Language
Dreaming
Ancestors
Kinship
100
What is the estimated number of First Nations language groups that existed in Australia prior to European arrival?
250
100
Were the early histories of First Nations peoples traditionally written down using words?
No
Traditional methods of recording First Nations peoples histories and stories involved paintings, carvings, oral storytelling and song, dance, and creation of physical objects that had cultural meaning like spears, clothing, shields and more.
100
What are creation stories?
Stories that explain how physical parts of the land like the mountains, or rivers were created by ancestors travelling across the land.
100
What is Kinship?
It is a system that shows how cultural groups are related, and what role each person has.
200
How many different dialects of language groups are estimated to have existed?
at least 700
200
What does the Dreaming mean?
The Dreaming explains the creation of the world, the knowledge First Nations peoples have about the land such as where food and water is and the seasons, and also explains the relationship between people, animals, and the land itself.
200
what is lore?
Lore are the lessons and instructions left by the ancestors in their creation stories to tell First Nations communities how to live on and respect the land and animals around them.
200
What are the three levels of Kinship?
Moiety, totems, and skin names.
300
What is Country?
Country involves the physical parts of Australia, as well as the histories and traditions of the First Nations peoples that live here.
Country as a title means places that First Nations peoples have a cultural connection to, responsibility for, and relationship with.
300
Is there only one meaning of 'The Dreaming'?
No
Each language group had different words that desribed the cultural belief of 'The Dreaming', which involves an individual connection to Country and the impact this makes on family groups, cultural identity, and birthplace.
300
who is Bunjil?
A creator ancestral being who appears as a wedge-tail eagle.
He is an important figure for Wurundjeri and Kulin Nation peoples of Victoria.
300
How did kinship networks grow?
Through trade, and family connections. Tradition, ceremonies and gifts helped keep kinship alliances and networks strong, and allowed different communities to trade and coexist together.
400
What does Deep Time mean, and how much time does it involve?
It is the history of First Nations peoples in Australia, who have lived here for over 65,000 years.
It usually refers to the time period of First Nations peoples first living in Australia, up to European arrival.
400
what are Dreaming tracks called?
Songlines
Songlines are the creation journeys that Dreaming ancestors travelled, and describe the events and physical parts of Australia (such as rivers) that are meaningful to community. The creation journeys are remembered through song, and so are called 'Songlines'.
400
why are creation stories different?
Creation stories are specific to ancestral beings associated with different language and cultural groups across Australia; because there are many different groups, there are many different stories that each have important histories and meaning.
400
why is Kinship important?
Kinship networks and beliefs linked different language and cultural groups together, and made trade and marriage possible between communities that might live very far away from each other.
It helped these groups understand each other, and helped First Nations peoples understand who was important to their lives.
500
What is the connection between time, the Dreaming, and Country called?
Everywhen
500
How did knowledgde, and paintings of the Dreaming help early First Nations people live in Australia after the Ice Age?
Communities learnt how to live with megafauna, and showed each other what these animals looked like using rock paintings and stories
("Australia's Top 7 Aboriginal rock art sites", Australian Geographic, March 30th 2016.https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/history-culture/2016/03/top-7-aboriginal-rock-art-sites/)
500
What are totems?
Totems are spirit ancestors, that cultural groups believe in and that link them with Country.
Every group that believed in a totem had a responsibility to care for the animals the totem represents, and to ensure they did not harm their totem animal through living on Land (such as hunting or harming eagles if a person was of the Kulin Nation of Victoria and had Bunjil as a spirit ancestor and totem).
500
Who are Elders?
Elders are respected figures in First Nations communities.
They are the 'guardians of the Dreaming lore' for their cultural group, and share their knowledge of lore so that communities understand their place on Country, their histories, and who they are.
Elders are important in their communities- they make decisions, judge crimes, lead ceremonies, arrange marriages, and give advice.