Developing an Exploratory Framework Linking Australian Aboriginal Peoples’ Connection to Country and Concepts of Wellbeing

Abstract

Aboriginal people across Australia suffer significant health inequalities compared with the non-Indigenous population. Evidence indicates that inroads can be made to reduce these inequalities by better understanding social and cultural determinants of health, applying holistic notions of health and developing less rigid definitions of wellbeing. The following article draws on qualitative research on Victorian Aboriginal peoples’ relationship to their traditional land (known as Country) and its link to wellbeing, in an attempt to tackle this. Concepts of wellbeing, Country and nature have also been reviewed to gain an understanding of this relationship. An exploratory framework has been developed to understand this phenomenon focusing on positive (e.g., ancestry and partnerships) and negative (e.g., destruction of Country and racism) factors contributing to Aboriginal peoples’ health. The outcome is an explanation of how Country is a fundamental component of Aboriginal Victorian peoples’ wellbeing and the framework articulates the forces that impact positively and negatively on this duality. This review is critical to improving not only Aboriginal peoples’ health but also the capacity of all humanity to deal with environmental issues like disconnection from nature and urbanisation.

Knowledge to action: First nations engagement with research for community benefit.

“…Commonly, the dominant Western perspective objectifies land in monetary terms, fuelled by the idea that if land is not developed it is unproductive (Larsen, 2006). This viewpoint marginalizes land from society, and considers it a thing that needs to be controlled by people (Kingsley et al, 2013). Correspondingly, the purpose of land production in a capitalist framework is to provide individuals or groups power and status (Arquette et al, 2002).…”

“…The connection to place has usually been established over a very long time, and is expressed as part of a belief system (Kingsley, Townsend, Henderson-Wilson & Bolam, 2013). Connection to traditional territory provides a sense of security (Windsor & McVey, 2005), and meaning to people (Windsor & McVey, 2005).…”

“…These include chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease (Earle, 201 lb;Napoleon & Dickie, 2009), cancer and chronic respiratory disease (Earle,201 lb) as well as higher rates of substance abuse (Greenwood, 2005), and higher chance of being affected by accidents, abuse and violence (Wadden, 2008). Kingsley et al (2013) argues that to reduce health and wellbeing inequalities in Indigenous populations, there needs to be a better understanding of the social and cultural determinants of health. Kingsley et al (2013) further explains that this deepened understanding would include an acknowledgment of the complexity of Indigenous ideas of health and wellbeing, an important part of this being viewing health and wellbeing from a more holistic perspective (Kingsley et al, 2013).…”

“…Kingsley et al (2013) argues that to reduce health and wellbeing inequalities in Indigenous populations, there needs to be a better understanding of the social and cultural determinants of health. Kingsley et al (2013) further explains that this deepened understanding would include an acknowledgment of the complexity of Indigenous ideas of health and wellbeing, an important part of this being viewing health and wellbeing from a more holistic perspective (Kingsley et al, 2013). This holistic perspective includes the linkages between risk perception and analysis, connection to the land and sense of place, traditional ways of knowing, and the importance of culture.…”

“…The social determinants of health include income and socio-economic status (Kingsley et al, 2013), as well as political and environmental factors (Earle,201 lb). They are "the conditions in which people are bom, grow, live, work and age-conditions that together provide the freedom people need to live lives they value" (Greenwood & de Leeuw, 2012, p. 381).…”