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Article: The brief reach of history and the limitation of recall in traditional aboriginal societies and cultures.
- Article from:
- Oceania
- Article date:
- July 1, 2006
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2006 University of Sydney. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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'Knowest thou it because thou wast then born? Or because the number of thy days is great?' (Job, 38:21--Authorised version of the Bible)
In this essay I address the backward reach of time in traditional Aboriginal societies and cultures. (1) My reason for embarking on this course is that the depth of Aboriginal recall is relevant to the native title demand that a judge, as fact finder, will determine the extent to which the current practices of the applicants in a native title case relate to the practices of their forebears at sovereignty.
More particularly, on the authority of Yorta Yorta (HC) as set out in Yulara (FC) at 192, the native title ...