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In the Beginning of the Dreamtime
while the Ancestral Beings were walking the earth, shaping it, they also
taught the clans their own languages, and created ceremonies for them. These
ceremonies consisted of songs, dance, painted designs,and ritual procedures.
The Ancestral Beings made it law that each clan must perform these ceremonies
for the rest of time for a secure life. By performing these ceremonies set
by their ancestors, the clans are able to get the benefits from them. Some
ceremonies are sacred to the Aborigines and are kept very secret. Most of
these ceremonies are held at a men's secret ceremonial ground. Women and
children aren't allowed on the grounds with the men. They have their own
area a short distance away where they perform their own ceremonies. At a
neutral stage, the men, women, and children come together and perform a
ritual for the conclusion. In order for this to be valid, women are essential.
There are also ceremonies that aren't secret, but they are still sacred. These ceremonies which consist of song and dance are performed by both the men and the women. They are short and vigorous clan dances. One of them, dhapi, marks a youth's entry into manhood. Another, barpurru, honors the"imminent demise of an individual", or honors the life of a deceased individual. These ceremonies revitalize and renew the cultural traditions and knowledge of the clans.