Totems play an integral role in Aboriginal identity within the Kamilaroi nation. At birth, each child is associated with a totem which remains with the person for life. A totem holds significant importance for each individual, as he/she holds the important responsibility of supporting the identifies species for generations to come. Links between the spiritual world, creation time and the living world (land and creatures) are associated with totems which are passed down from mother or father, given by a spiritual sign linked to the ancestral spirit that the totem represents. In 2008, the Queensland Studies Authority, a division of the Queensland Government, released a detailed report explaining the rites and customs of indigenous populations. The document uses the following example of a totem birth rite: ‘A goanna may cross the mother’s path during her pregnancy. He future child is then seen to be linked to the goanna dreaming or the ancestor Uudinaddalli and as such has a special relationship with the goanna and with the physical location where the mother saw the sign.’ A totem can be either an animal, a component of a natural landscape, a plant or even a weather pattern. Knowing one’s totem allows an individual to understand one’s relationship within a language group or to other Aboriginal people, giving them a connection with one’s sacred country. Individuals having the same totem share a special bond “Kamilaroi totems include Dilby the Crow and Kaputhin the Eagle. Kaputhin the Eagle associates itself with the following spiritual concepts: - Celebration of the blue skies. - Upperworld Messenger. - Soaring over obstacles. - The value of the Ego and Transcending the Ego - Heat and wind wisdom - Flight of the Spirit Within the totems subtotem groupings exist. These are derived as a social class system from matriarchal lines of descent allowing marriage and relationships to take place from other parts of the Kamilaroi nation. The subtotem groupings are aligned with animal totems (examples stated below) within the Kamilaroi nation. These are represented as followed: Kaputhin Moiety-Yibaay/Gambuu (Ringtail possum, red kangaroo, quoll, wallaroo, platypus, quail, barking owl, emu, brolga and death adder) Dilby Moiety- Marrii/Gabbi (Brush-tailed possum, bandicoot, echidna, pademelon, eastern grey kangaroo, pelican, white cockatoo and kookaburra) in Totem totem (ma)
marries Totem (F)
producing
Children
Two examples of a union of two Gamilaraay people from the Kamilaroi nation
1.Blacksnake Yibaay clan– Emu Yibaadha - blacksnake Gambuu (m) Buudhaa (f) 2.Goanna Marri clan - Kangaroo Maadha clan – Goanna Gabii (m) Gabuudha (f)
Your totem determines whom you can marry and whom you cannot marry.
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