Understanding Country: Indigenous Australian Perspectives on Land, Identity, and Spirituality INDC1001

For Indigenous Australians, the concept of Country is more than just the physical landscape.

Introduction

For the people of Indigenous Australian population, the concept of Country usually extends far beyond the physical landscape. This encompasses a deeper connection to the culture, identity, and spirituality over the period. The concept of Country represents intricate relationship between them which is inseparable and more holistic to their identity or from their cultural heritage (Schreiber, 2017).. The aim of this reflective essay is to explore the key meaning of Country for the indigenous people in Australia by reflecting upon the way it shapes their holistic perspective, their own identity, and their key spiritual practices. In this reflective essay, I would explore the recent research and indigenous perspectives in which this reflection would highlight the cultural significance of Country and the way it influences the overall sense of belonging, responsibility, and sense of connection of the indigenous Australians with their ancestors.

The concept of Country for Indigenous Australians

The term Country was first used by the First Nation people and these refer to the land, skies, waters, to which they are connected with the help of their family origins and ancestral ties. For instance, a Gamilaraay person from the South West Queensland may specify that I am from a Gamilaraay Country or they might say that My country is Gamilaraay. In this context, I can use the term Country and Nation in an interchangeable manner. It is famously defined by Kulkalang Woman Tishiko King that First Nations people are intrinsically entwined and connected to the Country (Pol, 2021). We are further a part of our natural ecosystems where our bloodlines run deep into our oceans and land. With this regard, we must protect our country so that our country can protect us or the mankind. This is supported by Harwood et al. (2021) who stated that Country is a concept which encompasses not only the physical land but also the overall nature such as water, skies, plants, animals, that inhabit it. It is a term which reflects upon a relationship instead of any object where the land and people share a mutual bond. The indigenous Australians consider themselves as the custodians of the land which equally needs the stewardship, respect, and care in the best possible manner.

I have found that the concept of Country is deeply intertwined into the indigenous culture of Australia. This represents a connection to the ancestors who walked the land before them and whose spirits remain present in the natural features. To be specific, dreaming for Australian Aboriginal people represents the time when the ancestral spirits have progressed over the land and who have created the life and other important physical geographic sites and key formations (Linklater, 2015). The aboriginal philosophy is known as the dreaming state which is based upon the relationship between the people and other species available on this earth. It explains the origin of the universe and the functionality of humanity and nature as a whole. It shapes the overall structure through the proper understanding of family life, land and spirits. This is supported by Jackson et al. (2022) who asserted that Country is central to the dreaming stories which are foundational narratives. This explains creation of the world and the key responsibilities that the indigenous people have towards their own land in countries such as Australia. I have found that the dreaming state connects people to their ancestral lands, guiding them in the stewardship of the natural resources, performance of the cultural ceremonies and maintenance of the social order in the first place.

Based on the article From an urban country to urban Country: confronting the cult of denial in Australian cities by Porter (2012), it has explored the urban development of Australia along with its cultural significance for the land of indigenous Australians. The author has critiqued that the urban planning development often marginalizes the indigenous perspectives of people living in Australia. They labels it as a cult of denial where the cities are constructed without any acknowledgement of the deep connection of the indigenous people, who are living on this land. It embodies the cultural relational, and spiritual ties of the Indigenous Australians which transcends the physical landscape.

Reporting

As a student, I have attended a yarning session where the elder people in the indigenous community shared their key perspectives on the concept of Country. Those elder people have explained that Country is not just a piece of land but it is also a living entity which is interconnected with the cultural, spiritual, and environmental aspects. My role was as a listener as well as an observer, where I have absorbed the teachings from the elderly people belonging to the indigenous community.

Responding

As a listener and an observer, I felt a profound sense of awe and respect while listening to the elderly people living in the indigenous community. Their relationship with the land appeared to be deeply spiritual and emotional. It is unlike anything which I had ever encountered before in my life. Always thought about nurturing my own connection to the nature and I have realized the way it is so shallow in comparison to their understanding and concept of a Country in the first place. I have found their understanding to be very profound and impactful in my life inspiring me to live a holistic life full of fulfillment.
The article of "How television moved a nation: media, change and Indigenous rights by Waller & McCallum (2018) explores the role of rising awareness about the indigenous rights, through the broadcasting services. It shows the way media representation has facilitated the proper understanding of the struggles of indigenous tribes related to their land and cultural identity.

Relating

The indigenous people in the Australia has reminded me of the time when I had studied environmental philosophy. In this case, there are some scholars who have viewed nature as a intrinsic value beyond its resources and capabilities. However, the indigenous perspectives in this case is broadly unique. It is because it get easily intertwined with their own land. To be specific, authors such as Bill Gammage have found that the indigenous people living in Australia managed their land with utmost care. This is far away from the western ideas of land ownership across the globe.

Reasoning

According to me, the concept of a Country makes more sense when it is viewed through the lens of indigenous cosmology. As per the indigenous cosmology, the people living in the indigenous community see their land as a part of a web of life. This closely aligns with the idea of key indigenous scholars such as Mary Grahm. They had stated in detail about the relational ontology of the indigenous tribes that keep them together, making them strong over time. This session extensively made me realized that the people in the West has a very limited point of view when it comes ownership of the land. They often exclude the spiritual and cultural connections that needs to be fostered while owning the land. In this case, the indigenous tribes hold the spiritual and cultural connections within their country.

The article of Making Indigenous place in the Australian city by Potter (2012) explores the identity of the indigenous people within the urban spaces. In this case, Potter dives deeper into the way indigenous people are not only limited to the natural landscapes but also they consider the spiritual and cultural presence of the indigenous people as one of the most significant factors. It highlights the way the concept of a Country transcends the physical environment. This makes a larger space for the indigenous narratives enabling a sense of belonging to the people.

Recon-structuring

Based on my experience, I have learned that my connection to the land can be deeper and be more respectful if I engage with the key perspectives of indigenous people. It is important for me to emphasize the knowledge systems of indigenous people living in Australia as it clearly reciprocate with their own external environment. Moving forward, I will participate in more local indigenous events and I will also advocate for policies which involves the indigenous land management practices. I will explore the different ways to incorporate the key perspectives of those indigenosu tribes into the environmental work.

The article of "Black and green: the future of Indigenousenvironmentalist relations in Australia" by Pickerill (2018) highlights the intersection of indigenous land rights and its environmentalism. As per the author, the view of Country by the Australian aboriginal tribes embodies the ancestral ties, spiritual connection, and a greater environmental responsibility. This view contradicts the agendas of traditional environmentalists which highly prioritizes the environmental conservation over the sovereignty of the indigenous tribes. It states the deep spiritual relationships of the tribes with their land.

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