Aboriginal culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Aboriginal culture - Essay Example Western science and Aboriginal knowledge are complementary and both provide insight into our world and environment. Just as western science seeks to provide answers to questions pertaining to our past, present and future, so too does Aboriginal knowledge (Dreaming) and one cannot be dismissed in favour of the other, instead the two should interact and work together. The English term Dreaming is more an analogy than a translation of Aboriginal spirituality. b. It is wrong to consider Aboriginal societies as being primitive to western societies in the misbelief that they had no religion, philosophy or political systems prior to colonization; all three are integral to Aboriginal existence. Religion, philosophy and laws (political systems) are components of every aspect of life and underpin all behaviours, interpretations and expressions both within ceremonial life and daily life. The principles and codes of behaviour (laws) relate to all things on earth not only humans, are complex and live and breathe in the people and their environment. Aboriginal religion, philosophy and political systems were known and past down from their ancestors and are lived and maintained in their practice. c. It is inaccurate to classify Aboriginal societies as nomadic; they were semi-nomadic which meant they did not stay in one place until the food supply was exhausted as is the nomadic norm, but instead they moved from one place to another and back as food supplies became available. Rather than use the land, they belonged to the land, only took what they needed, and moved to allow the plants to re-grow and the animals to regenerate; in other words their occupation of land was seasonal, their movement was cyclical and they and the land were inseparable. d. To assume that Aboriginal societies did not create technologies is wrong because they have developed technologies to make their lives better, just as western societies have done. As hunters and gatherers, Aboriginal societies develop ed weapons, tools and other kinds of equipment from a diverse range of materials obtained from the land; these tools and weapons were developed for specific uses and tasks in different situations and so had a functional use. Their technologies were founded on their complex knowledge system that included an understanding of aerodynamics, physics, chemistry and biology, as well as ecology. e. Aboriginal laws were not written because it was not necessary to do so; instead they were passed down by their ancestors through stories, song and ceremony. Aboriginal law rises above all things and directs them through life; it is who they are and it is integral to every aspect of their lives. The law is all around them – everywhere – and is in everything they do; they eat, sleep and breathe it; they sing it and live it. Unlike our laws they do not require a written form and are not a set of rules that can be broken; instead Aboriginal law lives within their very substance. Questio n 2 Living – their very existence - for Aboriginal Australian people includes art, ceremony, stories and songs dating back for thousands of generations. According to Sutton (1988), Aboriginal art, music, dance and ceremony are demonstrations of the Dreaming that relate to the extensive symbolism of beliefs and daily life that make up a complicated and multifaceted ‘code of interaction’ (p.14). Just as the Dreaming is essential to the discernment of Aboriginal art, stories, song and ceremony, they in turn are a means of right of entry to the Dreaming (Morphy, 1998) that constantly reflects and modifies a person’s beliefs, values, ideas and sociality. Throughout history man has been intent on preparing children to become responsible and useful adults within