Tyson Yunkaporta, an academic and researcher from the Apalech Clan, shares insights from his latest book, exploring Indigenous knowledge systems and the significance of storytelling. He discusses the impact of 'Sand Talk' on societal views, the symbolic meanings of language within Indigenous cultures, and the importance of community in preserving sacred knowledge. Tyson elucidates the differences between Aboriginal law and lore, challenges concerning cultural appropriation, and the interplay between skepticism and spirituality in Indigenous practices.
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Eerie Emu Encounter
An emu appeared on Jim Rutt's Appalachian farm, perplexing him.
The emu chased deer away and eventually disappeared into the woods after a snowfall.
insights INSIGHT
Emu Symbolism
The emu symbolizes different things depending on gender.
Female emus represent narcissism while males embody nurturing and responsibility.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Clapstick Hunting
Tyson Yunkaporta killed a male emu with clapsticks.
He ate the emu for two days and kept some feathers.
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In 'Starship Troopers,' Robert A. Heinlein explores a future society where citizenship and the right to vote are earned through military service. The story follows Juan 'Johnny' Rico as he joins the Terran Mobile Infantry and undergoes rigorous training and battles against an alien species known as the 'Bugs.' The novel delves into themes of citizenship, duty, and the philosophy of war, while also critiquing societal values and the implications of militarism. Through Rico's journey, Heinlein examines the psychological and moral aspects of war, the importance of discipline and sacrifice, and the complex relationships between comrades in a military context.
Blood Meridian
Or, The Evening Redness in the West
Cormac McCarthy
Blood Meridian is a historical novel that depicts the brutal reality of the American West in the mid-19th century. The story follows a 14-year-old runaway from Tennessee, known as 'the kid', who joins the Glanton gang, a historical group of scalp hunters. The gang, led by John Joel Glanton and the enigmatic Judge Holden, is contracted to kill and scalp Native Americans but soon devolves into indiscriminate violence against various groups. The novel explores themes of brutality, the loss of innocence, and the harsh realities of human nature, with Judge Holden serving as a central figure embodying philosophical and sadistic elements. The book is known for its unflinching portrayal of violence and its allegorical exploration of human existence[2][3][5].
Inferno
Dante Alighieri
Inferno is the first part of Dante Alighieri's epic poem, The Divine Comedy. It describes Dante's journey through the nine concentric circles of Hell, each representing a different level of sin and punishment. Guided by Virgil, Dante encounters various historical and mythological figures, witnessing their punishments which are symbolic of their sins. The poem is an allegory of the soul's journey towards God, with Inferno representing the recognition and rejection of sin. Dante's journey through Hell is also a personal and spiritual exploration, reflecting his own struggles and the political and social issues of his time.
Sand Talk
Tyson Yunkaporta
Jim talks with Tyson Yunkaporta about the ideas in his new book Right Story, Wrong Story: Adventures in Indigenous Thinking. They discuss a symbolic emu visitor on Jim's farm, Aboriginal collective pronouns, Sand Talk's impact, wrong canoes, lore vs law, how Aboriginal law adapted to invasion, ritualized violence & rule-governed fighting, Aboriginal knowledge systems & peer review, signals & spirit in natural systems, the sacred as a way to deal with complex systems, Plato's noble lie, restricted knowledge, Aboriginal law & the Jewish Torah, plague impacts, art as store of capital vs communal knowledge, the metaphor & mythology of water dowsing, Tyson's upcoming book, how to be a deeply spiritual skeptical atheist, and much more.
Episode Transcript
Right Story, Wrong Story: Adventures in Indigenous Thinking, by Tyson Yunkaporta
Sand Talk: How Indigenous Thinking Can Save the World, by Tyson Yunkaporta
JRS EP 65 - Tyson Yunkaporta on Indigenous Complexity
JRS EP 66 - Tyson Yunkaporta on Indigenous Knowledge
JRS Currents 032 - Tyson Yunkaporta on Spirits, GameB & Protopias
JRS Currents 010 - Tyson Yunkaporta on Humans as Custodial Species
Deakin University - Indigenous Systems Knowledge Lab
Tyson Yunkaporta is an academic, an arts critic, and a researcher who is a member of the Apalech Clan in far north Queensland. He carves traditional tools and weapons and also works as a senior lecturer in Indigenous Knowledges at Deakin University in Melbourne. He lives in Melbourne and is the author of Sand Talk: How Indigenous Thinking Can Save the World.
The Jim Rutt Show 
