SymbolsThere are many Aboriginal symbols that mean many different things, and one of the most popular and best known ways of displaying those symbols is with painting. Not only the pictures that are being painted have a meaning, but the colours do as well. For example, red, black, yellow and white are sacred colours which were given to the Aborigines during the dreamtime. Often the symbols are put together to form a story so that it can be passed down through generations. One of the most popular stories for both Aboriginals and those that are not Aboriginal is the story of the Akurra serpent, or more commonly known as the rainbow serpent. Other symbols are things that are physical, and not just in paintings. For example, the Milky Way symbolises a river called Milngyya, and earth, water, fire and air are symbols of creation. Shown in the picture to the left, the simplest dots, lines and squiggles can mean very complex things.
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objects
All Aboriginal objects are made from the nature, using things like plants, trees, and dirt. Aboriginals are quite creative in the way they use the land. Aboriginal objects, like Aboriginal paintings, symbolise different things. For example, the didgeridoo is a powerful instrument for healing, made from the hollow bough of a tree. Canoes are thought to have come from the ancestors of the dreamtime. Some other sacred objects include;
- Dance boards (used for ceremonies)
- Boomerangs (used for training and fun)
- Shields (used for hunting)
- Animal traps (used for hunting)
- Axes & other weapons (used for hunting)