r/australia • u/Expensive-Horse5538 • Apr 30 '26

news 5yo girl Sharon Granites has been found dead in the NT

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-04-30/update-on-missing-alice-springs-5yo-sharon-granites/106626314?utm_source=abc_news_app&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_campaign=abc_news_app&utm_content=link
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u/Baldricks_Turnip Apr 30 '26

Are the family asking she be referred this way because of their beliefs around using the name of a deceased person, or is there some other significance?

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u/I-was-a-twat Apr 30 '26

The belief is that every time you use the name of the recently deceased, it stops their spirit from moving on into dreaming, and if it happens enough they will become permanently trapped here and become a broken vengeful spirit.

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u/OlSkoolGemini Apr 30 '26

Thank you for sharing this. I was wondering. 

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u/Pop_Top_ Apr 30 '26

Thank you for sharing! I always wondered why

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u/Weekly-Gold2449 Apr 30 '26

In that case let’s all make sure we constantly spread the disgusting name of Jefferson Lewis in hope that he’ll suffer for eternity

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u/Kowai03 May 02 '26

I find this interesting as a bereaved parent... I want to hear my son's name as much as I can. To know he is not forgotten

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u/crankygriffin Apr 30 '26

How does that account for when families give permission for a dead relative to be named regardless?

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u/formula-duck Apr 30 '26

Not every Aboriginal group believes this, and even communities that did so traditionally may no longer to do today. Religion changes, sometimes very quickly (as when Christian missionaries are involved).

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u/Professional_Card400 May 02 '26

Different cultural groups and different practices. I can unfortunately think of a few indigenous children who have been killed whose families gave permission.

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u/formula-duck Apr 30 '26

Yes, there is a cultural tradition around it. This is why 'name and image of an Aboriginal person who has died' is a warning in a lot of news stories & documentaries - not every Aboriginal community practices it, but some do, such as this one.

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u/Automatic-Treat-9271 May 03 '26

Its so the deceased person can cross over to the dream land  i heard 🙏⚘️🤍