Totems, moieties, and kinship: Australian First Nations societies

Central to the life of the First Nations people were their social systems that included families, clans, and larger kinship groups. 

Such groups weren’t about who was related to whom; instead, they decided how people related to each other and the world around them. 

Most First Nations peoples lived in small groups of extended families or clans, and they were connected by both kinship and spiritual bonds. 

Groups like these were often nomadic, moving around their traditional lands in search of food, water, and other resources. 

They knew a great deal about their environment and natural surroundings, and their social and, as a result, their cultural practices were closely tied to nature.

Within each community, there were typically leaders or elders, and they were respected for their wisdom and experience. 

Such leaders were often responsible for making decisions on behalf of the group, resolving disputes, and maintaining order. 

They were often supported by other skilled individuals, such as healers, hunters, and spiritual leaders.

Moieties are an important social system found in many First Nations communities and are often called 'skin groups'.

The term comes from the Latin word for 'half', and in this context, it refers to a system where society, and often the natural world, is divided into two complementary halves.

So, in each community, everyone is divided into two groups. Each group was given responsibilities to help support each other and the land around them. 

Which of the two groups you were in was usually determined by which half a person's mother was in.

Interestingly, members of your group were considered to be as close as your own family, and there were certain reponsibilities and rules you had to follow. 

For example, in some communities, members of one moiety are required to marry members of the other moiety.

Totems were another important social system found in many First Nations communities. 

A totem was like a special symbol for a clan, connecting them closely to the land and its creatures. 

Totems like these could be animals, plants, or natural features such as rocks or waterholes. 

Members of a clan or family group are believed to have a spiritual connection with their totem and they needed to be respected and protected. 

In some communities, marriage laws say that individuals cannot marry someone with the same totem.

One of the most notable aspects of the First Nations culture was their way of passing down knowledge. 

Since they did not have written books or the internet, they relied on oral traditions: stories, songs, dances, and art. 

They were essential tools to teach the next generation about their laws, responsibilities to the land, seas, waterways, sky, and universe, and the detailed kinship structures.

To them, the land was a place to live, but also a living being with its own rights.

Therefore, each clan had its territory that was clearly defined, whether it was on land or sea, and needed to be cared for.

Such territories had their own rules and systems. For example, there were land tenure systems that decided who could use which part of the land and when. 

Finally, if the land you were on did not have all of the resources you need, then you could trade with other communities for items like ochre, medicine, and trepang, or sea cucumbers.