Indigenous Indigenous Australia:Australia:

Flags, Dreaming Flags, Dreaming and Family Tiesand Family TiesNDW 4MNDW 4M

Miss HohnerMiss Hohner

The Aboriginal FlagThe Aboriginal Flag The flag is divided horizontally into equal The flag is divided horizontally into equal

halves of black and red, with a yellow circle in halves of black and red, with a yellow circle in the centre.the centre.

Black symbolizes Aboriginal people, yellow Black symbolizes Aboriginal people, yellow represents the sun (the constant re-newer of represents the sun (the constant re-newer of life) and the red depicts the earth and peoples’ life) and the red depicts the earth and peoples’ relationship to the land. Red also represent relationship to the land. Red also represent ochre, which is used in aboriginal ceremonies.ochre, which is used in aboriginal ceremonies.

Today the flag has been adopted by all Today the flag has been adopted by all Aboriginal groups and is flown or displayed Aboriginal groups and is flown or displayed permanently at Aboriginal centres throughout permanently at Aboriginal centres throughout Australia.Australia.

What the flag looks like…What the flag looks like…

SpiritualitySpirituality For the Aboriginal people, spirituality For the Aboriginal people, spirituality

takes many forms. Its forms and takes many forms. Its forms and practices have been influenced by practices have been influenced by colonialism. But for most people colonialism. But for most people religious beliefs are derived from a religious beliefs are derived from a sense of belonging to the land, sea, sense of belonging to the land, sea, other people and to one’s culture.other people and to one’s culture.

Aboriginal spirituality derives from Aboriginal spirituality derives from the stories of the dreaming.the stories of the dreaming.

DreamingDreaming The Dreaming has different meanings for The Dreaming has different meanings for

different Aboriginal groups. The Dreaming can different Aboriginal groups. The Dreaming can be seen as the embodiment of Aboriginal creation be seen as the embodiment of Aboriginal creation which gives meaning to everything. It which gives meaning to everything. It establishes rules governing relationships establishes rules governing relationships between the people, the land and all things for between the people, the land and all things for Aboriginal people.Aboriginal people.

Those who did not follow the rules were Those who did not follow the rules were punished.punished.

The Dreaming did not end with the arrivals of the The Dreaming did not end with the arrivals of the Europeans, but entered a new phase. It’s a Europeans, but entered a new phase. It’s a powerful living force that must be maintained powerful living force that must be maintained and cared for.and cared for.

What are Dreaming Stories What are Dreaming Stories about?about?

Stories vary throughout Australia and there are Stories vary throughout Australia and there are different versions of the same theme (i.e. how different versions of the same theme (i.e. how birds got their colours is different in NSW and in birds got their colours is different in NSW and in WA).WA).

There are creation stories, stories about There are creation stories, stories about language, the first use of fire or trading stories.language, the first use of fire or trading stories.

The Tracks of Life – journey of the Spirit The Tracks of Life – journey of the Spirit Ancestors across the land are recorded in the Ancestors across the land are recorded in the Dreaming Track. Traces the path of an Ancestral Dreaming Track. Traces the path of an Ancestral Being as it moved through the landscape. One Being as it moved through the landscape. One spirit shared by Aboriginal communities across spirit shared by Aboriginal communities across Australia is the Rainbow Spirit.Australia is the Rainbow Spirit.

The Rainbow SerpentThe Rainbow Serpent

The Mimi SpiritsThe Mimi Spirits The Mimi are tall, thin beings that live in The Mimi are tall, thin beings that live in

the rocky escarpment of northern the rocky escarpment of northern Australia as spirits. They are generally Australia as spirits. They are generally harmless, but can be mischievous. When harmless, but can be mischievous. When the Aboriginal people first came to the Aboriginal people first came to Australia, the Mimi taught them how to Australia, the Mimi taught them how to cook, hunt and cook kangaroos and other cook, hunt and cook kangaroos and other animals. They also did the first rock animals. They also did the first rock paintings and taught the Aboriginal paintings and taught the Aboriginal people how to paint.people how to paint.

The Mimi as a cave The Mimi as a cave paintingpainting

The FamilyThe Family

About Indigenous About Indigenous FamiliesFamilies

The Elders – bridge the past and present and The Elders – bridge the past and present and provide guidance for the future. They teach provide guidance for the future. They teach important traditions and pass on skills, knowledge important traditions and pass on skills, knowledge and personal experiences. They are treated with and personal experiences. They are treated with respect.respect.

Family ties – strong family ties that are rarely Family ties – strong family ties that are rarely endorsed or understood by government endorsed or understood by government authorities. Children are not just the concern of authorities. Children are not just the concern of the biological parents, but the entire community. the biological parents, but the entire community. The raising, care, education, and discipline are The raising, care, education, and discipline are the responsibility of everyone – male, female, the responsibility of everyone – male, female, young and old.young and old.