Australia Aboriiginal Culture - Admission/Application Essay Example

 Abstract The paper deeply analyses Australian aboriginal culture and discusses the lives of the aboriginals from the standpoint of art, food, values, attitudes, beliefs and perceptions. TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Introduction 4 2. Perception 4 2.1 Status and Mobility within the Family and Society 4 2.2 Approach towards Problem Solving 5 2.3 Courtship Practices 5 2.4 The Importance of Action 6 2.5 Ideas Governing Child-Raising 6 2.6 Personal Space 6 3. Values 6 3.1 Theory about Disease and Health 7 3.2 Expression of Emotions 7 3.3 Importance of Past and Future 7 4. Attitudes 8 4.1 Attitudes towards the Dependent 8 4.2 Tempo of Work 8 4.3 Notions of Modesty 9 4.4 Incentives to Work 9 5. Beliefs 9 5.1 Spiritual Beliefs and Its Impact 10 6. Conclusion 10 7. References 11 1. Introduction More than 400 tribes of aboriginals have been classified on the basis of traditions and languages. The culture of the Australian aboriginals is a 60,000 old culture and the Australian aboriginal culture and language is not the same in different parts of the island (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2004). In the Australian aboriginal culture, all people are considered equal and if there are any leaders, they have certain personal qualities for which the leader is admired. There are no elected leaders and certain men have special skills, which provides them authority. Elders in the group are obeyed and the knowledge of the Dreaming is considered the law. 2. Perception 2.1 Status and Mobility within the Family and Society The family structure of Australian aboriginals can comprise of one man and several wives with children from each wife. The status and mobility varies from group to group. Each member in the family has a certain responsibility and role, which is determined through communication and social activities (Berndt & Berndt, 1992). The members are bound by laws based on gender and age. Moreover, the male and female relationship is guided through the Dreaming. The social unit in the family is a complex system which determines kinship and marriage rules. The marriage rules in different groups vary. Kinship also determines the behaviour towards other kin. Moreover, kinship gives a social structure which becomes complex at a higher level (Broome, 1994). The customs and religious beliefs determine the customs, marriage laws and it varies from one Australian aboriginal group to another. A group of forty to fifty people form a clan, which mainly consists of extended families (Dudgeon, Garvey & Pickett, 2000). The son of the family members joins the groups and often, these groups own a territory. The hordes or bands are responsible for hunting and food gathering and the hordes belong to one clan, a totemic group or a skin name (Broome, 1994). 2.2 Approach towards Problem Solving The spiritual beliefs and oral tradition is based in the Dreaming, which are different for various individual groups. The culture is overlapping and has evolved with time. What’s more, the culture is based on ancestral beliefs, which is expressed through rituals. When women get old she gets power and respect to take decisions and suggest solution to a problem (Berndt & Berndt, 1992). Men and women are both jointly given the rights to make decisions to resolve any issue. Also, the decisions are made by the custodians of law. Some Australian aboriginal groups have a separate law for women (Reynolds, 1987). 2.3 Courtship Practices There are complex systems where the relationship between plants is studied to find out the relationship between humans. The concept of Dreaming provides guidance to marriage relationships. Australian aboriginals assume the world begins with Dreaming and their ancestors came from various parts of nature such as animal species, sky and water bodies (Broome, 1994). They also believed some of their ancestors metamorphosed into rocks. Australian aboriginals view sexuality as a natural urge and it is linked to fertility. Sex is represented through painting, dances and songs (Berndt & Berndt, 1992). It is also linked to nature’s growth in the form of plant and seasonal change. The Australian aboriginals have classifications based on kinship relationship, which regulates the marriage. For example- the Kariera are divided into groups of about 30 people and membership determines the territorial claims (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2004). Half of the men are divided into Burung and Karimera, and others into Palyeri and Banaka. Karimera marry women from Palyeri groups and their children are classified as Burung (Broome, 1994). The classification makes men to marry women from the other three classified groups. The genealogical relationship is determined through plants or animals, and a symbolic map is created to identify the link. The grouping also promotes marriage to women from one of the three alternative groups. There are different traditional followed for courtship. The girl may have to live in an indented husband’s camp for some time before marriage. In some groups, the girl is seized by the husband and his brothers, while she collects food with other women. The brother has sexual rights on the girl until she settles with his camp (Reynolds, 1987). In some groups, the girl lives in the prospective husband’s camp in pre-pubertal age. 2.4 The Importance of Action The guidance of the Dreaming is significant in Australian aboriginal culture where the past, present and future is determined by the Dreaming (Berndt & Berndt, 1992). Every action is determined by the group of law makers and through spiritual ceremonies. What’s more, people use a clan name to describe them before any major social activity. 2.5 Ideas Governing Child-Raising Women play the role of child rearing and food gatherer. Women collect seeds, vegetables, small insects and larva for food. Male children around the age of 6 join men to learn hunting while the girl child learns to gather food from the women. The mother’s sister in an Australian aboriginal family is considered equal to the mother and hence, she plays an equally important role in child-raising (Reynolds, 1987). 2.6 Personal Space Reproduction is important as it is related to obedience of ancestral ordained laws. Adults of the same sex are considered equal and Australian aboriginals mostly live in open camps, caves, or structures made from bark or vegetation (Dudgeon, Garvey & Pickett, 2000). 3. Values The Australian aboriginal values are based on beliefs in ancestral beings and their worldview integrates nature, spiritual beings and humans. The whole system of beliefs is expressed through rituals, songs and paintings. The male female relationship is primarily obtained as per traditional frameworks (Wilson, 1988) The Australian aboriginal songs make reference to certain rituals including the circumcision ritual and defloration. Ceremonies such as Bora or Kippas prepare boys to become men (Broome, 1994). Certain smoking ceremonies are performed on special occasion as a cleansing act. All theses ceremonies integrate certain cultural values, which the young Australian aboriginals imbibe when they participate in such ceremonies. 3.1 Theory about Disease and Health Australian aboriginals essentially eat a high fat diet or a diet rich in proteins. They have well formed limbs and straight bodies (Wilson, 1988). However, they mostly suffer from diseases such as haemorrhage at childbirth, fevers, fatal insect bites and sores. Additionally, Australian aboriginals generally have a lower level of health care; what’s more, the standard of hygiene is poor. Traditionally they have a low level of fertility and often plant based contraceptives are used as a birth control measure (Reynolds, 1987). The role of a section of elderly men and women is to treat health problems and these elderly men and women are considered the traditional healer of the clan. Warlpiri (Yuendumu) women perform ceremonies to improve health of sick people (Broome, 1994). Moreover, singing and painting are used along with plants as medicines to cure diseases. The diagnosis for women and men are generally different and segregated. 3.2 Expression of Emotions The Australian aboriginals have freedom of expressing emotions. Children can hurl on the ground or scream if they want something from an adult. Australian aboriginals have unlimited egoism in childhood as well. The self-centred behaviour is considered appropriate for young Australian aboriginals. As the children grow, the behaviour changes, and the obligation to kin and society are introduced. The adult Australian aboriginals are generally mild mannered, relaxed and easygoing (Reynolds, 1987). Adults may sometimes express emotions with intensity and the later forget. Also, the culture gives one the freedom to express emotions. Australian aboriginals are also not supposed to harbour feelings which are against the metaphysical order or law, and it is considered a personal defeat if any adult slaps the child. 3.3 Importance of Past and Future Australian aboriginals believe that the Creation Period is the time which can be often be observed and interpreted in their dreams. Dreamtime is important as it is time when they are transported into the ancestral time. The legends of the Australian aboriginals are about the creation period and the Dreaming. Stories are told to children about the creation of beings, plants and animals, and it also depicted through dance and songs. The children are taught the ceremonies which they have to perform as elders to pay tribute to their ancestors. Songs are sung to teach children about the creation period. Creation period relates to creation of people, environment and animals (Reynolds, 1987). The Dreaming is significant as it is the basis of law, order, behaviour and the aboriginal religion per say. Each individual associates himself to some animal species, place or plant. The Dreaming stories also relate to the moral values and instruct about the rules of living. Dreaming is passed from one generation to another generation and Dreaming is believed to combine the past, present and the future (Dudgeon, Garvey & Pickett, 2000). Ancestral beings and ancestral figures are also important for some groups of Australian aboriginals. Each tribe has its own deity and the beliefs of different tribal groups overlap. 4. Attitudes 4.1 Attitudes towards the Dependent The family system in Australian aboriginals is highly complex and every child in the family is explained about the role of each person in the family. The family group can be large and it may consist of several wives and one man (Broome, 1994). The mothers generally talk to children about food and relationships with the kin. In the society, the brother of the mother is also considered the father of the child; what’s more, the sister of the mother is also a mother. Since the whole family is considered one, there is no alienation (Reynolds, 1987). The children learn to gather and share food and the older relatives teach them about the games and customs. On the other hand, the older female relative teaches how to follow the order of elders in the society and the repeats instructions to create the sense of relatedness. Hand signals are often used to relate to another person. 4.2 Tempo of Work Aboriginal culture do not generally farm or cultivate. The people hunt for food in an unhurried manner. Hence they have a relaxed attitude while hunting, unlike the frenzied hunting activities of aboriginals of certain other countries. They mostly lure kangaroos to their camp site to get fresh kangaroo meat (Berndt & Berndt, 1992). The women clean the huts and gathers food. Aborigines are good hunters and hunting is akin to a type of game. People lead a nomadic life as they move from one region to another. Women use tree parts to make string, bags and other items. Digging sticks are given to young children to make them learn the skills of gathering foods and the food gathered is shared according to rules. The time spent in gathering food varies but lot of leisure time is left. 4.3 Notions of Modesty In the Australian aboriginal society, direct eye contact may be interpreted as lack of respect for an elder. The younger Australian aboriginals generally avoid eye contact with the person in authority. The various gestures and movement of body parts can indicate direction of motion (Broome, 1994). Touch is common to start a conversation but non-intended touch can create aggression. Direct questioning about another person’s feeling and thoughts is considered aggression as well. During conversation, there are certain taboo words which should not be uttered. 4.4 Incentives to Work The Australian aboriginals mostly live in clans, sub-tribes and bands (Wilson, 1988). The eldest male and female in the family is given respect and the decision of the eldest member is considered the law. The eldest may decide to give a reward for work to young hunters too (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2004). The reward for hunting practise by boys is kept with the boy clan, whereas girls of same age gather food for the whole clan. Adult Australian aboriginals need to find food for themselves and for creating resource for the tribe (Reynolds, 1987). For working with the clan, they may be rewarded with food, tobacco, clothes and tools. Food gathering is common in Australian aboriginals and the task is given to certain age and group of people. The group sometimes stores the food, often food is used for immediate needs. 5. Beliefs 5.1 Spiritual Beliefs and Its Impact Most of the social arrangement is set on religious beliefs, which considers deities are the Creation being, Ancestral being or Totemic being. The spiritual home is considered highly sacred and Australian aboriginals generally guard their sacred homes. It is believed the Australian aboriginal clans descended from common ancestors. Sacred rituals, totems and religious ceremonies are performed to pay tribute to the gods (Wilson, 1988). The spirits of the ancestors and group members are kept alive by the elders of the group, who occasionally recollect events related to the spiritual ancestors. The rituals done for spiritual ancestors include dancing, acting and singing. Additionally, paintings are made to give a visual depiction of the sacred objects. Sometimes, structures on rock and ground are made for the purpose (Broome, 1994). Australian aboriginals believe plants and animals are an integral part of their natural order. Furthermore, they believe that all groups of tribes belong to certain spiritual ancestors - who can be animals, plants or rocks. 6. Conclusion Australian Aboriginal culture is in fact considered to be the oldest human culture in the world. The most outstanding achievement of the Australian aboriginal culture has been its harmonic coexistence with nature and animals without creating any sort of ecological or environmental imbalance. Hence modern world culture has a lot to learn from such a culture which has stood the test of time. 7. References ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) (2004) National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey 2002. Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia Berndt, R. M., & Berndt, C. H. (1992) The World Of The First Australians: Aboriginal Traditional Life, Past And Present. Canberra: AIATSIS. Broome, R. (1994). Aboriginal Australians (2nd Ed.) Sydney: Allen & Unwin Dudgeon, P., Garvey, D., & Pickett, H. (Eds.) (2000) Working With Indigenous Australians: A Handbook for Psychologists. Perth: Gunada Press. Reynolds, H. (1987). Frontier: Aborigines, Settlers and Land. Sydney: Allen & Unwin. Wilson, L. (1988). Thathilgaw Emeret Lu: A Handbook of Traditional Torres Strait Islands Material Culture. Queensland: Department of Education. Read More