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Effect Of Dispossession On Aboriginal Spirituality

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Effect Of Dispossession On Aboriginal Spirituality
Question 1
With reference to the source and your own knowledge, discuss how Aboriginal spirituality is determined by the Dreaming. (5marks)
The Aboriginal spirituality is determined by the Dreaming since it is a concept which underpins all beliefs and practices in the Aboriginal communities. The Dreaming is communicated through story, song, art, dance and rituals which show the enormous diverse nature of Aboriginal spirituality. The telling and learning of the Dreaming stories is a life-long process where it taught them lessons about life and how things came to be. For example, The Rainbow Serpent is a Dreaming story which explained them how the earth’s landscape became the way it is. In reference to the source, this photograph is of male
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Just ‘cause we’re not walking around on crutches or with bandages or plasters on our legs and arms doesn’t mean we’re not hurting... I suspect I’ll carry these sorts of wounds ‘til the day I die. I’d just like it not to be so intense, that’s all.
With reference to the statement above using your own knowledge, explain the continuing effect of dispossession on Aboriginal spirituality. (5marks)
The continuing effect of dispossession on Aboriginal spirituality has caused a destruction of the kinship system. The separation from the land has had a devastating effect on the Aborigines because it has broken the ties of their spiritualities with the Dreaming since it is inextricably linked with the land. The separation from the land meant removing a sense of belonging to life and the separation from family removes the sense of belonging to oneself, which is also known as the Stolen Generations. Dispossession has caused a number of problems in Aboriginal society which includes lower life expectancy, higher rate of infant mortality, overrepresentation in prison, educational disadvantages, higher unemployment rates and higher drug and alcohol use. In reference to the statement above, “It never goes away”, implies that the trauma in which the land have been dispossess from them will never disappear from their memory and they will forever remember this unjust act which has greatly affected them. Also, the fact that they will continue to “carry these sorts of wounds ’til the day I die” suggests how they are constantly living in immense pain even though they are not hurt physically but they are hurt emotionally and mentally. Ultimately, the main causes to why these Aborigines are feeling very damaged is because of the dispossession of the land is incredibly vital for them as they have referred the land as their ‘mother’ land and that the dispossession has caused a detrimental impact on the Aboriginal

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