Traditional Indigenous Lifestyle
Australia’s Indigenous people generally lived a stable lifestyle, guided by elders who knew the local Dreaming stories and customs. The people worked together, sharing their food and knowledge, and living in harmony with their environment.
Before the invasion Aboriginal people created a complex system of land management. There was no ‘pristine wilderness’, rather a patchwork of burnt and re-grown areas. Fire was their biggest ally. In using fire Aboriginal people could plan and predict plant growth and with it attract animals for hunting. They converted the land to grasslands for the “maintenance” of animals, plants and fresh drinking water,
(Source: http://www.creativespirits.info)
Before the invasion Aboriginal people created a complex system of land management. There was no ‘pristine wilderness’, rather a patchwork of burnt and re-grown areas. Fire was their biggest ally. In using fire Aboriginal people could plan and predict plant growth and with it attract animals for hunting. They converted the land to grasslands for the “maintenance” of animals, plants and fresh drinking water,
(Source: http://www.creativespirits.info)
Fire MangementFire is an important symbol in Aboriginal culture. Regular patch burning reduced the risk of wildfires, assisted in the hunting process by forcing wildlife out of vegetation, and promoted fresh growth of grasses and important bushfoods. It also resulted in a fine-grained mosaic of varied ages of vegetation which promoted the success and resilience of a range of plant and animal species - many of which are now rare and endangered. (Source: http://www.clc.org.au/)
Fire has been used for cleaning up the vegetation, making it easier to walk through the land and safer as snakes could be avoided. Fire was commonly used to promote the growth of valued plants. This regrowth of grasses attracts grazing animals, such as kangaroos, back to the area for easier hunting. Fire has also been used to drive out animals which can then be then killed for food. Traditionally smoke from fires was used to flush possums from their hiding places in hollow trees. In some instances a form of animal husbandry was used with Aboriginal men cutting holes in trees to provide homes for possums which could be raided at a later time. This controlled use of fire has been used for tens of thousands of years. This burning pattern has changed the appearance of the Australian bush with large areas of forest being replaced by open grasslands. Plant species which did not regrow well after fire declined in numbers, whilst more fire resistant species, such as grass trees, eucalypts and acacias, dominated. (http://hsc.csu.edu.au/) Watch the two videos below to learn more about the importance of fire. EnvironmentThe natural environment was very important to traditional Indigenous communities as it provided them with all their needs and connected them to their ancestors. The land is directly linked with the Dreamtime which is why Indigenous people feel spiritually connected to it. Generally, Indigenous people do not see the land as something separate to them.
Indigenous art, food, shelter, spiritual beliefs, tools, weapons and connections to the past are all found in the environment. The environment also told Indigenous people about the changing seasons, which signified what foods were available. For example, the first blossoms told some Indigenous people honey was available or that the yams were ready to dig up. The environment was also used for health reasons, and medicines made from plants and seeds would often be used. Traditionally, Indigenous tribes felt it was vital to protect the land, especially the sacred areas that had great significance during the Dreamtime. Tribes believed that, if sacred places were not cared for, the spirits would become angry and punish the population with droughts or floods. For this reason traditional Indigenous people looked after the environment to ensure the happiness of the ancestors. Having to look after the environment ensured tribes lived in a sustainable way . Indigenous people never took more than they needed and never destroyed environments. By living in this way, the environment would always be able to supply food, water, shelter, tools, art supplies and a home. (Source: http://www.skwirk.com/) |
Seasons, Calendars and ConstellationsTo Aboriginal people, time is circular. It has no clear boundaries and is linked closely to observed associations of time and the space in which they live. The seasons were seen to be a natural calendar as they govern human life, determine people's needs and control the supply of natural foods.
Because the seasons were seen as a natural calendar, the calendars varied according to location. European people's calendars stay the same no matter where they are and this created many difficulties for the first Europeans in Australia eg plum pudding in December. Nature itself provided the Aboriginal calendar - blossoms appearing, stars and their patterns of movement, temperature and seasonal conditions and the appearance and disappearance of insects and animals. The calendar was essential for survival and the organisation of Aboriginal people's lives. The calendar, number of “seasons" in it and the distinguishing features of each, vary greatly from region to region. When the different climates of Australia is considered - the northern tropics to the vast deserts of the inland to the snow-capped mountain ranges of the southeast - it is not surprising that the many different communities not only had different languages and cultures, but different calendars. (Source: http://www.hent.org/) TotemismTotems are symbols that acknowledge specific birds, animals, rocks or flora species and are considered sacred by their owners. Traditionally, each Indigenous person receives a totem from their M other or Father. Each totem would have previously been owned by his/her parents' ancestors. Traditionally, totems were often carved into stones and were carried by an individual so that s/he could be constantly connected to his/her ancestors, the land and his/her tribe.
Totems never change and are continually passed on to each generation. Additionally, totems have existed in traditional Indigenous life since the Dreaming. Traditionally, the totem animal, bird, rock or flower is never hunted, killed or desecrated out of respect for ancestors. Totems are also extremely important in all individual and group celebrations and ceremonies. Totem images appear in paintings and carvings and on tools and implements. Totems were extremely important in traditional culture because they showed loyalty to the past. Today totem systems are still used by Indigenous people as a way of continuing and maintaining connections with the land, the Dreamtime and their ancestors. (Source: http://www.skwirk.com/) SustainabilityBy eating a large variety of foods in a systematic and sustainable manner Aboriginal food gathering techniques can ensure that no one food source can be over-exploited. Plant foods eaten include wild fruit, nuts, berries, edible leaves and plant roots.
Enough seeds are left so that there will always be new growth. The young of any animal species, or any female if it is still caring for its offspring are rarely killed . When collecting eggs from a bird's nest some are always left to hatch thus ensuring the survival of the species. Certain food taboos associated with specific clan totems also prohibited food being eaten by certain individuals. This complex system of food taboos (banned) adds to the overall sustainability of food sources. (Source: http://hsc.csu.edu.au/) |
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