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Storytelling and Song often accompanied by dance movements have been a central element of Aboriginal Australian life since the beginning of time. There are songs for every event including: hunting, funerals, seasons, animals, and landscapes. Stories of the Dreaming were told around campfires, where things of concern were also discussed and important information relayed. Dreaming law and lore told the tribe about their spiritual history, how to treat each other, and how to conduct their daily life. Suitable punishments for individual transgressions of these tribal and Totemic Laws were determined by knowledgeable Elders of the Aborigines.
Starlore was passed down from generation to generation through the teachings and
storytelling of the Aborigine Elders. The positions of the planets and stars were used by
the Aboriginal Australians for gathering food; for finding their way from one place to
another; and for the timing of rituals and ceremonies. There were neutral
passageways between tribal lands.
Aboriginal law in Australia required respectful recognition of tribal boundaries. Anyone travelling outside their territory needed to obtain the permission of the tribes in neighboring territories to pass through their areas. Aboriginals traded and bartered with other groups in Australia on a regular basis, holding Corroborees where marriages were arranged; information about tribal practices and beliefs was shared; and, new songs were sung. Aboriginals belong to a place, an area of land in Australia where their totemic ancestors were born, lived, and died. This "Belonging Place" was the territory of land created for their kin group, their clan, and their tribe during the Dreamtime. The sacred symbols of these totemic bloodlines were implanted in the Dreaming stories used by the Elders to teach the wisdom of the ancestors to each new generation. Aboriginals sing their country; and, perform ceremonies for their country, "Singing Country", using ochre depictions of the Dreaming images... Continue on Go back
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Aboriginal Australia Totemic Dreamtime 
