The most generally accepted etymology of the word "aborgines" is that it derives from ab origine, according to which they

were the original inhabitants of the country. Australian Aborigines are also called Aboriginal Australians. 2.3% of Australia's population Mixture of Christian, small numbers of other religions, various locally indigenous religions grounded in Australian Aboriginal mythology Languages: several hundred Indigenous Australian languages, many no longer spoken, Australian English, Australian Aboriginal English, Kriol The Australian Aboriginal Flag is a flag that represents Indigenous Australians. It is one of the official "Flags of Australia", and holds special legal and political status, but it is not the "Australian National Flag". It was designed in 1971 by Aboriginal artist Harold Thomas. The flag was originally designed for the land rights movement, and it became a symbol of the Aboriginal people of Australia. The symbolic meaning of the flag colours is: Red: Represents the red earth, the red ochre and a spiritual relation to the land Yellow: Represents the Sun, the giver of life and protector Black: Represents the Aboriginal people of Australia

A didgeridoo is a type of musical instrument and it is one of the oldest

instruments to date. It consists of a long tube, without finger holes, through which the player blows. Didgeridoos are traditionally made of eucalyptus, but temporary materials such as PVC piping are used. In traditional situations it is played only by men, usually as an accompaniment to ceremonial or recreational singing, or, much more rarely, as a solo instrument. Skilled players use the technique of circular breathing to achieve a continuous sound. Although traditionally the instrument was not widespread around the country - it was only used by Aboriginal groups in the most northerly areas - today it is commonly considered the national instrument of the Australian Aborigines and is world renowned as a unique and iconic instrument.

The Dreaming has different meanings for different Aboriginal groups. The
Dreaming can be seen as an embodiment of Creation, which gives meaning to everything. It establishes the rules governing relationships between the people, the land and all things for Aboriginal people. The world was created during the Dreamtime. A Dreaming is a story owned by different tribes and their members that explains the creation of life, people and animals. A Dreaming story is passed on protectively as it is owned and is a form of "intellectual property". In the modern context, an Aborigine cannot relate, or paint someone else's dreaming or creation story without prior permission of the Dreaming's owner. Someone's dreaming story must be respected, as the individual holds the knowledge to that Dreaming story.

Certain behavioural constraints are associated with dreaming ownership; for instance, if a Dreaming is painted without authorisation, such action can meet with accusations of "stealing" someone else's Dreaming. Dreamings as "property" have also been used by a few Aboriginal tribes to argue before the High Court of Australia their title over traditional tribal land. Paintings of Dreamings, travelling journeys and ceremonies tend to depict the locations where they occur. There have been cases in which 10-metre-long paintings have been presented to the Court, as evidence of the tribe's title deed after terra nullius was struck down during the tenure of Chief Justice Gerard Brennan. The Dreamtime laid down the patterns of life for the Aboriginal people. They believe that every person essentially exists eternally in the Dreaming. This eternal part existed before the life of the individual begins, and continues to exist when the life of the individual ends. Both before and after life, it is believed that this spirit-child exists in the Dreaming and is only initiated into life by being born through a mother. The spirit of the child is culturally understood to enter the developing fetus during the fifth month of pregnancy. When the mother felt the child move in the womb for the first time, it was thought that this was the work of the spirit of the land in which the mother then stood. Upon birth, the child is considered to be a special custodian of that part of his country and is taught the stories and songlines of that place. As Wolf (1994: p. 14) states: "A black 'fella' may regard his totem or the place from which his spirit came as his Dreaming. He may also regard tribal law as his Dreaming." It was believed that, before humans, animals, and plants came into being, their 'souls' existed; they knew they would become physical, but not when. And when that time came, all but one of the 'souls' became plants or animals, with the last one becoming human and acting as a guardian to the natural world around them.

Suns, Moons, and Stars

Beyond the horizon, where no one had ever been, there is a beautiful land with grassy valleys and tree-covered hills. Streams trickle down the green slopes and join together to form a broad, placid river, where flowers nod their heads over the banks. The inhabitants of that land are Moons--big, shining, globular moons. They have no arms or legs, but they can move quickly across the grass by rolling over and over. It is a pleasant life in that green, watered land, but sometimes the Moons grow restless, and when night comes they have the urge to explore farther afield and stroll across the sky. Only one moon ever goes on such a journey at a time. It is a pity that they do not go in company, but they do not know that outside the valley there lives a giant. He catches the wandering Moon, and with his flint knife he cuts a slice from it each night, until after many nights there is nothing left but a number of shining slivers. The giant cuts them up very finely and throws them all over the sky. They are timid little creatures, the cut-up Moons which have become stars. During the day, when a Sun goes striding across the sky, they hide. Who knows but that, if they showed themselves then, another Sun might not creep out and catch them unwares. At night there are no Suns, and who cares about the next silly old Moon who will go for a stroll and never come back? Very soon he too will be cut up into Stars. So, in the velvety blackness of the night, they frolic and play until the hungry Sun again stamps across the sky.