of the natural world today.
_ influences every aspect of daily life.
_ permeates song, dance, storytelling, painting, artifact making, hunting, food gathering, social.
(kinship) system.
_ provides a framework within Aborigines live.
_ traditionally, Aborigines maintained contact with the Dreaming through their dreams.
_ concept of time does not apply to the Dreaming.
_ Dreaming is seen as a "whole"; where past, present and future can merge.
_ when a story from the Dreaming is ceremonially re-lived, it is being spiritually lived.
_ Dreaming beliefs passed on to young people by a network of stories and ceremonies.
_ Dreaming stories tell of all aspects of Aboriginal lifestyle, how they should behave and the history of their.
environment.
_ Aboriginal children taught stories; when that was understood, they were given more information.
_ initiation training and ceremonies part of the learning process-elders had the most knowledge and treated.
with respect.
_ Dreaming stories cover male and female roles.
_ stories cover sacred and public activities.
_ often not gender-specific until translated into English.
_ different versions of the same story common.
_ stories provide children with a detailed map of their country.
_ Aboriginal Spirituality and its inextricable (can not be separated) Connection to the Land.
_ natural world provides a link between the people and the Dreaming.
_ Aboriginal people see themselves as being related to, and a part of, the natural world.
_ relationship to the natural world carries responsibilities for ensuring its survival.
_ each person has a special obligation to protect and preserve the spirit of the land and the life forms that are.
a part of it.
_ Aborigines believe that rights to land were part of the design of the world.
_ as links to the land are spiritual, time or absence does not break link.
_ urban Aborigines can still maintain a strong spiritual connection with the land and land rights.
_ removal from land creates an instable base of life.
