Abstract
The Yolngu Aboriginal people of Arnhem Land have traditionally recognised the authority of the Madayin system to order their lives. The Madayin system, like other Aboriginal systems of authority, is often translated into English as a system of Aboriginal customary law. However this description of ‘law’ ignores the religious nature of these systems. This article argues that religion and law are inseparable in traditional Aboriginal authority systems and therefore Madayin is as much religion as it is law.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 50-73 |
Number of pages | 24 |
Journal | University of Notre Dame Australia Law Review |
Volume | 16 |
Issue number | 1 |
Publication status | Published - 2014 |