Report on recent bus tour along creeklands with members of the local Aboriginal community
In November 2019, our committee hosted a bus tour along parts of the Armidale creeklands with members of the local Aboriginal community.
During the tour we learned something about how Aboriginal communities are connected in an inseparable way to the land and environment:
“Aboriginal communities have a connection and sense of ownership of the land. The land and water and its biodiversity values are the centre of Aboriginal spirituality and contribute to Aboriginal peoples’ identity. Aboriginal heritage and nature are inseparable from each other and need to be managed in an integrated manner. Management of cultural heritage should accordingly focus on conservation across the whole landscape and recognise the role of people in the landscape. Natural resource use remains an important part of Aboriginal people’s lives in NSW. It is associated with the use and enjoyment of valued foods and medicines, caring for the land, passing on cultural knowledge and strengthening social bonds. The Armidale Creeklands provided the local ANAIWAN people with a rich variety of foods, medicine, resources, shelter and utensils. ”
Front page of report on bus tour with Aboriginal representatives