Ancestors, magic, and exchange in Yolngu doctrines: extensions of the person in time and space

• Published in: The Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute Vol. 12; no. 3; pp. 515 - 530
• Main Author: Keen, Ian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.09.2006; Blackwell Publishers; Blackwell Publishing
• Subjects: Aboriginal culture; Aboriginal religion; Aborigines; Ancestry; Anthropology; Anthropology of religion; Australia; Bones; Ceremonial objects; Ceremonies; Christianity; Durkheim, Emile; Ethnology; Galaka; Genealogy; Generalities; Gift giving; Gifts of body parts; Human body; Human subjects; Indigenous peoples; Magic; Morality; Mothers; Native peoples; Political order; Ragalk; Religion; Religion, magic, witchcraft; Religious Doctrines; Ritual; Social anthropology; Social order; Sorcery; Space; Space and Time; Spirits; Supernatural; Symbolism; Time; Wangarr; Witchcraft; Yolngu; Belief; Exchange; Space; Witchcraft; Magic; Notion of the person; Religion; Yolngu; Time; Relation with ancestors
• ISSN: 1359-0987; 1467-9655
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9655.2006.00350.x

The article draws on the association drawn by Munn between Aboriginal ancestral transformations and the moral order, and the theory of partible persons, in order to re-examine Yolngu doctrines and related practices to do with totemic ancestors and their traces, magic and sorcery, and exchange. It argues that all three broad domains draw on beliefs about intrinsic relations between part and whole, image and object, and the intrinsic powers of bodily substance and spirits of the dead. These domains imply the extension of persons in time and space, and each relates to a rather distinct aspect of the moral-political order. The article shows that the strong dichotomy drawn by Durkheim and his followers between "religion" and "magic7 obscures the connections between these domains, and neglects the instrumental aspect of Yolngu ancestral doctrines and practices. / À partir de l'association faite par Munn entre transformations ancestrales aborigènes et ordre moral et de la théorie des partible persons, l'auteur revisite les doctrines et pratiques des Yolngu liées aux ancêtres toté miques et à leurs traces, à la magie et à la sorcellerie ainsi qu'aux échanges. Il affirme que ces trois grands domaines font appel à des croyances sur les relations intrinsèques entre les parties et le tout, entre l'image et l'objet, entre les pouvoirs inhérents à la substance physique et l'esprit des morts. Ces domaines impliquent une extension des personnes dans le temps et l'espace, et ressortissent chacun à un aspect relativement distinct de l'ordre moral et politique. L'article montre que la forte dichotomie établie par Durkheim et ses émules entre « religion » et « magie » occulte les liens entre ces domaines et néglige l'aspect instrumental des doctrines et pratiques ancestrales des Yolngu.