Spirituality for Indigenous Australians takes many forms. Its forms and practices have been profoundly influenced by the impact of colonialism, both past and present.<\/p>\n
Some Indigenous Australians share the religious beliefs and values of religions introduced into Australia from other cultures around the world, particularly Europe. But for most people religious beliefs are derived from a sense of belonging-to the land, to the sea, to other people, to one\u2019s culture.<\/p>\n
The form and expression of spirituality differs between Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders. Aboriginal spirituality mainly derives from the stories of the Dreaming, while Torres Strait Islander spirituality draws upon the stories of the Tagai.<\/p>\n
So the sad thing about it all was the missionaries didn\u2019t realise that we already had something that tied in with what they\u2019d brought to us. They saw different as inferior, and they didn\u2019t ask us what it was that we had. And it\u2019s very sad because if they had asked\u2026 things may have been different today.<\/em><\/p>\n Our people, before the white man came were very spiritual people. They were connected to land and creation through the great spirit, there was a good great and a great evil spirit\u2026 And Satan was the great evil one. So there wasn\u2019t much difference in what the missionaries brought and what we already had\u2026 .<\/em><\/p>\n Wadjularbinna Doomadgee, Since the European colonisation of Australia, Indigenous Australians have had contact with missionaries and their missions. This relationship has been a difficult one. In some instances missions became instruments of government policy, engaging in practices such as forcibly separating Aboriginal children from their families in order to maximise control over the child\u2019s education into Christian ways and beliefs. In this way, missions contributed to the suppression of Aboriginal cultural practices and languages.<\/p>\n However, not all missions were agents of government policies. Some respected Aboriginal ways of life and the importance of ceremonies and cultural practices.<\/p>\n The Dreaming means our identity as people. The cultural teaching and everything, that\u2019s part of our lives here, you know?\u2026 it\u2019s the understanding of what we have around us.<\/em><\/p>\n Merv Penrith
\nGungalidda Leader,
\nGulf of Carpentaria, 1996.<\/p>\n
\n<\/a>The Dreaming<\/h2>\n
What is the Dreaming?<\/h3>\n
\nElder,
\nWallaga Lake, 1996<\/p>\n