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13. Death in an Aboriginal community

Each community deals with the death of an Aboriginal differently. In some communities the entire community shuts down for “Sorry Business”. This is a grieving process in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities. The mourning period can be a week to indefinitely.

Protocol for dealing with a death in Aboriginal Communities

Refer to your local Aboriginal organization or Aboriginal Worker for local protocol regarding a death in the community.

Organisations should fly the Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Flag at half mask.

In some Aboriginal communities it is culturally inappropriate to use the deceased name or to show a photograph of the deceased person. In some communities it is appropriate to refer to the deceased person as ‘John Smiths brother’ or ‘Sara Smith’s father. Some communities give a mourning name to the deceased.

A death in a family affects the whole community and may impact on previous obligations made to your organization. Immediate and extended families will always take first priority.

Traditionally
Death was always a time of sorrow and supernatural fear among traditional ATSI people. Wailing or crying was a common occurrence among the mourners who often painted their bodies with pipe clay, red ochre, or charcoal when a relative or friend died. In some districts people wore a head covering made of feathers. Other beat their bodies with sticks or clubs, or cut themselves with shells or stone knives to cause bleeding. In these instances the period of sorrow or mourning, was considered to be at an end when their wounds were healed. http://www.crystalinks.com/aboriginals2.html