Aboriginal Spirituality 5 Markers
Why is the land important in Aboriginal Spirituality?
Aboriginal Spirituality is metatemporal, meaning it encapsulates the past, present and
future in an ever-present reality. The ever-presence and circular nature of reality is
especially highlighted through the natural state of the land they inhabit. Indigenous
Australians have an inextricable connection to the land, and according to their faith, it is
their responsibility to take care of the land for future generations and maintain the natural
order of creation. Furthermore, the land also provides totemic identity to individuals and
tribes, as well as sacred sites at which ritual dances are performed. In this practice, ancestral
beings and spirits are called upon to scare away demons, combat all evil and secure
prosperity for the future, further emphasising the dreaming’s metatemporal nature.
Without the land, all these beliefs, responsibilities and practices are lost, potentially leading
to a loss of sense of self amongst Indigenous Australians. Thus, the paramount importance
of the land is emphasised.
Discuss the impact that separation from Kinship groups has had on Aboriginal Spirituality?
The inextricable connection between the Aboriginal people and the land can be seen
through the stewardship of land, expressed through totemic roles and responsibilities gifted
through the kinship system. The systematic, forcible removal of Aboriginal children from
their families over a number of generations, a phenomenon named ‘the Stolen Generation’,
had significant ramifications not only for family groups but the wider network of
relationships expressed through the kinship system and ultimately led to the breakdown of
kinship relations as well as totemic roles and responsibilities for both individuals and tribes
arising from that system. Furthermore, the ritual roles associated with the kinship system
were affected, resulting in a wider sense of loss in Aboriginal Spiritualities. This included the
inability to pass on stories, perform ritual dances, maintain totemic identity and preserve
sacred sites. Therefore, this resulted in the inability for Indigenous Australians to engage
with other members of their tribe and with their ancestor and future spirits. Thus they are
unable to display and experience the metatemporal nature of the dreaming, in which the
past, present and future engage in an ever-present reality. As a result, separation from
kinship groups was a profound component in the breakdown of Aboriginal spiritualities for
many Indigenous Australians.