Caring for Country

Firstly. What is Country? Let this A-MAZ-ING quote from Kingsley, Townsend, Henderson-Wilson & Bolam (2013) explain.

"Country refers to everything including the land, air, water and stories of “Dreaming”, being dynamic and multilayered, forming the rules, norms and beliefs of existence between species and humans through connecting Aboriginal peoples’ back to ancestral beings from the time of creation."

'Karribolknahnan Kunred' translates as 'Caring for Country' In the Njanjma (NT) local language of Kunwinjku. Look, you've already learnt something new! Now this blog is interesting.

Bob Randell a Yankunytjatjara Elder and a traditional owner of Uluru, speaks of the life sustaining duty we have, to care for Country.

(Global Oneness Project, 2007)

As we've learnt, country is a lot more complex and significant in Aboriginal culture than regarded in Western culture. Caring for country is not simply 'maintaining' land, it is intricately linked to sustaining 'cultural life, identity, autonomy and health' (Stacey & Weir, 2020, p. 1), it involves a personal relationship with Country. As Bob Randall (2007) shared, country is ageless, but we are not. Caring for Country benefits future generations and mother nature will watch our children grow whilst nourishing them and protecting them. He also stated that he and many of his people were raised from children understanding that we are not land owners, but that 'the land owns us'. So how do you care for Country?

Well, return to country road trips occur in communities to pass on these practices where they partake in the following: Watch the video to find out how!

(Eloise Autard, 2020)

Interestingly enough, after our devastating bushfire season this year, the issues of cut funding and restrictions on Aboriginal land management arised. "They are turning back to land management techniques used by Aboriginal Peoples for tens of thousands of years in this country." This was said by Oliver Costello, from Firesticks Alliance Indigenous Corporation.

So I ask, doesn't this prove that we shouldn't interfere with practises that have worked for centuries?

In my local community, Mount Annan Botanical Gardens hosts a yearly Caring for Country event to celebrate Earth Hour and the connection with the natural environment. This experience invites all Aboriginal and non Indigenous to unite and care for Country together. It includes traditional music and dance, traditional smoking ceremony, seed sorting, weaving, painting and more.