THE EFFECT OF DISPOSSESSION ON ABORIGINAL SPIRITUALITIES

THE EFFECT OF DISPOSSESSION ON ABORIGINAL SPIRITUALITIES

1. SEPARATION FROM LAND

   • Loss of land = Loss of cultural heritage
   • The loss of land amounts to a loss of identity and the burden of not being able to fulfill ritual responsibilities
   • The loss of land has destroyed the system of totemic responsibilities
   • Deprivation ofland resultsin a loss of independence, culture, identity and spiritual world
   • Separation from the land is especially problematic for Aboriginals due to:
     • Ritualistic Association with the land e.g. death & burial rituals are linked with the land
     • Economic uses of land for Aboriginals
     • Spiritual & personal identity of Aboriginal people lies within their relationship within the land
     • Other aspects of Aboriginal culture a linked to the land, e.g.stories, song & dance

2. SEPARATION FROM KINSHIP

   • The forceful removal of indigenous children , who were placed in institutions, and removal of Aboriginal families from land, lead to breaking down of kinship groups, loss of connection
   • loss of identity, family links and culture
   • Children grew up without learning about Aboriginal life and spirituality (Resulted in loss of: roles,religion, culture, ceremonies and rituals)
   • Social Problems(Depression and demoralisation because of lossin identity. People turned to alcoholism and violence)
   • Loss of language (Language groups being broken up, clans forbidden to speak native language)
   • Loss of belief, laws and rituals

3. The StolenGeneration

   • Aboriginal children who were removed from their homes between the late 1800’s&1972 by the govt & church missionaries in an attempt to assimilate these children into European society (It was a govt policy between 1950s and 1972)
   • Many Aboriginal children suffered maltreatment,sexual exploitation, inhumane working conditions and degrading forms of humiliation
   • Prohibition of traditional Aboriginal practices had a detrimental impact on Land, Identity, Culture, Language, Spirituality, Totems, Kinship and Ceremonies
   • The loss of language has made it impossible to pass on beliefs in an authentic way