artist
• Message Stick
  Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) Indigenous Online. Masses of arts and cultural information.
• Murrin Bridge Vineyard Aboriginal Corporation
  Aboriginal run and owned vineyard.
• Respecting Our Culture
  industry development tool designed by Aboriginal Tourism Australia (ATA). ROC encourages the tourism industry to operate in ways that respect and reinforce Indigenous cultural heritage and the living cultures of Indigenous communities.
  
• Roebourne Primary
  An Aboriginal School in the Pilbara - Bush Food, Bush Medicine, Aboriginal Culture
• Songlines Music Aboriginal Corporation
  Songlines represents a major initiative by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander performers and arts works to build the infratructure and support mechanisms to provide an indigenously controlled spearhead into the music industry.
• Some Myths and Legends of the Australian Aborigines 
  By W. E. Thomas (1923), e-text from the Internet Sacred Text Archive.
• Stories 
  Myths from several Australian peoples, presented by a college student of archaeoastronomy.
• Technology and Indigenous Languages
• The Euahlayi Tribe
  An ethnography by K. Langloh Parker (1905) on the culture, spiritual beliefs and ceremonies of the Euahlayi.
• What is Heritage?
  An extract from the book Voices from the Land [ABC Books, Sydney, 1994] in which Mandawuy Yunupingu discusses the concept of Yothu Yindi in relation to the band and as a philosophy of balance. Includes information about his education and life.
• Yothu Yindi
  The world famous rock band from the NT.
• Yowarliny
  Indigenous Perth band

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