How do indigenous people mourn?
Funerals and mourning are very much a communal activity in Aboriginal culture. Families, friends and members of the larger community will come together to grieve and support each other. Within some Aboriginal groups, there is a strong tradition of not speaking the name of a dead person, or depicting them in images.
Instead of mourning the deceased in sadness, they feast and celebrate with singing and dancing. Another interesting part of their mortuary rituals is that Aboriginal people in Australian avoid saying the name of the dead or depicting them in photos or films.
'Shame' (deeply felt feelings of being ashamed or embarrassed) for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people may result from sharing private or personal information, cultural beliefs and from breaches of confidentiality.
Many Aboriginal tribal groups share the belief that this life is only part of a longer journey. When a person passes away, the spirit leaves the body. The spirit must be sent along its journey; otherwise it will stay and disturb the family.
Mourners bathe and dress the body in special garments. The mourners bury the deceased far away from the living areas, along with their possessions and the tools used to bury the body. If the deceased died in their hogan—home of tree and bark—family members burn it along with any remaining possessions.
In general, during the time of mourning, grief is expressed through crying, singing, wailing, cutting of hair and cutting one's body. In all ceremonies, drugs and alcohol are strictly forbidden. Menstruating or “mooning” women are also prohibited from the ceremonial grounds and sweat lodges.
Some common patterns include: High involvement of a funeral director in preparations for mourning and burial. A gathering of friends and family at the home of the deceased to offer support and share in the common grief. A wake during which music, songs and hymns are played or sung.
The stages in her model were: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance. The seven stages of grief include the five stages Dr. Kubler-Ross outlined but also include guilt, an upward turn, and reconstruction.
In some cultures, people believe that the spirit of someone who has died directly influences the living family members. The family members are comforted by the belief that their loved one is watching over them. In general, beliefs about the meaning of death help people make sense of it and cope with its mystery.
As Indigenous people regain knowledge of their culture and reconnect to their home communities, they often choose traditional services and burial.
What is the traditional mourning period?
Etiquette books recommended that mothers mourn a child for one year, a child mourn a parent for one year, and siblings mourn for six months. Widowers mourned for only three months by wearing armbands, badges, or rosettes of black fabric.
"More than two million Native American Indians live in the United States and their death and funeral practices vary greatly depending on their tribe. Overall, funeral services are a sacred event that honors the dead and brings the community together.
