Traditional Life Wiradjuri
The Wiradjuri clan have been custodians of the land for 40000 years.
They have lived in harmony with the environment taking only what was needed. Tribes of men, women and children travelled in groups following the seasonal availability of food and resources. Men and women would hunt and gather what they needed using many tools, weapons and methods.
Dreaming was very important. It is through dreaming that traditional ways were followed. Dreaming explains how the land, animals and plants were created. It also describes how people should act and behave.
People did not own the land but were responsible for looking after it. Each tribe had their own area to hunt and gather food. The size of the area varied according to the amount of food in it.
A tribe would consist of maybe 10 to 50 people depending on food supply and other things. Each tribe was based on family groups and relationships held to extended family groups. The Wiradjuri nation was made up of hundreds of tribes living throughout the territory. These tribes had the same language and the same beliefs. That is what made them a nation.
Each of the people had a specific relationship with the others in the tribe and the nation. The relationship rules came from the Dreaming and told them who they could marry and how they should live. It is how they got their totem. The dreaming also told of the tribal and ceremonial places that were sacred. The kinship rules meant that no-one would ever be alone without someone to care for them.
Society was built around religion and spirituality. Baiame was the creator and gave the laws for behaviour and custodianship of the land.
Once or twice a year the tribe would meet with others for ceremonies, corroborees and trading. Weapons, tools and decorations made by one tribe would be traded for things from another tribe. These meetings were important as they allowed peaceful gatherings between tribes and nations.
Children learnt about life and ceremonies as they helped with the daily work. They would learn how to hunt and gather food by helping the women and men. As the children grew older they were taught more and more of the tribe’s secrets. Education was a life long process. It was the women of the tribe who were responsible for teaching the children.
They have lived in harmony with the environment taking only what was needed. Tribes of men, women and children travelled in groups following the seasonal availability of food and resources. Men and women would hunt and gather what they needed using many tools, weapons and methods.
Dreaming was very important. It is through dreaming that traditional ways were followed. Dreaming explains how the land, animals and plants were created. It also describes how people should act and behave.
People did not own the land but were responsible for looking after it. Each tribe had their own area to hunt and gather food. The size of the area varied according to the amount of food in it.
A tribe would consist of maybe 10 to 50 people depending on food supply and other things. Each tribe was based on family groups and relationships held to extended family groups. The Wiradjuri nation was made up of hundreds of tribes living throughout the territory. These tribes had the same language and the same beliefs. That is what made them a nation.
Each of the people had a specific relationship with the others in the tribe and the nation. The relationship rules came from the Dreaming and told them who they could marry and how they should live. It is how they got their totem. The dreaming also told of the tribal and ceremonial places that were sacred. The kinship rules meant that no-one would ever be alone without someone to care for them.
Society was built around religion and spirituality. Baiame was the creator and gave the laws for behaviour and custodianship of the land.
Once or twice a year the tribe would meet with others for ceremonies, corroborees and trading. Weapons, tools and decorations made by one tribe would be traded for things from another tribe. These meetings were important as they allowed peaceful gatherings between tribes and nations.
Children learnt about life and ceremonies as they helped with the daily work. They would learn how to hunt and gather food by helping the women and men. As the children grew older they were taught more and more of the tribe’s secrets. Education was a life long process. It was the women of the tribe who were responsible for teaching the children.