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Aboriginal message sticks are a fascinating insight into a complex system of written communication

When we think of writing systems we likely think of an , where each symbol (letter) in the alphabet represents a basic sound unit, such as a consonant or a vowel.

Those who first came to the shores of Australia during colonization likely held a similar idea of written language. As such, Aboriginal peoples were quickly dismissed as .

But this view is wrong.

, traditional tools of communication, offer a glimpse into a sophisticated and unique form of communication.

A written and oral language

Aboriginal message sticks are hand-carved wooden objects traditionally used to send messages across long distances. While there is evidence of widespread use of message sticks across Australia, is still mapping the different regions in which they are used and their messages deciphered.

Message sticks often feature engravings or painted symbols, lines, dots and shapes carefully crafted to convey specific meanings.

They aren't standalone texts, like books or letters. Instead, they are complemented by oral messages delivered by an who, in some instances, would be painted in ochre and dressed according to the message being delivered.

This ensured the stick's symbols were interpreted correctly by the recipient.

The messenger's task was to deliver the stick and speak the words that gave the symbols life and meaning. A message stick might feature simple symbols representing the date, location and purpose of an event. While the symbols carry visual meaning, the oral storytelling supplies context.

Imagine you had to send a crucial message, perhaps an invitation to a wedding or news of a tragedy. When composing your message you carefully select the right words so that your intended meaning is interpreted correctly.

Similarly, into the message stick and the accompanying oral message provide the same function.

A long history of writing

, a system where ideas, objects or sounds are represented through visual symbols, is a in the evolution of writing.

Unlike writing systems that use letters to represent sounds, pictographic systems use pictures that directly resemble what they represent, while some systems mix symbols for whole words or parts of words.

originally started as a pictographic writing system before transitioning into a logosyllabic system.

An example of early Egyptian pictographic writing can be seen in the , a ceremonial artifact that depicts King Narmer's unification of Upper and Lower Egypt.

Its carvings include early hieroglyphic symbols that are primarily pictorial, representing objects like animals, tools, and body parts.

Likewise, writing from also started as a pictographic system. The Aztecs used pictographs to record events, genealogies and religious rituals.

The is a prominent example, created by Aztec priests before the Spanish conquest, conveying religious, calendrical and ritualistic information.

Like the Aztec and early Egyptian pictographs, the symbols on message sticks hold complex and culturally significant information.

These symbols vary depending on the region and the purpose of the message. include straight lines, dots, concentric circles, cross hatching or geometric patterns, animal tracks and wavy lines.

The meaning of these symbols are dependent on the region they are from and the context supplied with the message.

For too long, pictographic systems have been dismissed as inferior or proto-writing .

This perspective has contributed to the marginalization of Indigenous knowledge systems. The claim that Aboriginal peoples lacked a written language is a misrepresentation borne of colonial agendas, designed to dehumanize and delegitimize Aboriginal cultural sophistication.

Message sticks and other forms of , such as challenge this narrative.

These artifacts demonstrate that Aboriginal peoples developed complex systems of visual communication intertwined with oral traditions.

Recognizing Aboriginal message sticks within the succession of pictographic communication legitimizes their status as a form of written communication and honors their role in the diverse spectrum of human intellectual achievements.

Understanding the breadth of writing

The devaluation of Aboriginal graphic writing systems reflects a broader colonial bias that equates written language exclusively with alphabetic systems.

By acknowledging the legitimacy of pictographic writing, we validate the cultural practices of Aboriginal peoples and .

Writing is not merely a mechanical act of inscribing symbols on a surface. It is a medium through which , preserve knowledge and create connections across time and space.

Message sticks are compelling evidence of Aboriginal systems of knowledge and communication.

These artifacts demand a reevaluation of how we define and value writing. They also challenge us to confront the colonial legacies that have marginalized non-alphabetic systems of communication.

Writing is not a singular invention. It is a diverse, multifaceted human endeavor. Like the hieroglyphs of Egypt and the Aztec glyphs, message sticks are powerful symbols of the intellectual and creative capacities of their creators.