Birds as Totemic Beings and Creators in the Lower Murray, South Australia

Abstract

This paper is a literature review of the relationships Indigenous peoples in the Lower Murray of temperate South Australia had with the local avifauna as recorded in the early years of European settlement. Birds were prominent as clan ancestors in their creation stories, being credited with the formation of landforms and the establishment of law and custom. Aboriginal origin stories describe bird behavior and detail the relationships between birds, plants, rain, and fire. Ornithological bodies of knowledge that are framed outside of Western science, such as the ethno-ornithological information discussed here, provide an alternative lens with which to view avifaunal biodiversity in a manner that respects local cultural values.

Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and Ethnobotany for Wind River Reservation Rangelands

“…The recognition of such bonds between humans and nature has also been shown for Indigenous people in many other countries (Clarke 2016;Wu 2015). Pierotti and Wildcat (2000) report that for many tribes, " [d] espite both forced and voluntary relocations, [they] have taken their TEK with them, which has allowed them to survive these experiences and establish sacred places in their new homes.…”

Lepidosperma prospectum (Cyperaceae), a new species from Sydney coastal heath and notes on usage of sword sedges

“…The Ngarrindjeri people along the lower Murray River in South Australia used pinki-moranyi (Lepidosperma canescens Boeckeler) to make a range of complex traps for catching fish, eels and yabbies, as well as highly artistic baskets including in the form of a turtle (Clarke 2003;MAAS 2020). Across southern Australian indigenous communities, woven items, including table mats, basketry items, crafts and toys, were commonly made from flat-leaved Lepidosperma species, or from derived fibres, as they were very durable (Anonymous 1895; Campbell et al 1946;Clarke 1986Clarke , 1999Clarke , 2003Clarke , 2007Clarke , 2015McCourt and Mincham 1987;Bonney 2004;Stephens and Sharp 2009).…”

Birds and the Spirit World of the Lower Murray, South Australia

“…The historical records and the academic literature relevant to the ethnoornithology of the Lower Murray are widely dispersed and their reliability as data sources varies considerably (Clarke 2016). Anecdotal accounts from the nineteenth century were produced by explorers, settlers, missionaries, and colonial officials who often had only cursory knowledge of local Indigenous cultures.…”

“…As with many Indigenous peoples, birds are central to the spirit worlds of Aboriginal Australians. Among Aborigines, creation stories are richly endowed with narratives about avian ancestors (Berndt and Berndt 1989;Isaacs 1980;Roth 1903;Tidemann and Whiteside 2010) and birds are prominent among the totemic animals that shared ancestors with people (Clarke 2016;Howitt 1904). Avian spirits can carry deceased souls, give warnings of impending danger, foretell the future, and, in many cases, bring bad luck (Brown and Naessan 2014;Clarke 1999Clarke , 2007.…”

“…Among Aborigines, creation stories are richly endowed with narratives about avian ancestors (Berndt and Berndt 1989;Isaacs 1980;Roth 1903;Tidemann and Whiteside 2010) and birds are prominent among the totemic animals that shared ancestors with people (Clarke 2016;Howitt 1904). Avian spirits can carry deceased souls, give warnings of impending danger, foretell the future, and, in many cases, bring bad luck (Brown and Naessan 2014;Clarke 1999Clarke , 2007. When spiritually powerful people travel across the country, they project their soul spirit into the form of animals, most often birds, and leave their bodies behind (Elkin 1977).…”