Aboriginal perspectives

Aboriginal people have contributed their knowledge of our state’s unique environment and how to care for it in the NSW State of the Environment report.

Aboriginal perspectives about the health of Country

The EPA is grateful for the generous involvement of the Aboriginal Peoples Knowledge Group in preparing this report. Our gratitude extends to many other Aboriginal people who shared views, values and knowledge to enhance understanding of the health of the NSW environment.

You can read more about the work of the Knowledge Group and its members, and the EPA’s Statement of Commitment to Aboriginal People.

“Sharing what Country means to us brings pride back to our people.
Looking after Country is looking after everything that sustains us.”
– Wally Stewart, Walbunja Nation

Hear our stories about Country

For the first time, Aboriginal people were given the opportunity to contribute their knowledge of our state’s unique environment and how to care for it in the NSW State of the Environment Report.

In addition to these written contributions, a video series was produced featuring Aboriginal people talking about the Country where they live and how Traditional Custodians have managed it sustainably for thousands of years.

These stories showcase how learning from Aboriginal people, their knowledge gained over thousands of years, gives us a better understanding of our environment and how to manage it.

Video: Aboriginal perspectives about the health of Country series

Notes:

These stories showcase how learning from the knowledge of Aboriginal people, gained over thousands of years, will give us a better understanding of our environment and how to manage it.

More information

Table 1 shows how content provided and coordinated by the EPA's Aboriginal Peoples Knowledge Group (APKG) has been incorporated into the State of the Environment Report.

The overview page for each of the report's themes includes a section that provides 'Aboriginal Perspectives' on the issues and topics covered within the theme. Click on the 'Key message' link in the table to read these perspectives.

You can discover more about how Aboriginal knowledges have been included within specific topics in the 'Related topics' column.

Table 1: How Aboriginal content is included in the State of the Environment Report

Theme	Key message	Related topics
Drivers	Decision-makers need to work with Aboriginal people, whose knowledges, cultures and practices can help shape a more sustainable environment	n/a
Drivers		n/a
Human Settlement	Country is everywhere, including within human and urban environments	Contaminated sites Legacy contamination on Crown land
Human Settlement		Contaminated sites Legacy contamination on Crown land
Climate and Air	Aboriginal people have intimate knowledges of their Country and climates	n/a
		n/a
Land	Everything is connected, Country is more than a place	Protected areas Tracking joint management and ownership Relationship with Country Reforms to improve Aboriginal access to Country Fire Bushfire impacts on heritage and culture Greater use of cultural burning Native vegetation Include Aboriginal knowledges in monitoring and management
Land	Everything is connected, Country is more than a place
Biodiversity	From the beginning, Aboriginal people and cultures have cared for Country in a holistic way that ensures all animals and plants are able to thrive	Threatened species Why native animals and habitat are important Oral stories and practices for significant cultural species can help us care for them This information is also in the , , , and topics

Water and Marine	Water always was and always will be at the core of Aboriginal cultures and ways of knowing, being and doing	Groundwater Protect groundwater's cultural values Groundwater-dependent culturally significant sites See also Threatened Species row above
Water and Marine

Notes:

Current for the 2021 State of the Environment report.

General links

The Aboriginal Peoples Knowledge Group and its members
Acknowledgement of Country
EPA Statement of Commitment to Aboriginal People
EPA Organisational identity - Integrating Aboriginal perspectives into our work

Future opportunities

Throughout the report, the Aboriginal Peoples Knowledge Group has identified future opportunities for improving the care, protection and management of the environment. Of these, the group has identified three overarching opportunities for the NSW Government, academic institutions and the public:

That more scientific, biodiversity and conservation (environmental management) committees include membership of Aboriginal people, and that this outcome be measured through a future additional State of the Environment indicator.
That Aboriginal knowledges and cultures are valued and promoted alongside western sciences.
Inclusion of Aboriginal people in decision-making and programs that aim to sustain healthy native vegetation, animals and Country.