Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-hc48f Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T06:46:41.144Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A Torres Strait Islander Perspective on the Concept of Indigenous Knowledge

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 July 2015

Georgina Whap
Get access

Extract

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.

Type
Section A: Teaching and Learning
Information
The Australian Journal of Indigenous Education , Volume 29 , Issue 2 , 2001 , pp. 22 - 29
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2001

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

ABTS2000-Torres Strait Islander Studies (Semester 2,2001 ) Student Triad Assessments on Indigenous Knowledge (select student assessments only).Google Scholar
Bani, E. (2001). ‘Culture connection: The quest for knowledge. Torres News (date issued: 28 September-4 October 2001), p. 13.Google Scholar
Cajete, G. (2000). Native Science: Natural Laws of Independence. Santa Fe: Clear Light Publishers.Google Scholar
Huggins, J. (1992). ‘Pretty deadly Tidda business’. Second Degree Tampering - Writing by Women, pp. 107–115.Google Scholar
Huggins, J. (1998). Sister Girl. St Lucia: University of Queensland Press.Google Scholar
Huggins, J. and Tarrago, I. (1990). ‘Questions of collaboration: Interview with Jackie Huggins and Isabel Tarrago’. Hecate 16(1-2): 140–147.Google Scholar
Lowah, T. (1988). Eded Mer (My Life). Kuranda: The Rams Skull Press.Google Scholar
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.Google Scholar