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Seasonal calendar, Voice of Country

THE AWABAKAL SEASONAL CALENDAR, is an evolving work that is not static, meaning it will be amended over time to take account of new knowledge and understandings.  Visit the site for the story and the process that has gone into the seasonal calendar development.

The calendar is interactive, making it very user friendly and informative.
A great activity to engage with family and friends
during this summer holiday season.

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Voice of Country
To heal Country, that is our joint journey, says Richard Swain – Voice of Country program lead, at the Invasive Species Council.

SINCE COLONISATION, our Country has pushed over 100 native plants and animals to extinction – some that are gone forever. Invasive species are responsible for 45 of these.

Sadly, with extinction, we also lose invaluable, traditional knowledge and deep connections to nature.

As a Dabee Wiradjuri man, one of my totems is the emu – which is locally extinct to me. Most Aboriginal people have totems – a natural object, a plant or an animal we inherit to care for – it is our identity and spirituality.

So when invasive species threaten our totems, they threaten our living culture. 

We’ve spent 235 years without giving our soil, water, and species their voice. It’s time for a cultural shift towards healing Country, integrating First Nations connection and respect with the best of regenerative science.
Today Caring for Country needs to be everyone’s responsibility
and that’s what the Voice of Country campaign is all about.

Join me in making history. Sign or share the pledge to take responsibility for protecting our ancient rivers, diverse landscapes and unique wildlife from invasive species.

The Voice of Country campaign sees the invasive species issue through an ancient lens – Country’s lens. A culture of connectedness, and accepting our shared responsibility of custodianship, is what’s needed to save this place.

With the best of western science, mixed with Indigenous culture, we can give our native animals and landscapes the best chance at survival and protect our culture at the same time.

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Walk and talk with Country

“IT’S GOOD TO TALK with Country,” says Anne Peolina, affirming that from a very early age in the Kimberley region of northern Australia, indigenous people are ‘taught Country.’  They learn that the land is alive, that it has agency, and that it holds memories of our shared experiences, both human and other-than-human. “It’s good for your mental state to talk with Country,” Poelina continues, “to meditate on how your mind and heart, spirit and soul are aligned with the Earth. The Earth can actually feel your presence, and with that vibration there is a transmission that is bouncing off this Earth, wanting us to understand that Earth can fell our presence.  That’s how we speak with Country – it’s a different mindset. English speaks a different way.”
Ref:  Walk to Country, Talk to Country, Anne Poelina et al – Resurgence & Ecology, Mar/Apr 2024.

… From MMM Issue #47, Dec 24 – Jan 25