Indigenous dance group explains the heritage of the Aboriginal war dance

3/08/15 As Adam Goodes returns to the AFL after the 'booing' saga, Lateline finds out just what the Aboriginal war dance means to Indigenous people.

[@Loribyn]

As an Australian, I would LOVE to see our sports men and women do a traditional Indigenous war-dance before 'battle' -- and the fact that it's a welcome *and* a warning, just makes it ever more perfect! I don't agree with everything Goodes comes out with, but I do love that ~ because as an Australian, Indigenous history is part of MY history too - on this land how could it not be? - and IMO we only go wrong as a culture when we forget that.

[@nicholassmith7984]

And then one day, both sides can do the same against the English, and show them that we're not messing around.

[@krislitson]

Bring. It. On. I cannot wait for the moment when local aboriginal dances get the same respect on the football field as a Haka on the Kiwi rubgy pitch. We're the most Western/Polynesian nations in the world and we have a fantastic opportunity to be the best of both. We should run with it. Then score under the posts.

[@ComaToast1]

U already know we luv yaz but ill let you know again love yaz!

[@mikefalcon85]

Good on you guys.... Many respect for indigenous of this great country

[@krispintaylorgaming6501]

Thanks

[@agenttheater5]

Adam Goodes didn't do anything wrong. The war dance should be performed more often at football games, show that the Aboriginal customs aren't going to die out, they're still there and must be remembered.

[@Loribyn]

Indeed! We should be learning them in school; just as we should learn Aboriginal languages.

[@Loribyn]

Indeed they were! But each school could institute classes in their region's local languages. It's at least worth considering.

[@soullight8632]

caveman Versace how about schools just learn the common phrases of their local languages. That way, there's a bit of unity and uniqueness in that community

[@exohexoh3948]

He threw an imaginary spear into the crowd and everyone lost their shit. White Australia ain't ready for us 😂

[@CursedEarthTV]

I'd love if they introduced a war dance. I'd learn it in a second. I'm sick of standing in silence when the Kiwis do the Haka

[@spongeeveryday]

I play in the USAFL, headed to WA in June to play this year...going to try and learn a dance to Bring back to the USAFL

[@ropssmith6166]

And where was that silence when Adam Goodes wanted to perform his own haka on his land?

[@nicholassmith7984]

This would be fantastic. We really need to up out game against the Kiwis.

[@thumbprint7150]

Great pitch dance, more please.

[@lunairies]

Oh man those questions are kind of awful, you all answered really well. I am maori and not gunna lie I’m kinda sick a seeing haka! I want to embrace our indigenous cousins from around the world. I absolutely love your war dance, the energy is exactly as they said, it’s a welcome and a warning, same as haka pretty much! Only the energy is uniquely you guys and I love that. I first saw war dance when nz and aus did this NRL game. Amazing!

[@ComaToast1]

Thats what we gotta deal with give a little insight but same shit you already know but Haka to deadly tho you may get sick of it but we dont 🖤✊🏿

[@grizzlytasbear9716]

Its beutiful never boo our fisrt nation people those dances are sacred good on Adam.

[@travismarangoni8268]

Should make an online petition to get this at all big international events. Would be amazing

[@energetica346]

Good for original Australians and Mr Goodes for doing the wonderful dance. Cannot beleive the people who have a problem with it. Swore if ever I return it would only be to visit original Australia! It is a very special part of the planetary culture.

[@JOE-bm9oq]

I would love to see more aspects of Indigenous culture being adopted and embraced into everyday life, we can create a hybrid culture to which will be our culture, Australian culture, one unique to us.

[@aborigineone2377]

Finally so true history

[@ComaToast1]

Na fk that the whytes still need to leave lol we are gonna take back control soon 1 day also dont you worry

[@sebastianlodge7549]

I wish that white Australians and black Australian United, I would love for us to get along better and share in the same culture and customs. If it was considered ok for a white man to do aboriginal dances or try his best in doing so, than I would.

[@ComaToast1]

Never ever fk that i will never forget aslong as they occupy my lands with us living under there rule we can never coexist peacefully

[@user-td4do3op2d]

@@ComaToast1 So you want millions of white people, most of whom have been there for generations, to all leave the country as refugees? Then what? The few hundred thousand aboriginals would move into the abandoned cities?

[@BioTransXX]

I've been trying to tell people this forever. No one knows anything about Indigenous Australian people and culture outside of Indigenous communities. Indigenous culture should be taught in primary schools by Indigenous Australians so that the future generations of Australians know more than just what happened with the arrival of Cook but can learn about and integrate Indigenous culture instead of just expecting Indigenous people to assimilate into Western society and adopt Western culture. Integration of both cultures... that is how we can move forward and have true healing.

[@faithfirstfitness]

I'm blessed that aboriginal culture was ingrained in my primary school learning experience. I grew up having many indigenous friends and for me even now when I think of Australian culture aboriginal culture comes to mind first. We had welcome to country every assembly, school concert etc... I don't remember us ever not doing it. We had like id say 20 maybe more Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander kids so thankfully their culture and presence literally couldn't be ignored. I learned about the stolen generation in like year 3 I knew a few kids who either their aunties, uncles, mum, dad or grandparents were part of that generation that were taken. I thought it was weird in HS where it wasn't stressed so much. We never learned about aboriginal slavery though so Australia needs to get real and teach everything in schools about our history, not just what makes us comfortable.

[@anonymousperson8259]

Is doing a war dance appropriate? Heck yes! It is culturally insensitive to think that the only way to behave is that of an industrialized, corporatized European. I am not European, but in defense of even THEIR ancestors, I wonder what their Celtic, Viking, Slavic, or Roman warrior ancestors would say if they knew people disapproved of men shouting, singing, or challenging their opponents before competitions? I am an American female and I am sick of seeing men being emasculated! Men are meant to be warriors! But we've stuck them in shirts and ties and made them pencil pushers. The only way to be aggressive is to rev a car engine loudly or grunt at the gym. You cannot even hang up a phone aggressively with cell phones! When men aren't allowed to be warriors they forget to be protective of women and get disrespectful, letting doors slam in our faces instead of opening them, or not caring what happens to us if we have to walk home alone from work. One exception with modern men is soldiers ( well duh to myself I guess, because they're allowed to be in touch with their warrior nature) I have never met a soldier that didn't call me ma'am or wasn't respectful--whatever the age. And I am not blaming other guys-- there ARE still a few warrior-like men sprinkled out there. Hopefully this will be seen as someone trying to speak out for men, because there should be no debate on whether men should be allowed to act manly. The guys in the video are not hurling insults at the other team, or physically assaulting anyone--that would be inappropriate. A war dance is simply saying "this is my territory, I will honor it and muster all my strength to defend it. Don't disrespect it!" And tribal warfare still goes on, it's just hidden in plain sight, with corporations engulfing one another, people vying for management positions, joining unioins and associations, and developers buying up whole neighborhoods. So since the warfare hasn't stopped, let people scream it out a bit. Might be therapeutic.

[@soullight8632]

Arte Bar mate. You're carrying some horribly heavy baggage. I might just be seeing it from a different angle but she didn't mention any of this stuff. In fact, she didn't show any feminist motivations at all. It actually seemed like you actually share some pretty damn similar beliefs. So calm down and reassess yourself before you make some comment that may really hurt someone. If you're carrying some emotional baggage, *you're* the asshole, because you're trying to spread that same baggage to others

[@soullight8632]

Anonymous Person and to you. I totally agree with your comment. Men are really meant to be a warrior, in some way or another. Maybe we may find a way to express the inner warrior in a *non* violent way, so that it may better fit into society. Btw, fighters are pretty damn similar to soldiers. And the amount of mateship and comradeship in a fight gym is crazy.

[@thumbprint7150]

Anonymous Person - Oh what a smorgasbord! 'joining unions'? Where does that fit into aboriginal culture? Not all women want men to protect them or hold open doors - many would simply prefer men to behave with respect and acknowledge women's bodily autonomy. The aboriginal war dances really have nothing much to do with holding doors open for women, joining unions or developers buying up neighbourhoods. Shoehorning your pet obsessions into this topic is odd to say the least.

[@thumbprint7150]

@@Modellux - Ha ha. Another person shoehorning their pet obsessions into this discussion of aboriginal Australian dance culture. There really are plenty of sites where your extreme hatred of American women can be freely expressed - try reddit - so please leave aboriginal Australian dancers out of range of your mad vitriol.

[@benmedway468]

The hakka is a war dance. Correct me if i am wrong but aboriginals dont have a war dance and never have ? But now one was put together for the rug by league ?

[@kurtiscoleman8189]

Demonization of Adam Goods for the war dance but ignore the all blacks haka Bit Hypocritical

[@scorpionsubzero9986]

If i was a football player wen I'd make a score I'd do my war dance wen ever I'd make one

[@matthewmann8969]

All of the above

[@xkrazestahx]

Respect

[@brycepardoe658]

A beautiful tradition

[@IPostVideos.]

Wow

[@niklashall5969]

Well said!

[@jameskruise3234]

Go Adam black yellow red on the flag ❤️

[@lja3785]

mAh brada. Yes white people do think like that

[@aelanwolmby805]

The Red ochre it's only displays on my culture we are the only trip in Australia use Red ochre it's like this Aboriginal copy and stealing my culture I'm a wik nuthan man I grow up culture way I speak 2 luggage and 3 makes English the only time I talk English is Whan i'm with my white friends Whan I go back to my community I talk luggage full on hahaha I will show you real culture I want out bush walk about for 2 years with my grandfather showed me how to live of the land not take way food or McDonald's or KFC hahah 🤣 come out bush I will show you real culture

[@wewewowo960]

Aboriginal was from Africa

[@Escekar]

When? And what about it. Was you there to see them off or something..

[@ComaToast1]

No the fuck we arent 🤣

[@lisarochwarg4707]

Everyone came from Africa. Why don't you claim Norwegians?