A Torres Strait Islander Perspective on the Concept of Indigenous Knowledge
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1017/S1326011100001368Abstract
The concept of Indigenous knowledge itself has life; it is ‘living’ knowledge. This Indigenous knowledge or ‘living’ knowledge is not written, but rather transmitted orally by the gatekeepers and holders of knowledge, especially from our Elders ‘ Athe’ (grandfather), ’ Aka’ (grandmother), our parents ‘ Baba’ (father), and ‘ Ama’ (mother), as well as our (uncles) ‘ Awahdeh’ and our (aunties) ‘ Ama’. These holders of knowledge play a major part in our individual lives as they mould or shape our minds, values, ethics, morals and opinions about society today and its influences on us as individuals. The Elders also influence where we place ourselves in our community and in the wider community. This transmission of Indigenous knowledge is ‘ passed on’ through traditional language, traditional lores, understandings of totems, kinship ties, performance of dances, songs, stories, myths, legends, rituals, ceremonies and activities or events which influence our lives daily.
Downloads
References
ABTS2000-Torres Strait Islander Studies (Semester 2,2001 ) Student Triad Assessments on Indigenous Knowledge (select student assessments only).
Bani E. ( 2001). ‘ Culture connection: The quest for knowledge. Torres News(date issued: 28 September-4 October 2001), p. 13.
Cajete G. ( 2000). Native Science: Natural Laws of Independence. Santa Fe: Clear Light Publishers.
Huggins J. ( 1992). ‘ Pretty deadly Tidda business’. Second Degree Tampering - Writing by Women, pp. 107– 115.
Huggins J. ( 1998). Sister Girl. St Lucia: University of Queensland Press.
Huggins J. and Tarrago I. ( 1990). ‘ Questions of collaboration: Interview with Jackie Huggins and Isabel Tarrago’. Hecate 16( 1-2): 140– 147.
Lowah T. ( 1988). Eded Mer (My Life). Kuranda: The Rams Skull Press.
Mam S. and Elu M., Trevallion I. and Reid A.G. ( 1993). ‘ The coconut palm tree - Metaphor for Islander family life’. Australian Institute of Family Studies - Family Matters 35: 19– 21.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2001 The Author(s)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
The Australian Journal of Indigenous Education is in the process of transitioning to fully Open Access. Most articles are available as Open Access but some are currently Free Access whereby copyright still applies and if you wish to re-use the article permission will need to be sought from the copyright holder. This article's license terms are outlined at the URL above.
