Message sticks were used by Aboriginal people in Australia as a non-verbal means of communication between tribes. They were made from wood and engraved with symbols, and were carried by couriers who were granted safe passage. Today, message sticks are still used as a cultural symbol and for identification purposes.
A message stick was an ancient and often non-verbal form of communication that originated in Australia, particularly among Aboriginal people. It consisted of a wooden stick engraved with designs and symbols. These items were transmitted by couriers between various regions and tribes and thus functioned as a means of cross-cultural communication. In modern times, a message stick could still be used for communication purposes or could serve as an Aboriginal cultural symbol containing important and meaningful designs.
“Aboriginal” is a term that refers to people believed to be the earliest known inhabitants of a region and, in this case, is used to describe different sub-groups of Native Australians. Each group might have their own unique customs and languages. They were often divided by tribe, so these groups needed a means to communicate. Stick messages were originally designed for this purpose.
The staff itself was often made from wood from native Australian trees such as black wattles. Messages were placed on the sticks using a variety of methods, including carving, painting or burning symbols into the wood. Signs usually consisted of wordless symbols that had to be translated by the carrier. This messenger was therefore usually a physically fit younger man who had the mental acuity to convey the details of the message correctly.
Message sticks functioned as a sort of neutral territory between the tribes. Couriers were granted safe passage and safe harbor, even if they came from an enemy land. At times, the delivery method consisted of a single courier carrying a message from tribe to tribe. Other methods had one tribe begin a process of handing over between tribes, with each tribe using its own courier to carry the message to the next tribe.
Surviving Australian Aboriginal tribes may also use a traditional message stick. It could serve as a passport or means of identification in these areas. While typically still made of wood, they can also be hollow inside and contain a piece of paper rather than carved symbols.
This object has also survived as part of Australian cultural celebrations. Some schools, for example, design and carry stick messages as a means of learning about the past. Also, the term “message stick” is often used in Australian slang to refer to other forms of communication such as newspapers or radio broadcasts.
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