Detailed Report: Aboriginal Hunting, Gathering, and Cultural Practices

This report provides a comprehensive overview of the hunting and gathering practices of traditional Aboriginal Australians. It explores the cultural and religious significance of these activities, including the use of both past and present hunting tools and techniques. The report details the roles of men and women in hunting and gathering, the importance of ceremonies, and the impact of modern laws on traditional practices. It addresses aspects such as costs, times, and requirements for participation, the types of individuals involved, and how access to services is managed. The report also identifies barriers and risks, outlines how the community supports its members, upholds human rights, and disseminates information. Additionally, it examines the needs of older people and the process of improving and teaching new hunting and gathering skills within the community. The report highlights the importance of these practices for maintaining the cultural identity and providing sustenance for Aboriginal communities.

Cultural and religious needs
Traditional Aborigines is the only group that practices hunting and gathering in Australia. The
practice involves use of both the past and the present hunting tools and techniques. Hunting is
supposed to be done within the confines of law in which case men gather to display their talents.
Hunting is an old ritual, which is being, governed by modern law. In some ways, it makes it
possible for men with an opportunity to make claims concerning their position of authority in
groups. The information is obtained during ceremonies where men share knowledge about
animals and their secret names. This male ritual activity maintains the hunting economy of men.
The men hold powerful ceremonies after hunting game to facilitate sharing. Sacred caves or tree
storehouse are built to house local sacred items and the surrounding environment is forbidden
area for those who do not hunt or belong to the group. Hunting and gatherings is forbidden in
sacred places. It is also forbidden to hunt injured animals.
1 Provide all relevant information such as costs, times, days, minimum requirements to
participate. Hunting takes five hours per day. Men wake up to go and hunt in order to
provide food for the family. They require stamina and speed.
2 Describe the type of person who might be interested in the activity. Most people
involved in this kind of activity are normally men who hunt and fish while women go for
gathering. Men go for bush turkey, porcupine, kangaroo and fish while women go for yams,
vegetables, small animals or seeds, berries and various fruits. Children also collect small
game and fruits.

3. Describe how to access the service/program/facility, Membership considerations,
how to gain further information. Membership of the hunting groups is accessed.
One to be the member of the hunting group is assigned to a hunting group at birth in the
tribal land; speaking the same language and having same religious knowledge. Loyalty
among individuals to their family and country is considered.
4. Identify any barriers/risks to participation and strategies that address these. Skills
requirements to participate, access to building equipment, safety concerns, staffing
requirements, transport, costs, equipment. Due to limited land, each tribe is fighting
for food to feed their family. Many tribes have led to each tribe to forage for food in their
own defined territory. Laws have been put to guide the hunting activities; hunters who
disobey the laws are not allowed to hunt. The law requires specific numbers of men or
women at specific place and time. Basic tools such as scrapers and hammers that were
carefully flaked, chipped or ground into shape were used.
5. Describe how the organization/service which provides the activity supports
participants to be active citizens. The group provides support to the member by
equipping them with hunting gears which enable them to carry out their hunting
activities. This facilitates hunting activity to be efficient since they have all the required
equipment.
6. Describes how the Organisation/service which provides the activity upholds human
rights. The group implements laws that govern consumption of certain species of food
and how it is distributed. Factors that determine the right for one consuming a certain
species includes age, sex and the status of a person such as health stages of pregnancy
etc.

7. Describe how information could be made available to people including people they
support, family members and other support officer. The information is obtained
during and cerebrations ceremonies. Men share their idea regarding animals and their
secret names at the same time maintaining their hunting economy. The same thing
happens to women where sharing of information is done generously to others in regards
to gathering of food.
Needs of an older person
1 Provide all relevant information such as costs, times, days, minimum requirements to
participate.
Old people need medical attention and food. Some of who are strong enough for hunting are
allowed for some hours. They can be accompanied by young people or they can hunt for
themselves. They use the same hunting equipment as other hunters
2. Describe the type of person who might be interested in the activity.
Both male and female require a special treatment from families and other people. They depend
for food, shelter and protection since they are old. But, some old men and women participate in
hunting and gathering of food.
3. Describe how to access the service/program/facility. Membership considerations, how to
gain further information.
Old people are protected by the government and the law. The law ensures that aged people are
protected and loved accordingly. As any member of the hunting society, registration is
mandatory.

4. Identify any barriers/risks to participation and strategies that address these. Skills
requirements to participate, access to building equipment, safety concerns, staffing
requirements, transport, costs, equipment etc.
Hunting requires people with skills, strength and courage. Therefore, it becomes a challenge
when old people can`t run for themselves or when they become too weak.
5. Describe how the organization/service which provides the activity supports participants
to be active citizens.
The government provides laws and policies which govern the hunting activity; hence citizens of
the country must abide by them accordingly.
6. Describes how the organization/service which provides the activity upholds human
rights.
The government is providing freedom for people to hunt whereas in other countries, hunting is
prohibited and considered as a criminal offence.
7. Describe how information could be made available to people including people they
support, family members and other support officer.
The source of the information is through the media, or during ritual cerebrations. The message is
also passed from one hunting group to another, from one tribe to another and finally speeding all
over the country. And it is the same way it is passed from one generation to the next.

Improves on or teaches new skills
1 Provide all relevant information such as costs, times, days, minimum requirements to
participate.
Training for hunting requires resources like hunting equipment time and even dogs. One must be
18 years and above male to be a hunter. Gathering is only required by females over 18 and they
also require their gathering tools such as knives, daggers etc.
2. Describe the type of person who might be interested in the activity.
Improving of hunting and gathering skills is required by all parties i.e. male and female. Males
require skills for hunting while female require skills for gathering.
3. Describe how to access the service/program/facility. Membership considerations, how to
gain further information etc.
New skills are achieved when there is an interaction between hunters or gatherers who exchange
ideas to each other. This is achieved mostly in spiritual gatherings such as ritual ceremonies and
cerebrations.
4. Identify any barriers/risks to participation and strategies that address these. Skills
requirements to participate, access to building equipment, safety concerns, staffing
requirements, transport, costs, equipment.
Inexperienced hunters and gatherers face a big challenge due to lack of knowledge in hunting
and gathering activities. This brings about losses of lives or injury during hunting leading to lack
of food hunger and starvation.

5. Describe how the organization/service which provides the activity supports participants
to be active citizens.
It encourages both male and female participation and eve small children. This produces expert
hunters and gatherers who ensure that there is enough food on the table. It encourages hunting
and gathering of food all over the country.
6. Describes how the organization/service which provides the activity upholds human
rights.
By providing hunters and gatherers with quality information and equipments, hunting and
gathering activities is accomplished. People have the right to eat and therefore they do that by
using their unique skills to hunt and gather food for themselves, family and children.
7. Describe how information could be made available to people including people they
support, family members and other support officer.
Hunting and gathering skills are obtained during hunting and gathering process where one is able
to observe and learn the techniques used. The information can also be obtained in ceremonies
and cerebrations during ritual activities.