Oksana Babelyuk: Adaptation of Indigenous Storytelling in Indigenous Australian Literature: Narrative and Poetic Aspects

Article

DOI 10.51313/Freeside-2024-01

The article focuses on adapting the mindset found in Indigenous Australian literature, which has been significantly under-represented recently. It explores how Indigenous thinking can contribute non-Westernised thoughts towards global crises and complex human issues, including climate change, national genocide, authoritarian regimes, wars, diseases, and poverty. The foundational principle for interpreting Indigenous literature is the First Nations concept of Care for Country (the Lore), which embodies a unique philosophical and ecological understanding developed over centuries. In this context, Country is regarded as an interconnected whole involving the environment (land, water, sky) and social relationships (human and non-human). This perspective promotes an ecological worldview where the land is sacred and governed by law, shaping the relationships between people, society, and Country. The article puts special emphasis on interpreting Indigenous concepts like Country, Mother Nature, Lore, Law, Connection, Story, Love, and Sharing, viewing them through the lens of Indigenous spirituality. The research aims to highlight the unique use of Indigenous pronouns, time perception, and nature imagery, which are crucial for understanding this tradition. Linguistic features of Indigenous Australian languages also reflect their unique worldview. For example, using pronouns such as us-two, us-only, us-all, you-two, we-all, you-all emphasizes the interconnection between the individual and the community. Ultimately, it is demonstrated that adapted Indigenous Australian storytelling can illuminate past injustices, provide healing through truth-telling in the present, and guide a meaningful path forward for multicultural contemporary Australian society.