Aboriginal Structured Violence
Aboriginal Ritualised Violence, Tribal Warfare, Structured Violence, Rule-governed Indigenous Fighting
All we need is a great big... knife fight! The benefits of structured social violence in Indigenous societies in comparison to more chaotic "civilised" violence.
Rule-Governed Violence
In many Indigenous societies, rule governed violence is a mechanism that is necessary for negotiating and renegotiating social space. This is not anarchy or mindless violence - it is structured, ritualised activity that demands discipline and requires training. Unfortunately, when it comes into contact with Western urbanised lifestyles, there is a cultural mismatch that leads to misunderstanding and behaviour that is no longer socially constructive, but destructive.
Savage Inside
In Western society this is framed as "savage" behaviour, and participants are jailed as criminals. Of course, this criminalisation leads to cycles of violence and lawlessness that is no longer grounded in either Aboriginal or Australian law.
But what does "savage" mean? Really, all peoples have been Indigenous until relatively recently in human history. Arguably, a lot of the Indigenous social structures that once allowed people the efficacy to negotiate their reality are being missed by us all, as our lives are now increasingly dictated by global Western values that most believe provide "security".
Is Violence Good Or Evil?
The dominant culture takes for granted that violence is evil, destructive and criminal. Why then do so many find peace and focus through martial arts? Why are so many young people drawn to violent social activity? Why do nations gladly accept the prospect of war? Why are so many films and computer games centred around violence? This is because we are all built to be warriors. It is our nature to want to test ourselves in combat with others. However, it is also natural for us to create structures to minimise social and physical damage caused by this kind of activity.
The Deritualisation Of Violence
The problem with contemporary Western society is that the structures of social violence have been removed, but the violence itself remains. Violence is now supposed to be the exclusive right of the government. So when it naturally emerges amongst our citizens, it becomes criminal activity that is now beyond the control of community norms and values. This makes criminals of our young men, who are merely obeying their testosterone-fuelled genetic urges, but no longer with any kind of safe or productive outlet.
Native Knife Fight
My favourite Indigenous method for settling disputes is a traditional knife-fighting technique from the east coast of Australia. The two combatants are only allowed to cut and stab the opponent on the arms and back, which is very difficult to do when facing an agile opponent. It is also nearly impossible to kill a person from this angle. But here's the ultimate twist - at the end, elders from both sides examine the warriors' wounds to determine the winner, who is then cut up to the same extent as the loser, so that neither may walk away bearing a grudge.
As a teacher, I have used this technique (with marker pens instead of knives!) with previously "unreachable" at-risk adolescent boys. Their transformation is remarkable. Destructive aggression is replaced with constructive energy and mutual respect. The more I have facilitated and participated in this ritual, the more I have become convinced that our troubled young warriors need structured outlets to utilise their aggression. This should not be a decontextualised game, but a meaningful ritual that helps to build youth efficacy. Arguably, the social ritual around sports like football echoes a deep-seated, primal need for this kind of activity.
Check out this text, which is probably the best I have ever read on Aboriginal issues, called "Why Warriors Lay Down And Die".
