TY - JOUR
T1 - People Needs Country
T2 - the symbiotic effects of landcare and wellbeing for Aboriginal peoples and their countries
AU - Taylor-Bragge, Rudi Louis
AU - Whyman, Theoni
AU - Jobson, Laura
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Australian Psychological Society.
Copyright:
Copyright 2021 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2021/11/2
Y1 - 2021/11/2
N2 - Objective: An innate connection to traditional land is often central to Australian Aboriginal culture. The aim of this study was to explore the symbiotic links between the health of Australian Aboriginal peoples and their Country. Method: This study utilised a multiple case-study design to extract common themes from four cases of Aboriginal land management, which typify different major ecoregions found throughout Australia and featured Aboriginal voices discussing land management and Aboriginal wellbeing. Results: Aboriginal wellbeing was consistently linked to the promotion of integrated landcare programs. Engaging with cultural landcare practices was perceived as beneficial to both Aboriginal peoples and their Country. Landcare was found to complement better physical and mental health in addition to community and individual wellbeing. An ongoing narrative describing the symbiotic nature of “healthy Country; healthy people” was established. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that caring for Country may be beneficial for the social and emotional wellbeing of Australian Aboriginal peoples and demonstrate that further research in this area is needed. Key Points What is already known about this topic: A deep, innate connection to traditional land is often central to Australian Aboriginal peoples. Settler-colonial practices have disrupted Aboriginal peoples’ connection to Country. Aboriginal wellbeing is holistic and includes connection to Country. What this topic adds: Engaging with traditional cultural landcare practices was seen as beneficial to both Aboriginal peoples and their Country. Landcare complemented better physical and mental health in addition to community and individual wellbeing; “healthy Country; healthy people”. Further research in this area is needed to develop strength-based psychological models.
AB - Objective: An innate connection to traditional land is often central to Australian Aboriginal culture. The aim of this study was to explore the symbiotic links between the health of Australian Aboriginal peoples and their Country. Method: This study utilised a multiple case-study design to extract common themes from four cases of Aboriginal land management, which typify different major ecoregions found throughout Australia and featured Aboriginal voices discussing land management and Aboriginal wellbeing. Results: Aboriginal wellbeing was consistently linked to the promotion of integrated landcare programs. Engaging with cultural landcare practices was perceived as beneficial to both Aboriginal peoples and their Country. Landcare was found to complement better physical and mental health in addition to community and individual wellbeing. An ongoing narrative describing the symbiotic nature of “healthy Country; healthy people” was established. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that caring for Country may be beneficial for the social and emotional wellbeing of Australian Aboriginal peoples and demonstrate that further research in this area is needed. Key Points What is already known about this topic: A deep, innate connection to traditional land is often central to Australian Aboriginal peoples. Settler-colonial practices have disrupted Aboriginal peoples’ connection to Country. Aboriginal wellbeing is holistic and includes connection to Country. What this topic adds: Engaging with traditional cultural landcare practices was seen as beneficial to both Aboriginal peoples and their Country. Landcare complemented better physical and mental health in addition to community and individual wellbeing; “healthy Country; healthy people”. Further research in this area is needed to develop strength-based psychological models.
KW - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
KW - caring for Country
KW - landcare
KW - social and emotional wellbeing
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85116470017&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/00050067.2021.1983756
DO - 10.1080/00050067.2021.1983756
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85116470017
SN - 0005-0067
VL - 56
SP - 458
EP - 471
JO - Australian Psychologist
JF - Australian Psychologist
IS - 6
ER -