Overview

Australia is home to many distinctive species of birds, and Aboriginal peoples have developed close alliances with them over the millennia of their custodianship of this country. Aboriginal Peoples and Birds in Australia: Historical and Cultural Relationships provides a review of the broad physical, historical and cultural relationships that Aboriginal people have had with the Australian avifauna. This book aims to raise awareness of the alternative bodies of ornithological knowledge that reside outside of Western science. It describes the role of birds as totemic ancestors and spirit beings, and explores Aboriginal bird nomenclature, foraging techniques and the use of avian materials to make food, medicine and artefacts. Through a historical perspective, this book examines the gaps between knowledge systems of Indigenous peoples and Western science, to encourage greater collaboration and acknowledgement in the future. Cultural sensitivity Readers are warned that there may be words, descriptions and terms used in this book that are culturally sensitive, and which might not normally be used in certain public or community contexts. While this information may not reflect current understanding, it is provided by the author in a historical context. This publication may also contain quotations, terms and annotations that reflect the historical attitude of the original author or that of the period in which the item was written, and may be considered inappropriate today. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are advised that this publication may contain the names and images of people who have passed away.

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9781486315970

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By raising awareness of Aboriginal ornithological knowledge, this book provides fascinating insight into the role of birds as totemic ancestors and spirit beings, and explores Aboriginal bird nomenclature, foraging techniques, and the use of avian materials to make food, medicine and artefacts. * Wildlife Health Australia * From the Prologue: Since the dawn of time our people have had a spiritual, environmental and cultural connection to all birds and their habitats. Whether it be through our Ngartji [ngaitji] system which defines our roles and responsibilities of caring for Country and all in it, our storylines and songlines, as a food source, as a material source or as a transmitter of messages - birds are and have always been a part of our daily rituals and wellbeing. This book encompasses all that is our connection to Country and self. -- Mark Koolmatrie * Ngarrindjeri Elder *

"""By raising awareness of Aboriginal ornithological knowledge, this book provides fascinating insight into the role of birds as totemic ancestors and spirit beings, and explores Aboriginal bird nomenclature, foraging techniques, and the use of avian materials to make food, medicine and artefacts."" * Wildlife Health Australia * From the Prologue: ""Since the dawn of time our people have had a spiritual, environmental and cultural connection to all birds and their habitats. Whether it be through our Ngartji [ngaitji] system which defines our roles and responsibilities of caring for Country and all in it, our storylines and songlines, as a food source, as a material source or as a transmitter of messages – birds are and have always been a part of our daily rituals and wellbeing. This book encompasses all that is our connection to Country and self."" -- Mark Koolmatrie * Ngarrindjeri Elder *"

Author Information

Philip A. Clarke is a consultant anthropologist working in native title and Aboriginal heritage. With an academic background in both science and anthropology, his research interests are focused on the ethnosciences, in particular Australian ethnobiology and ethnoastronomy. He is also the co-author of Aboriginal Biocultural Knowledge in Southeastern Australia (CSIRO Publishing, 2018).

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