Aboriginal Art Series – Part 12

Donna McNamara (aka Donne McNamarra) is a skillful, as well as, ardent designer. Donna’s artwork is neat and vivid, brilliant and simply wonderful.

Donna’s design, Corroboree, shows people coming from all directions to attend a Corroboree, a ceremonial gathering of Aboriginal people. People are coming, bringing bush foods such as witchetty grubs, honey ants, and bush fruits which are all available in the area, and sitting around the round corroboree area. There are some strict unwritten regulations which attendees must follow. At corroboree Aboriginals interact with Dreamtime ancestors through dance, music, costumes and body decorations. Outside guests are not permitted to attend these ceremonies without the elders’ permission.

One type of corroboree does not cover all the social needs. There are corroborees for various purposes such as educational for children’s learning, death of a person, initiation and others. Dance is an integral part of Aboriginal culture and includes stories of the ancestral beings who are the creators of the universe. Dancing is learned at an early age.

Corroborees have religious connotations to relate individuals with the ancestral beings. Although the attendees and organizers are responsible people, they must get final clearance from the elders. No one is ever allowed to make unpleasant comments about the participants or performers.