Some Aboriginal explanations

[Tjupurula]

Hi Swaggers
Some people have messaged me asking me to explain a couple of things, so I will try to do so.

Songs
Most of our songs are a description of the country that own us, the various locations, where water is, sacred places and caves, as well as what can or cannot be done at such locations.

Dreamings
Dreamings inform us of events that have occurred during the Dreamtime, events which often govern our lives now.   Many of the Dreamings are about specific creatures, different tribes have different animal dreamings, which normally makes the animal sacred to that tribe, preventing it from being hunted or eaten. Frequently the specific animal in the Dreaming has a major breeding ground in that tribes country, allowing the animal or bird to breed safely, ensuring its continuing existence.

Corroborrees
Corroborrees are dances, that for the most part describe various animals, how they move, where they move, and what importance they have to the various clans.   Different family groups also have their specific family story corroborrees, which are passed down from generation to generation, describing where people have gone walkabout to find new partners, and making sure that the country that a new partner has come from is recognised by the tribe.

Songlines
Basically songlines are territorial boundaries, informing the tribe as to where the outer boundaries of the tribal land is, making sure that tribal members hunt wihin their own territory.  Songlines also tell us again which waterholes to care for and keep clean.

Spirituality
We are extremely spiritual, NOT religious.  We acknowledge that our ancestors have found refuge in the trees, rocks, waterholes, caves, all aspects of nature.  The ancestors guide us through the land safely, protecting us at all times, and we sing the correct songs when going through certain areas so as not to offend the ancestors  When entering an ancestral cave, we always call out correctly, making sure the ancestors know it is their family looking after them.

I hope I have managed to explain a few things, allowing MySwag family to understand some culture, and giving a bit of understanding for when people travel their beautiful backyard called Australia.

Regards
Tjupurula

[GeeTee]

Terrific explanations Tjupurula, thanks

[Glenno]

Thanks Tj, informative as ever!!

[Tjupurula]

Terrific explanations Tjupurula, thanks

You are quite welcome GeeTee

[Tjupurula]

Thanks Tj, informative as ever!!

I hope it was worth the read Glenno.

[Foo]

Can you explain to me about the not using the first name but the last name is ok, for when someone has died please?

Foo

[Tjupurula]

Can you explain to me about the not using the first name but the last name is ok, for when someone has died please?

Foo

Hi Foo
The last name is, as with all societies, the family name.  The first name is how the person is recognised, and as we all pass into the spirit world with our ancestors, we do not want to disturb the spirit journey to join the ancestiors by calling them back.  We use the term Kumuntjai, which basically means "no name", and the same term is used for others who shared the same name, or any name that is extremely close.  The family name is the name of the group, not the individual.
I hope that explains it for you.
Regards
Tjupurula

[davidy61]

I don't post on here much do spend a lot of time reading and learning on MySwag.

Thankyou Tjupurula for you insights, comments and teachings.  They help us all learn and more importantly understand the Aboriginal heritage (I hope that came out right)

Cheers
David

[Tjupurula]

I don't post on here much do spend a lot of time reading and learning on MySwag.

Thankyou Tjupurula for you insights, comments and teachings.  They help us all learn and more importantly understand the Aboriginal heritage (I hope that came out right)

Cheers
David

Hi David
By all means they are general insights and comments, but I am by no means a teacher, I am just explaining a few things in the ways of us black fellas that people have asked me about.  "Aboriginal heritage" is a fallacy in my books, this beautiful country belongs to all equally, and we are just lucky enough to belong to the country.  Our culture basically comes down to our connection with the land and all within it.
Regards
Tjupurula

[GanG]

Thankyou for sharing Tjupurula. Its a very interesting culture, I am about to head into the remote NT for 5 weeks working in couple of health clinics again. It is incredibly grounding to work with folks who are living a slightly modernised version of a traditional lifestyle. Hopefully I will get some hunting and fishing in with the men while I am there.

I still cannot come at some of the bush tucker though

[Tjupurula]

Thankyou for sharing Tjupurula. Its a very interesting culture, I am about to head into the remote NT for 5 weeks working in couple of health clinics again. It is incredibly grounding to work with folks who are living a slightly modernised version of a traditional lifestyle. Hopefully I will get some hunting and fishing in with the men while I am there.

I still cannot come at some of the bush tucker though

That's okay GanG, it leaves more bush tucker for me.
Tjupurla

[davidy61]

but I am by no means a teacher

You are teaching us, the ignorant to your peoples ways, so in my view you are and I for sure, appreciate it.

Hope it warms up in your hometown too!

David

[db]

Thanks Tjupurula, you may not be a teacher, but you write well and help those of us who aren't blackfellas understand a bit more. Please keep it up, I and plenty of others here are enjoying your insights.

Richard

[Tjupurula]

Thanks Tjupurula, you may not be a teacher, but you write well and help those of us who aren't blackfellas understand a bit more. Please keep it up, I and plenty of others here are enjoying your insights.

Richard

Hi Richard
Yes, I do write well, with  lot of help from Microsoft word, spell check, then copy and paste......computers are handy.
The insights are simply what have been passed down to me from my ancestors, not really mine, but good to share and allow others to understand a bit better.
Regards
Tjupurula

[evolution]

Thanks for taking the the to share with us some of the meanings behind the terms.
I am sure others like myself would appreciate more posts from you like this that help us to gain further understanding and insight into your culture.

Cheers
Evo

[Tjupurula]

Thanks for taking the the to share with us some of the meanings behind the terms.
I am sure others like myself would appreciate more posts from you like this that help us to gain further understanding and insight into your culture.

Cheers
Evo

Hi Evo
Firstly I hope your little on is doing bettr.
I really cannot explain things unless I know what people want to knw.  This time I have basicall responded to a few PM's that I ws sent, and a couple of them asked the same things, so I responded in the forum.  The culture is not mine, it is the culture of my people, we do not own it, we live it.
Regards
Tjupurula

[evolution]

Thanks mate, we have a way to go but she is home 
I will have to think of some questions for you, as you explain things so that they are easily understandable for those of us not privy to the ways of you and your people.
Actually I do have a question, I hope it is not too broad to answer.

Can you explain more about the spirit world and how the animal and people spirits of those who have passed interlink?

Thanks again
Evo

[Foo]

Hi David
By all means they are general insights and comments, but I am by no means a teacher, I am just explaining a few things in the ways of us black fellas that people have asked me about.  "Aboriginal heritage" is a fallacy in my books, this beautiful country belongs to all equally, and we are just lucky enough to belong to the country.  Our culture basically comes down to our connection with the land and all within it.
Regards
Tjupurula

This I don't follow because we all have some sort of Heritage. This I whole heartedly agree with and just hate the us and them syndrome. Those that I have worked and competed against in sport with, just raise their eyebrows in frustration with the attitudes of some, that are supposed to be working for the good of Aboriginal people. 

You have a really good approach to how things should be and that, is refreshing. I can't be blamed with how things were done before my time but I can be enlightened on how, you think in your ways and how we all can live together. I hope this came across ok to you, Tjupurula?

Foo

[Tjupurula]

This I don't follow because we all have some sort of Heritage. This I whole heartedly agree with and just hate the us and them syndrome. Those that I have worked and competed against in sport with, just raise their eyebrows in frustration with the attitudes of some, that are supposed to be working for the good of Aboriginal people. 

You have a really good approach to how things should be and that, is refreshing. I can't be blamed with how things were done before my time but I can be enlightened on how, you think in your ways and how we all can live together. I hope this came across ok to you, Tjupurula?

Foo

My apologies Foo, I did not explain myself well at all.  There is a general term, that being "Aborignal", which actually means "Native of the land.  There are more than 1500 "language groups" in Australia, mean there are more than 1500 "Aboriginal languages" spoken by the various tribes, and very few of have exactly the same heritage, therefore to use the blanket term "Aborignal heritage" is in no way accurate.  I am a Walmajarri man, therefore my heritage is from the Walmajarri tribe, my wife is a Martu woman, her heritage comes from her tribe, hopefully that has made things clearer.
Regards
Tjupurula

[Tjupurula]

Thanks mate, we have a way to go but she is home 
I will have to think of some questions for you, as you explain things so that they are easily understandable for those of us not privy to the ways of you and your people.
Actually I do have a question, I hope it is not too broad to answer.

Can you explain more about the spirit world and how the animal and people spirits of those who have passed interlink?

Thanks again
Evo

Hi again Evo
Firstly we accept and acknowledge that all species have spirits.  In life every person has a "Tudegdi" animal, a creature which is completely sacred, or in other words a "totem" to the person.  The person can never hunt, kill or eat the creature which is tudegdi to them.  When the person leaves this world, their spirit, provided they have cared for their tudegdi correctly, will be guided through the spirit world by their tudegdi to meet with their own ancestors.
We look after our tudegdi in our life, andthey care for us in the spirit world.  Before you ask, my tudegdi is a corella (a kind of cocky).
I hope this has explained some of what you are asking.
Regards
Tjupurula

[evolution]

It has and thank you for taking the time to explain that. I always wondered how and why they were so closely linked.
Makes sense to me 

Oh and the Corella is a beautiful bird by the way

Cheers
Evo

[berlitza]

They should be teaching this in our schools and not bloody american/french history like they do at my daughters..

[swoffer]

Hi Tjupurula

At the risk of sounding corny , you are a breath of fresh air mate 

So , excuse my ignorance but while we are on a roll , what (when) exactly is the dreamtime or dreaming . Is it for instance a time before people walk the land ?

Cheers Alan

[Tjupurula]

Hi Tjupurula

At the risk of sounding corny , you are a breath of fresh air mate 

So , excuse my ignorance but while we are on a roll , what (when) exactly is the dreamtime or dreaming . Is it for instance a time before people walk the land ?

Cheers Alan

Hi Alan
Dreaming and The Dreamtime are two separate things.  I have explained Dreamings already I hope.  The Dreamtime for us is when the Serpent (snake) travelled around, where the Serpent travelled on the ground, there are valleys and rivers, and, speaking for Lake Gregory where I live, we acknowledge the Serpent, and we must mud people (rub mud all over them) before they can swim or go to the water.  Of course women mud women and men mud men.  To all black fellas water is the most precious thing, and has always been and will always be guarded by the Serpent.
That may sound strange to people that we consider water precious, but things like gold and diamonds will not keep anyone alive in the desert, or anywhere for that matter.
Regards
Tjupurula

[Tjupurula]

They should be teaching this in our schools and not bloody american/french history like they do at my daughters..

Hi Berlitza
As I have previously said, there are 1500 different language groups, or tribes.  I guess the "system" does not want to get it wrong.  There is also the fact that some of the people have given up their true life to get good paying jobs, good houses and nice cars, such things we do not have out here, and do not want them.
I also wish they would teach school kids some of this countries real facts, but I doubt it will ever happen.
Regards
Tjupurula