For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, avoidance of eye contact is customarily a gesture of respect. In Western society averting gaze can be viewed as being dishonest, rude Page 2 or showing lack of interest.
Assimilationist terms such as 'full-blood,' 'half-caste' and 'quarter-caste' are extremely offensive and should never be used when referring to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
In Aboriginal culture it is taboo to mention (or in some cases write) the name of a deceased person. Aboriginal people believe that if the deceased person's name is mentioned, the spirit is called back to this world.
In what is the strongest kinship avoidance rule, some Australian Aboriginal customs ban a person from talking directly to their mother-in-law or even seeing her. A mother-in-law also eats apart from her son-in-law or daughter-in-law and their spouse.
Shame may be felt as a result of: • a lack of respect • embarrassment • self importance/self promotion • rudeness • a breach of accepted Aboriginal “norms” and/or taboos A shame job is an an event which causes a person shame or embarrassment.
Direct questioning is generally considered rude in Aboriginal culture.
Acknowledgement of Country
Example - “I would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we meet today, the (people) of the (nation). I would like to pay respect to elders past, present and emerging and any Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people here today.”
Common taboos involve restrictions or ritual regulation of killing and hunting; sex and sexual relationships; reproduction; the dead and their graves; as well as food and dining (primarily cannibalism and dietary laws such as vegetarianism, kashrut, and halal) or religious (treif and haram).
There are four major types of taboos namely religious taboos, social taboos, legal taboos and sexual taboos.
Some examples of taboos include: In many Jewish and Muslim communities, people are forbidden from eating pork. In Western cultures which value youth, asking a woman's age is often discouraged. In some Polynesian communities, people are forbidden to touch the shadow of a chief.
For a non-Aboriginal person, or an Aboriginal person who is not a descendant of that tribal land, acknowledging the local Aboriginal people as the Traditional Owners is a mark of respect. It is also respectful to acknowledge Elders past and present.
Although most men had only one wife at a time, polygyny was considered both legitimate and good. The average number of wives in polygynous unions was 2 or 3. The maximum in the Great Sandy Desert was 5 or 6; among the Tiwi, 29; among the Yolngu, 20 to 25, with many men having 10 to 12.
It's basic courtesy to always ask before filming or taking photos of a person, a group of people or cultural ceremonies. When it comes to caves and rock art sites, don't rush ahead and clamber over the rocks for a photo opportunity. Reproductions and photographs of deceased Indigenous people are absolutely prohibited.
'Aborigine' is generally perceived as insensitive, because it has racist connotations from Australia's colonial past, and lumps people with diverse backgrounds into a single group. You're more likely to make friends by saying 'Aboriginal person', 'Aboriginal' or 'Torres Strait Islander'.
More appropriate
'Nation', 'community', 'people', 'mob' or the local language or Page 3 culture group name is usually preferable to 'tribe'. 'Mob' is an Aboriginal English word and as such may be more appropriate, but community acceptance may be required before using this word.
What are some examples of taboo behaviour? Well, you wouldn't walk down a street naked, burp in a stranger's face, or steal a purse from an elderly person. Calling someone a rude name and catcalling a woman in the middle of the day are also considered increasingly unpleasant.
A taboo is an activity or behavior that is forbidden, prohibited or otherwise outside of what is considered acceptable in society. Taboos are grounded in morality, and can also be linked to a culture or religion. An act may be taboo in one culture and not in another.
Shona adherence to totems is one of the typical examples of the observance of taboos. For example, if a person belongs to the patrilineal clan of vaera Nzou (those that must not eat elephant meat), then he is prohibited from eating these nonhuman animals.
Historically, cannibalism is the ultimate taboo – the line that can't be crossed. What distinguishes it from other types of on-screen nastiness is that it disgusts us in two separate ways – in other words, the prospect of being eaten is nightmarish, but the prospect of doing the eating is almost as bad.
Essentially, if a particular behavior violates a taboo social norm, it results in extreme disgust and most often expulsion from society. For example, incest or cannibalism is taboo in most cultures and countries.
A taboo behavior is a behavior deemed inappropriate by a society or culture. Homosexuality and sex outside of marriage are both taboo behavior in some societies or cultures.
Aboriginal people have a rich culture involving a custom, lore and value system based on the sustainability of their spiritual connection, belonging, obligation and responsibility to care for their land, their people and their environment.
The Golden Rule in Native Spirituality states that "we are as much alive as we keep the earth alive." By treating the earth with the same respect we expect for ourselves, we may foster our connection with the environment and be more motivated to ensure its' survival.
Good communication with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children (as well as with children from different cultures) includes checking that both parties understand each other. The use of language can cause problems, especially when jargon or unfamiliar words are used.