Aboriginal biocultural knowledge in south-eastern Australia : perspectives of early colonists / Fred Cahir, Ian D. Clark and Philip A. Clarke ; [foreword by Barry Judd].

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Cahir, Fred, 1963- author.

Clark, Ian D., 1958- author.

Clarke, Philip A., author.

Judd, Barry, 1968- author of introduction, etc.

Contributor:

George Clapp Vaillant Book Fund.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Ethnobiology.

Aboriginal Australians.

Indigenous peoples.

Southeastern Australia.

Indigenous peoples--Australia, Southeastern.

Ethnobiology--Australia, Southeastern--Aboriginal Australians.

Physical Description:

xxiv, 334 pages : illustrations, maps ; 25 cm

regular print

Place of Publication:

Clayton South, Vic. : CSIRO Publishing, [2018]

Summary:

Indigenous Australians have long understood sustainable hunting and harvesting, seasonal changes in flora and fauna, predator-prey relationships and imbalances, and seasonal fire management. Yet the extent of their knowledge and expertise has been largely unknown and under-appreciated by non-Aboriginal colonists, especially in the south-east of Australia where Aboriginal culture was severely fractured. Aboriginal Biocultural Knowledge in South-eastern Australia is the first book to examine historical records from early colonists who interacted with south-eastern Australian Aboriginal communities and documented their understanding of the environment, natural resources such as water and plant and animal foods, medicine and other aspects of their material world. This book provides a compelling case for the importance of understanding Indigenous knowledge, to inform discussions around climate change, biodiversity, resource management, health and education. It will be a valuable reference for natural resource management agencies, academics in Indigenous studies and anyone interested in Aboriginal culture and knowledge.

Contents:

Chapter 1 Totemic life p. 1 / Philip A. Clarke

Aboriginal beliefs p. 2

Eaglehawk and Crow narratives p. 6

Life among whales p. 14

Chapter 2 Terrestrial spirit beings p. 19 / Philip A. Clarke

Ethnographic details p. 21

Totemic protectors p. 29

Spirit beings and Aboriginal Biocultural Knowledge p. 33

Chapter 3 Water spirit beings p. 35 / Philip A. Clarke

Bunyips p. 35

The European discovery of bunyips p. 42

Chapter 4 Plant food p. 55 / Philip A. Clarke

Plant foods p. 60

Making wild foods 'useful' p. 68

Chapter 5 Animal food p. 73 / Philip A. Clarke

Invertebrates p. 75

Fish p. 80

Birds p. 84

Reptiles p. 86

Terrestrial mammals p. 87

Marine mammals p. 88

Chapter 6 Water p. 95 / Ian D. Clark

Reading the signs: animals and insects as indicators of the presence of water p. 96

Hydronyms as clues in the cultural landscape p. 97

Rock-boles p. 98

Water from plants p. 98

Owarine p. 100

Waterholes beside dry lakes p. 100

Waterholes dug to retain rainwater p. 101

Adaptations in times of water scarcity p. 101

Thirst quenchers p. 101

Dew water p. 102

Strainers and filters p. 102

Village sites and campsites at sources of permanent water p. 103

Drought conditions blamed on the arrival of Europeans p. 104

Rainmakers or charmers p. 104

Limiting water spillage p. 106

Water extractors p. 106

Water storage/vessels p. 107

Bark buckets p. 109

Waterbags made from animal skins p. 111

Drinking vessels p. 112

Chapter 7 Fire in Aboriginal south-eastern Australia p. 115 / Fred Cahir and Sarah McMaster

The historical record p. 115

Customary burning p. 117

Motivations for burning p. 118

Knowledge of Aboriginal fire p. 122

Fire as an offensive weapon p. 124

Recognising fire skills p. 128

Chapter 8 Watercraft p. 133 / Fred Cahir

Creation stories and cultural significance p. 133

Distribution p. 135

Traditional uses p. 136

Transport and communication p. 137

Night fishing p. 138

Customs and ceremony p. 139

How to make a canoe p. 140

Making use of Aboriginal canoes p. 143

Reliance upon Aboriginal knowledge of canoes p. 146

Saving white fellas p. 148

Economic dependence on canoes p. 149

Colonisers using canoes - badly p. 150

Chapter 9 Shelter: housing p. 151 / Fred Cahir

Types of shelters p. 152

Use and reliance by colonisers on Aboriginal shelter p. 166

Destruction of shelters p. 170

Chapter 10 Clothing p. 173 / Fred Cahir

Animal skin and fur clothing p. 173

Manufacturing possum skin garments p. 176

Possum rug decoration p. 179

Garments other than skin, feather or fur p. 181

Headbands and bonnets p. 183

Colonist use of Indigenous skins and furs, and of Aboriginal garments p. 184

Possum skin commerce in the gold rush era p. 186

Chapter 11 Wellbeing p. 189 / Ian D. Clark

Medicine men and women p. 189

Practices of the medicine men and women p. 194

Europeans and their treatment by Aboriginal doctors p. 196

Causes of death and ill-health p. 199

Harming practices p. 204

Dangerous places and sources of dangerous powers p. 205

Chapter 12 Healing p. 209 / Ian D. Clark

Isolating the sick p. 210

General treatment of wounds p. 210

Blood-letting p. 213

Steam baths and cold water bathing p. 213

Use of ligatures p. 214

Rheumatism p. 214

Joint pain p. 218

Skin infections p. 218

Burns p. 218

Venereal disease p. 218

Dysentery p. 220

Chest infections p. 220

Insect repellents p. 220

Headache, earache, toothache and stomach-ache p. 220

Delayed lactation in new mothers p. 222

Treating colic p. 222

Snakebite p. 222

Ophthalmia p. 223

Refreshing drinks and tonics p. 224

European uses of bush medicine p. 224

Chapter 13 Trade p. 229 / Ian D. Clark

Items for exchange p. 232

The context of exchange p. 233

Role of messengers in exchange p. 237

Gifts p. 238

Special expeditions p. 241

Intercultural trade with Europeans p. 241

Chapter 14 Space p. 247 / Philip A. Clarke

The Skyworld p. 249

Skyworld as a home of spirits p. 250

Connections between Earth and the Skyworld p. 253

Underworld p. 255

Orientation and appearance of the Skyworld p. 256

Gender p. 257

Skyworld influences over Earth p. 258

Directions p. 259

Wurdi Youang stone arrangement p. 260

Chapter 15 Time p. 265 / Philip A. Clarke

Forecasting weather p. 266

Seasonal calendar p. 268

Calendar plants p. 274

Weather makers p. 276.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the George Clapp Vaillant Book Fund.

ISBN:

9781486306114

148630611X

OCLC:

1026211282

Publisher Number:

99977620362