Australian Aboriginal Spirituality.

_ an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander is a person:

_ who identifies self as an Aboriginal

_ accepted by the Indigenous community by which he/she lives

_ physical appearance and lifestyle are irrelevant in this definition

_ pre-European arrival: pop. 650,000 (600 groups)

_ urban (just under half of present population)

_ there are similarities in the beliefs of different tribes

_ present life is continuous with the Dreaming

_ totemistic: animals/plants have associated symbols

_ tied to the land: each group has a particular relationship with a particular piece of land

_ The Dreaming as being fundamental to Aboriginal Culture and Societies

_ 5 distinct features of Aboriginal Spirituality:

Spiritual ’ spirits are natural to the world

_ each person has an inviolable spirit which is intimately related to the spirit ancestor

Historical ’ life today is historically continuous with the Dreaming

_ spiritual links with spiritual ancestors tied to definite sites in the land

_ Aboriginal Land Rights Act in the Northern Territory (1976)

_ different form of expression in cities

_ The Effect of Missions and Missionary Activity on Aboriginal Belief Systems from the Original Contact period

been legally replaced by British law

_ recognition of link between the gospel and Dreaming Stories

Some topics in this essay:
Non-aboriginal Religious, Spirit Ancestors, Rights Movement, Cape York, Strait Islander, Connection Land, Spirituality Spiritual, Wik Decision, Systems Society, Tied Land, land _, _ aboriginal, native title, land rights, _ aborigines, _ land, aboriginal people, aboriginal spirituality, dreaming _, _ dreaming, aboriginal people _, _ native title, aboriginal belief systems, _ aboriginal spirituality, land rights _,