Difference between revisions of "AY Honors/Aboriginal Lore/Answer Key"
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They are often commonly called ''[[letters]]'' by [[Aborigines|Aboriginal people]]. They were transmitted by [[mailmen]], who could travel hundreds of kilometres to deliver them. | They are often commonly called ''[[letters]]'' by [[Aborigines|Aboriginal people]]. They were transmitted by [[mailmen]], who could travel hundreds of kilometres to deliver them. | ||
| − | [[Donald Thomson]], recounting his journey to[[Arnhem Land]] after the [[Caledon Bay Crisis]], writes of Wonggu sending a message stick to his sons, at that time in prison, to indicate a calling of a truce. In etched angles, it showed people sitting down together, with Wonggu at the centre, keeping the peace. | + | [[Donald Thomson]], recounting his journey to [[Arnhem Land]] after the [[Caledon Bay Crisis]], writes of Wonggu sending a message stick to his sons, at that time in prison, to indicate a calling of a truce. In etched angles, it showed people sitting down together, with Wonggu at the centre, keeping the peace. |
| + | |||
| + | The student [[newspaper]] of the [[University of New South Wales]] goes by the name ''[[Tharunka]]'', which means message stick in the [[Eora]] language, the language of the original people of the [[Sydney]] area. | ||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
Revision as of 02:08, 29 August 2006
A message stick is a form of communication traditionally used by Indigenous Australians. It is usually a solid piece of wood, around 20–30cm in length, etched with angular lines and dots.
The Australian national broadcaster, ABC, calls both its Indigenous online and television components Message Stick in recognition of this custom.
Traditionally, message sticks were passed between different clans and language groups to establish information and transmit messages.
They are often commonly called letters by Aboriginal people. They were transmitted by mailmen, who could travel hundreds of kilometres to deliver them.
Donald Thomson, recounting his journey to Arnhem Land after the Caledon Bay Crisis, writes of Wonggu sending a message stick to his sons, at that time in prison, to indicate a calling of a truce. In etched angles, it showed people sitting down together, with Wonggu at the centre, keeping the peace.
The student newspaper of the University of New South Wales goes by the name Tharunka, which means message stick in the Eora language, the language of the original people of the Sydney area.
External links
- Peterson, Nicholas, Donald Thomson in Arnhem Land, Melbourne University Press ISBN 0522850634, pp 80-81.
- Message Stick TV
- Message Stick Internet
