Rather than viewing Country, or land, as a physical environment, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people consider Country as a deeply symbolic and spiritual place [27487]. The connection between person and Country reinforces Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples' identity and sense of belonging [33834].
Like the Aboriginal peoples, the Torres Strait Islander peoples believe that the land, sea, skies, and other natural features, including all living things, were created by ancestral beings.
Terms to know animism- the belief that all things have souls and spirits that live after death polytheistic- the belief in multiple gods monotheistic- the belief in one god reincarnation- the belief that an individual is reborn in another body after death totems- a method of preventing marriage between relatives.
Our culture
Like Aboriginal people of mainland Australia, Torres Strait Islanders are traditionally agriculturalists and food is supplemented through hunting and gathering. Cooking and hunting is distinct to the Torres Strait culture and is taught from a young age.
Aboriginal spirituality is the belief that all objects are living and share the same soul or spirit that Aboriginals share. This is a very fundamental statement about Aboriginal spirituality. It implies that besides animals and plants even rocks have a soul.
Indigenous religions rarely have written sacred texts. Rather, their beliefs focus on dances, costumes, masks, ritual traditions, and sacred artifacts (material objects). These practices are part of a people's cultural identity and help them forge a sense of connection with their world.
Family, land, law, and language are four critical aspects of Aboriginal culture, and Aboriginal families are linked to land via kinship systems.
In brief: Aboriginal Australians are indigenous to mainland Australia and Tasmania who are nomadic. Torres Strait Islanders are minority groups indigenous to Torres Strait Islands who are traders, seafarers and agriculturists.
Cultural safety is about creating an environment that is safe for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This means there is no assault, challenge or denial of their identity and experience. Cultural safety is about: Shared respect, shared meaning and shared knowledge.
Aboriginal Australians' oral tradition and spiritual values build on reverence for the land and on a belief in the Dreamtime, or Dreaming.
First, we hold beliefs about ourselves. Second, we hold beliefs about others. Lastly, we hold beliefs about the world around us. Our beliefs in each of these areas shape our perceptions and perspectives which ultimately shape our reality.
Many Aboriginal tribal groups share the belief that this life is only part of a longer journey. When a person passes away, the spirit leaves the body. The spirit must be sent along its journey; otherwise it will stay and disturb the family.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, like many cultures around the world, put a high priority on family, community and cultural obligations. Throughout Australia the extended family is likely to be extremely important to many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The people of the Torres Strait Islands adopted the Christian rituals and ceremonies and continued to uphold their connection to the land, sea and sky, practising their traditional customs, and cultural identity referred to as Ailan Kastom.
These principles are: • Self-determination • Participation in decision making • Respect for and protection of culture • Equality and non-discrimination. When people are working and operating within the frames of the UNDRIP, they are working in a culturally safe manner.
These teachings stressed Wisdom, Love, Respect, Bravery, Honesty, Humility and Truth as the values that enable people to live in a way that promotes harmony and balance with everyone and everything in creation.
Cultural Expression
Ý Children develop a strong sense of identity Ý Children develop a strong sense of wellbeing Ý Children become confident and involved learners Ý Children become effective communicators.
Country doesn't just refer to the physical land Aboriginal communities lie on, but the collection of animals, plants, and people that live there. These connections include seasons, creation spirits, and heritage; Country is a belief system and a home for First Nations people.
Australia's Indigenous peoples are two distinct cultural groups made up of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. But there is great diversity within these two broadly described groups exemplified by the over 250 different language groups spread across the nation.
The six core values (see Figure 1) – spirit and integrity, cultural continuity, equity, reciprocity, respect, and responsibility – are important to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
The experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health care users, including having their cultural identity respected, is critical for assessing cultural safety. Aspects of cultural safety include good communication, respectful treatment, empowerment in decision making and the inclusion of family members.
There have been policies of protection, assimilation, self-determination and reconciliation.
Humility and authenticity are strong values in Australian culture. As such, Australians are very down to earth and always mindful of not giving the impression that they think they are better than anyone else. They also tend to value sincerity, humour, informality, whilst loathing pretentiousness.
For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, good health is more than just the absence of disease or illness; it is a holistic concept that includes physical, social, emotional, cultural, spiritual and ecological wellbeing, for both the individual and the community.