Aboriginal peoples and birds in Australia : Historical and cultural relationships / Philip A. Clarke.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Clarke, Philip (Philip A.), author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Ethnoornithology--Australia.

Ethnoornithology.

Aboriginal Australians--History.

Aboriginal Australians.

Aboriginal Australians--Social life and customs.

Aboriginal Australians--Religion.

Human-animal relationships--Australia.

Human-animal relationships.

Animals and civilization--Australia.

Animals and civilization.

Birds--Behavior--Australia.

Birds.

Birds--Social aspects--Australia.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (345 pages)

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Melbourne, VIC : CSIRO Publishing, [2023]

Summary:

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 acknowledgment in the future. Cultural sensitivityReaders 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.

Contents:

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.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

Description based on print version record.

Other Format:

Print version: Clarke, Philip A. Aboriginal Peoples and Birds in Australia

ISBN:

9781486315994

1486315992

9781486315987

1486315984

OCLC:

1375293790