Page 20 - 10th Annual International Charles Town Maroon Conference and Festival Magazine

June 2018 Charles Town Maroon International Conference Magazine

Aboriginal healing practices:

the ngangkari of Central Australia

Previously published on www.theconversation.com

Ngangkari are recognised as having particular Yet, Aboriginal traditional medicine has been
facilities for healing in their childhood and are then neglected in Australia. This is out of step with inter-
encouraged to develop their skills. They often talk national instruments, such as Article 24 of the United
about being taught by their grandparents. Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous
Peoples, which states:
The wellbeing of Indigenous people is based around
having the freedom and resources to practise cultural Indigenous peoples have the right to their traditional
medicines and to maintain their health practices,
ways of being. While some of these can seem removed
from those in the West – such as the lack of mate- including the conservation of their vital medicinal
plants, animals and minerals.
rialism, primacy of kin and a close relationship to the
natural world – including them in mainstream culture To close the gap, we must address the construction that
can contribute to everyone’s wellbeing. the cultural ways of Aboriginal people are shallow,
meaningless or even toxic. Such colonising tropes are
One way that Aboriginal culture differs from the a barrier to creating the kind of freedom necessary for
West’s is in its healing practices. These involve mind-
Indigenous Australians to live healthy lives.
fulness and attention to relationships with all living
things, as well as seeking the advice and treatments of
traditional healers.

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