This week I sat by a creek eating fresh yabbies and roasted bunya pine nuts while listening to Indigenous rangers John and Roy who care for Country southwest of Sydney. I've always loved yabbies. But had never eaten bunya pine nuts before. I can tell you they're really delicious. You could say that they taste a bit like chestnuts, but less intense. Or like sweet potatoes, but without the sweetness. Rich in complex carbohydrates, bunya pine nuts are full of sustained energy, and contain a really good balance of protein and fiber. They're loaded up with essential minerals like potassium, magnesium, and iron, making them really valuable Bush Tucker - traditionally and in modern diets.
Why did I get to enjoy Bush Tucker by the river? Well at Lyrebird Dreaming, we're currently working on an important project with the NSW Department of Planning, Housing, and Infrastructure and First Nations Economics. We're engaging with and listening to Traditional Custodians, Indigenous Rangers, and Aboriginal community groups and organisations. This is a part of the NSW Government's Caring for Country Aboriginal Outcomes Strategy 2024-2033 which aims to put Aboriginal voices and cultural knowledge at the centre of land and water management across the Cumberland Plain.
We've met dozens of people and most of these conversations have occurred on Country. While there are more scheduled for next week, a core message so far has been simple yet powerful: when Country is healthy, people are healthy. Peoples' well-being is directly connected to the health of the land and waters they live on. This consultation project is reinforcing that when Country thrives, communities thrive. And that creating healthy landscapes require not only ecological care but also active participation of Aboriginal peoples.
What Healthy Country Needs
The findings so far highlight some key needs for achieving this vision of health for people and Country:
Access and Participation: Traditional Custodians need access to Country, along with the opportunity to play active roles in caring for it. When Aboriginal people are involved in managing their lands, it strengthens cultural connections as well as ecological and social outcomes.
Improved Listening and Support: It is vital for government agencies and land management and development bodies to listen to Aboriginal voices. By working collaboratively and respecting Indigenous knowledge systems, Country can be cared for in ways that align with Aboriginal cultures and environmental sustainability principles.
Investing in Youth: A consistent message from the Aboriginal people we've spoken with so far has been that healthy Country is dependent on investment in youth. Particularly, training and development, but also opportunities for youth to connect to Country and have access to it. By supporting youth, we can create a new generation of leaders and stewards of the land, passing on vital knowledge and skills.
Get Involved
If you’re an Aboriginal person with an interest in caring for Country on the Cumberland Plain, or if you know someone who is, please reach out. Together, we can work towards a vision of healthy people on healthy Country, and build a legacy that respects, protects, and nurtures both people and the natural world.
Feel free to contact me at gregory.andrews@lyrebirddreaming.com.
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