Message Stick info

Over tens of thousands of years, message sticks were commonly used by our ancestors as one means of communicating between different Aboriginal tribes/nations. Messages were painted and inscribed on a stick, which was then transported by hand. One who carried the message stick was traditionally granted safe and protected entry to other nation's territory - a sort of visa or passport.

Those who found the messenger on their land had an obligation to safely deliver the messenger to the elders of their people. The messenger would then convey the message to the elders. These elders then had an obligation to ensure the messenger was granted safe passage across their land - either returning to his own people or moving on to another Aboriginal nation to spread the message further.

The messages inscribed on the stick (by painting, carving, burning etc) were primarily "prompts" for the messenger so that the message would be conveyed consistently to each different nation's elders. Typical messages would be announcements of ceremonies, disputes, invitations, warnings, meetings, events and happenings.