Aboriginal Peoples and Birds in Australia: Historical and Cultural Relationships

Description

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 raises 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 acknowledgment in the future. Features: Provides a historical review of the cultural roles of birds and their importance to Aboriginal peoples in Australia.Explores Indigenous knowledge, to inform future research in ornithology, anthropology and ethnoscience.Illustrated with photos taken by the author over 40 years of fieldwork. 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. Cover Half Title Dedication Title Page Copyright Foreword Contents Prologue Acknowledgments Cultural sensitivity warning 1: Introduction Ethno-ornithology and environmental knowledge The written sources Book structure 2: Birds as ancestors Recording myths Birds in myths Totemic beings 3: Birds as creators Wedge-tailed eagle Crow/raven Emu and brolga Bird fishers Capturing fire Birds, minerals and gemstones Celestial beings 4: Birds and the spirit world Spirit beings Totemic spirits 5: Bird nomenclature Indigenous classifications Some derivations Extending bird names 6: Early hunting and gathering What gamebird is that? Foraging Egg and nestling collecting Stalking Swimming Emu drives Hides Lures, calls and decoys Charms and rituals Snares and traps Netting of birds in flight Poisons 7: Birds working with people Controlling sea incursions and floods Forecasting weather and seasonal change Bush intelligence Birds as ‘firestick farmers’ Birds who help to collect and find food Amusements Colour plates 8: Food and medicine from birds Food preparation Preventative and medicinal treatments 9: Material culture Feather objects Sinews, skin and intestines Egg shells, bone, beaks and claws Oil 10: Conclusion References Index