The launch of ‘Regenerative Songlines Australia’ on 8th July was a very special event. Although it was online, the half day of amazing presentations and insights into Indigenous knowledge and law, produced a palpable excitement among our audience and the feedback was overwhelming. With speakers like Mary Graham, Anne Poelina, Tyson Yunkaporta, Chels Marshall, Ross Williams, Alana Marsh, Barry Hunter and more, it was inspirational to be part of it, and an honour to be the co-organiser and MC for the event.
If you missed it, the good news is that the recordings from the talks can all be found on the Regenerative Songlines Australia website HERE.
Regenerative Songlines Australia is working to create a continent-wide network, that connects regenerative projects and practitioners, and which is:
- led by First Nations peoples and inclusive of all Australians;
- focused on amplifying local and bioregional initiatives, with a view to maintaining
diverse approaches, while strengthening interconnections, mutual learning, and
real project collaboration and outcomes; - multidisciplinary and includes regenerative economies, societies, ecological
stewardship and design practices; and - connected to international “regenerative roadmap” partners.
The project was catalysed by Jason Twill and Chels Marshall, when they were invited to connect Australian groups to the international ‘Common Earth’ / Regenerative Road Map initiative.
Common Earth, part of the Commonwealth Secretariat, aims to offer advice to Commonwealth countries on how to undertake regenerative development and to demonstrate examples of best practice. As part of this, Common Earth is providing an avenue for the 53 member states of the Commonwealth to share knowledge on the creation of national Regeneration Roadmaps. Australia was invited to join the initiative in early 2020.
As soon as Indigenous knowledge holders joined the discussions, they reminded everyone that a ‘roadmap for Australia’ may not be the right approach. Australia is a continent comprised of hundreds of First Nations, who are the stewards of diverse bioregions. Consequently, for many First Nations peoples and Australian regeneration practitioners, the language of a national regeneration roadmap is problematic. As Australian regeneration projects are locally and bioregionally based, we see our engagement with Common Earth as about fostering dialogue, sharing ideas and supporting peer-to-peer learning between various diverse projects across Australia, and between Australian projects and international partners who are also connected to Common Earth.
You can read more about Regen Songlines on their website, and join the mailing list for updates.