Kayla Greene

Professor Katsanos
LBST 2102
April 30, 2016
That Deadman Dance essay questions
1. In any given indigenous society across the globe, throughout time, compared to colonies
and modern societies, there are vast and significant differences that set each apart from
the other. It is these individual characteristics and differences that define the uniqueness
of the tribes and various cultures. As in the case of That Deadman Dance, the Noongar
and the colonists way of life are quite different, which does create conflict within the
novel. The Noongar rely mostly on the land and seas for food and supplies, and their
custom is to share amongst the tribe members. This sharing creates a unity within the
group and amongst the people, a custom that the colonists are not familiar with. The
colonists are rather selfish in their dealings with food and supplies. Its more on a
buy/sell/trade kind of system. The Noongar are not familiar with their policies, so when
their food and supplies begin to diminish they steal the colonists food and supplies,
which creates this conflict between the two groups. The Noongar people dont see their
actions as stealing, because as I said, they are used to sharing and trading freely amongst
one another. Because the Noongar begin to steal their possesions, the colonists begin to
take away some of their rights and freedoms, which just causes the Noongar people to act
out more. The two groups also differ in the way they see love and marriage. They dont
believe in inter-mixing between the two different races and cultures. Because of their
differences, it doesnt allow them to see eye-to-eye on anything, which creates this
quarreling and animosity between them. This never really gets resolved either. This novel
is a great illustration of how negative and destructive globalization can be. Although it
has its many advantages, it has even more disadvantages to the groups of people that it
negatively affects. Groups like the British colonists come into an already developed tribal
society, and rather than accept their culture and customs, they try to force their culture

and customs onto them, which creates this disaster effect, and leads to the destruction and
ruin of these indigenous tribes. This has been seen throughout history, time and time
again. This novel brings awareness to an issue that is still present, even today.
2. Just as the Noongar and the colonists have different views on property, ownership, love
and marriage, so are their views on landscape and their natural surroundings. The
Noongar see the landscape as their primary source for resources, food, supplies, and
shelter. They see the land as something that they have been given, and they are to uphold
its sanctity through taking proper care of it. However, the colonists see the land as an
opportunity to settle, and make economical and power gains off of. They dont recognize
the sanctity and value of the land. This mentality leads them to foolishly using up all the
resources, leaving the Noongar with nothing to take care of themselves. One of the most
memorable scenes for me was at the beginning of the book when Bobby and the others
are coming into land aboard the ship and the waves are tossing them about violently. To
me this symbolizes the chaos and turmoil that the Noongar people are soon to face. The
Noongar and British also view the animals differently. To the Noongar, the animals are
just as sacred as the land is, whereas to the British they are just another means for
resources used for selfish and powerful gains. This ties into the notions of personhood,
because it shows how each group has their individual rights to land and animal usage.
Although these rights can, and do, create conflict from culture-to-culture, they are still a
humans basic right, which sadly many indigenous societies are stripped of.
3. The novels use of multiple points of view has several effects on the overall narrative. At
times it can be confusing to the reader, but ultimately it gives the reader multiple insights,
so that we dont get this biased view. By having multiple perspectives, and multiple
people tell the story, we as the reader can decide for ourselves what we agree or dont
agree with. By having the Britishs perspective, the reader can get a glimpse into what
their motives and intentions are behind their actions. If it was just left for Bobby to tell,
then we would only hear what he thinks, which wouldnt be fair to the British and what
their intentions are or are not. But, by also having the Noongars perspective, the reader
can see how the British colony coming in has taken away their identity and culture. It
creates this sense sympathy within the reader, which makes the novel more effective in
developing its underlying meaning. This novel is different from imperial narratives,
because were getting both sides of the story. As was the case with Columbus, we only

read from his letters and heard from his thoughts, which doesnt allow for the people
whom he effected in such negative ways to raise their voice and express their concerns.
Unfortunately this is the case with many indigenous groups around the world. Many are
not recognized as nation states, so to bigger, more higher-upper nation states, their
voices and opinions dont matter. Novels like this, bring awareness and shed light on
issues like this, to people like me who are nave and ignorant to such occurrences.
4. When Bobby performs the deadman dance, he adds movements into it to personalize the
dance. The dance was ritualistic in its nature, because it was very sacred and powerful to
Bobby and the other Noongar people. The dance was significant, because it expressed
their values, culture, and rituals, which was one thing the British colonists could not take
from them. They call it the deadman dance, because to the Noongar the British were like
ghosts, or deadmen, who had come into their land and taken away their life and identity.
The British had stripped away all their food and shelter, but this was one thing that the
Noongar could manage to keep alive. The British coming into their land was a new
experience and challenge for the Noongar, but they were able to convey the hardships and
these challenges through their ritual dances.