Led by Warumungu (Tennant Creek NT), Noongar (Perth WA) and Bundjalung (Northern Rivers NSW) communities, this Healing Country project aims to weave together local Knowledges and environmental and health information into interactive, digital story-data maps. These maps will show the past, present, and likely future climate challenges, and will help communities lead decision-making around climate challenges with relevant agencies and services.

People from the local community will be employed to make these maps, they will get training in digital mapping technology, research, and evaluation skills to lead the story gathering under the guidance of Elders. Local health and environmental information will be woven into the stories to give a full picture of past and future climate changes and to help to understand the environmental, health and social issues impacting Country. The story-data maps will be put online and outline the evidence for community driven climate action plans that we will take to all levels of government.

Aboriginal people have close relationships to Country, passing on knowledge about changes that have happened over thousands and thousands of years. Aboriginal Knowledge is about living in balance with Country - it is why Aboriginal culture is the longest surviving on Earth. But human actions over the last 100 years are upsetting this connection, making the earth hotter, bringing more floods, worse droughts and rising sea-levels. Communities are already seeing changes to their bush foods, availability of freshwater and are already feeling the stress from extreme weather, the loss of healthy land and from this, the loss of culture.

Climate change is again taking Country from Aboriginal people adding to past injustices that have already led to poor health outcomes. So far, national talks and planning on climate change hasn’t included Aboriginal voices, despite their important Knowledge about caring for Country.

The Healing Country project provides Aboriginal communities new skills and resources to enhance their local Knowledges in the design of their own Community Climate Action Plans, working with local service agencies such as health and housing. The project will employ and train up locals and support communities putting these plans in place. We aim to take action on the climate risks that are already impacting their community, culture and Country.