Understanding how Aboriginal culture can contribute to the resilient future of rangelands – the importance of Aboriginal core values
Mal Ridges A B J , Mick Kelly C D , Geoff Simpson E F , John Leys G H , Sandy Booth J , Margaret Friedel I and Ngyampaa CountryA Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (NSW), Armidale, NSW, 2350, Australia.
B University of New England, Armidale, NSW, 2350, Australia.
C Department of Premier and Cabinet (NSW), Buronga, NSW, 2739, Australia.
D Ngyampaa Elder and member of the Willandra Lakes Region World Heritage Area Aboriginal Advisory Group.
E Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (NSW), Wagga Wagga, NSW, 2650, Australia.
F Descended from and connected with Gomileroi people, while residing on Wiradjuri Country.
G Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (NSW), Gunnedah, NSW, 2380, Australia.
H Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia.
I Research Institute for the Environment & Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Alice Springs, NT, 0870, Australia.
J Corresponding author. Email: mal.ridges@environment.nsw.gov.au
The Rangeland Journal 42(5) 247-251 https://doi.org/10.1071/RJ20031
Submitted: 28 April 2020 Accepted: 29 October 2020 Published: 30 November 2020
Journal Compilation © Australian Rangeland Society 2020 Open Access CC BY-NC-ND
Abstract
There are numerous examples illustrating the integration of Aboriginal knowledge and participation in rangelands management. At the 2019 Australian Rangelands Conference we aimed to explore how Aboriginal culture and its core values have something deeper to contribute to rangelands management. We explore this through a Yungadhu (Malleefowl) cultural depiction and story. The depiction and story explain the often cited, but not well understood, concepts of Kinship, Country, Lore, and Dreaming. The story provides insight into Aboriginal people’s world view and is used in this paper to illustrate how well it aligns with current thinking about resilience in rangelands landscapes and communities. Significantly, we explain how the deep wisdom that resides in Aboriginal cultures has something meaningful to contribute to achieving the conditions for resilience.
Keywords: Aboriginal cultures, Country, cultural research, Dreaming, Indigenous knowledge, Kinship, Lore, mallee, Malleefowl, rangelands management, Yungadhu.
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