Introduction

They also believe that Australia took its shape and from the Dreaming Tracks. The Dreaming travelled across the landscape creating mount.

The separation of the link between aborigines and the land has alienated them from their spiritual need of their life, the Dreaming. In 1788 Captain Arthur Phillip sailed into the shores of Australia. He claimed the land terra nullius, an empty or uncivilised land. The Europeans believed that they had rights to the land, as the aborigines did not use the land for farming or housing.

During white settlement the aborigines were forced to move into neighbouring lands, fringe camps attached to rural properties or on the outskirts of town. As this occurred they could not fulfil their religious obligations to protect the land and conduct spiritual ceremonies, which was and still is essential to life and the Dreaming. This caused debate among indigenous people who wanted their land back to practise religious obligations, the Australian government and the Australian justice system.

ains and rivers, which the aboriginal people now call sacred sites, sacred sites that they do not have access to therefore not allowing them to practise aspects of their spirituality. A right, which is associated with the Dreaming, is that of land ownership. The land is the foundation of aboriginal spirituality. Their relationship with the land is central to aboriginal issues that are important to all tribes, all over Australia. The core of aboriginal life is their heritage and identity with the land as it determines their lifestyle and culture.

The Dreaming dominates all spiritual and physical aspects of aboriginal life. It sets out the structure of society and rules for ceremonies that are performed to maintain the life of the land. Aborigines believe that they do not own the land but are part of it so they therefore have the duty to respect and maintain the land.

Aboriginal spirituality is derived from the concept of the Dreaming, where the roots lie in a variety of stories, ceremonies, values and structures.