Motivation and emotion/Book/2024/Connection to country and well-being

Connection to country and well-being:
What is the relationship between connection to country and well-being?

Multimedia presentation (3 min)

Overview

Scenario Figure 1. Stars in the galaxy Imagine a world without nature. No tall trees to provide shade on a sunny day, no beautiful beaches to stroll on, no green grass to lay on, no marine life, no sky full of stars to admire, no bushes to provide us with sweet fruits, sounds quite miserable right? Whether you are conscious of it or not, nature is an extremely significant part of the human experience. When you walk outside, no matter what time of day it is, take a moment to notice what is around you and appreciate all the elements. Imagine past loved ones walking on the same earth, looking up at the same stars, soaking in the warmth of the very same sun. We are one with the land. The First Nations Australians relationship with the land is fundamental to how they live their daily lives, their social and emotional wellbeing, and their self-identity (TIMHWB, 2021). Despite the devastating period of colonization, discrimination, injustice, and displacement from their traditional land, they have been committed to protecting the land and passing their knowledge through each generation.

This chapter explores the relationship between connection to Country and well-being, and what this connection to the land means to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. Additionally, this chapter shall discuss the holistic and psychological framework SEWB (Social and Emotional Wellbeing), key elements of this framework, and how these elements especially in relation to connection to Country affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples wellbeing.

Focus questions 1. Why is connection to Country foundational to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health and well-being? 2. What are the differences between Indigenous frameworks of Social and Emotional Well-Being and traditional Western psychological models? 3. In what ways can the holistic framework (SEWB) provide an understanding about Indigenous perspectives of well-being?

Connection to Country

Figure 2: How do you feel when you look at this image? Do you feel any form of connection to nature?

Connection to Country is more than just connection to the physical land. To First Nations Australians, the land is the giver of life and their mother, because it provides them with everything they need in abundance. It is a spiritual connection, and one cannot be separated from the other (The Land, 2020)

What is Country?

• Country can be defined in many ways but these different definitions all have the same truth. According to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, Country can be described as a living system which is closely linked to Aboriginal cultural practices (Land is our future, 2021)
• Country can also be seen as a multifaceted concept which involves a "deep, intimate, holistic, complex, localized and reciprocal relationship and connection between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (herein Aboriginal) peoples and elements of land, sea, waterways, sky, stars, and living and non-living entities”(Yashadhana et.al., 2023).

What is connection to Country?

"The land and the people are one, 'cause the land is also related. In our kinship system, as a custodian I am the child of that land," says the Galpu Elder from Nyulunbuy in the Northern Territory, namely Dhangal Gurruwiwi.

Connection to Country is as wide as spirituality, family, community, and culture (Gee et.al., 2014) which provides them with a sense of meaning and belonging, as well as identity which in turn has positive psychological consequences (Haslam et.al., 2009).

"The land is the mother and we are of the land; we do not own the land rather the land owns us. The land is our food, our culture, our spirit and our identity" says Dennis Foley, a Gai-mariagal and Wiradjuri man, and Fulbright scholar.

There are many ways in which First Nations people care for the land and which tend to be a community effort so as to promote ecological, spiritual, and human health long-term (Behndrent, 2020).

Caring for Country looks like taking part in various activities on Indigenous land and seas, with the main objective and focus being on promoting spiritual, human, and ecological health (Burgees et al., 2009).

Why is this connection significant?

Listening to the voices of the First Nations people with the intention of willing to learn helps us understand what their connection to Country means, and why it is so important to their overall wellbeing.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders have the responsibility to take care of both the physical and intangible aspects of Country, and each generation inherits this responsibility. This includes all flora, fauna, living beings, storytelling traditions, language, and lore.

In a video that can be found on the Australians Together page, Dhangal Gurruwiwi goes on to explain the grief that comes with loss of the land. She says "A person dies of grief 'cause the soul has been torn, just like the earth moving equipment tears the land."

There has been a positive relationship found between Indigenous Australians emotional wellbeing and connection to Country and sustainability of Indigenous land and culture (Biddle, 2012). This shows that caring for Country could promote good health, while the lack of care and connection to the Land could negatively affect their health. As much as this is true, there has still been little research done to systematically investigate this matter despite Indigenous Australians efforts and demands to find what works for them and shift the focus of health research (Burgess et al., 2009).

Mindfulness practice Set an intention for your practise Pause for 1 minute and slow your breathing Consider these questions What does Country mean to you? Do you feel like you are one with the land/earth? Now visualise your connection to country and different nature schemes Pause and reflect, how do you feel? what have you learned from this?

Challenges faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders

Caution: This content may be found confronting or distressing. Readers, especially Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, are advised to be aware that this section includes the topic of self-harm and suicide.

Due to the effects of colonization, land dispossession, and racism all over the country for several years, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders were forcefully displaced and relocated due to harsh government policies (VPSC, 2022). This means that they were moved to unfamiliar and more urban environments, which has restricted their access to Country, affecting their well-being and health in a myriad of ways. (Yashadhana et.al., 2023)

According to the findings of the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS, 2019), data showed that:

• 67% of Indigenous Australians had low/moderate levels of psychological distress in 2018 - 2019.
• Hospitalization of mental health issues among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders related to intentional self harm increased by 63% between 2018 and 2019.
• 5.5% of deaths among Indigenous Australians were due to suicide, while 3.7% were due to mental health issues between 2015 and 2019.

Additionally, the age-standardized rate of suicide among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders is said to be two and a half times the rate among non-Indigenous Australians (ABS, 2022).

The denial that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders were the rightful occupants of the land and had the right to retain possession of it while using it to their own discretion (due to the doctrine of terra nullius) lead to the justification of colonization and several years of trauma (Langton, 2020)

When considering improving the mental health and well-being of Indigenous Australians, Indigenous frameworks have to be considered. This is because Western perspectives and definitions of well-being differ from Indigenous perspectives. These frameworks need to be heavily studied and the challenges faced should be considered so as to provide appropriate and efficient support in their health services.

Indigenous frameworks of well-being

Figure 3: Aboriginal Australian women and children, Maloga, N.S.W

• Healing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders involves healing of the collective, and that is why Social and Emotional Well-Being (SEWB) is important. (TIMHWB, 2021)
• The term SEWB has been used to magnify the understanding of mental health and wellbeing through the lens of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, as well as showing how it differs from Western concepts of mental health. (Gee et al., 2014)

What is SEWB?

Figure 3: Determinants of social and emotional wellbeing

Social and Emotional wellbeing can be affected by issues such as abuse, violence, discrimination, grief and loss, substance misuse and a myriad of other problems. This framework was developed to provide much needed support and respond to the social and emotional wellbeing problems experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples (TIMHWB, 2021).

SEWB is a holistic framework that goes beyond Western concepts of mental health. This framework acknowledges the resilience and diversity of First Nations Australians, as well as recognizing that this diversity means that different communities have different needs which need to be approached appropriately (Social Health Reference Group, 2004).

This framework has been defined as "a multidimensional concept of health that includes mental health, but also encompasses domains of health and wellbeing such as connection to land (Country), culture, spirituality, ancestry, family, and community" (Gee et al., 2014)

• The 7 domains of wellbeing under SEWB include:

1. Connection to Country and land
2. Connection to community
3. Connection to culture
4. Connection to spirituality, spirit, and ancestors
5. Connection to mind and emotions
6. Connection to family and kinship
7. Connection to body and behaviours

This framework has connections which are not present in mainstream definitions of mental health and is considered more collective, and highlights the need for less individualistic models.

Furthermore, this framework provides a deeper understanding that for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the wellbeing of self is intrinsically intertwined with the wellbeing of the collective (TIMHWB, 2021).

How does connection to Country affect SEWB?

When Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples experience a disruption in the connections with the 7 domains of wellbeing, including connection to Country due to factors such as government policies, generational trauma and loss, discrimination and colonization, this negatively impacts Social and Emotional Wellbeing. The opposite is said to be true. If these connections are strengthened, this may improve Social and Emotional Wellbeing (Gee et al., 2014).

• Research was carried out by an Aboriginal Participatory Action Research approach. Aboriginal adults from three urban communities in Western Australia participated in this evaluation workshop where they were required to answer 7 research questions. From this workshop, participants reported reduced psychological distressed and improved Social and Emotional Wellbeing (Dudgeon et al., 2022)

Participating in cultural practices as a form of healing on the land such as ceremonies, hunting and gathering, songlines, storytelling, and dancing, is key in giving Indigenous Australians a sense of cultural identity and how this strengthens Social and Emotional Wellbeing.

(Re)connecting with Aboriginal knowledge and traditions through the land looks like spending time on traditional homelands, 'Shoes off on boodja (Country)', 'going out to bush with Elders', 'gatherings on Country', and 'going back to Country' (Dudgeon et al., 2022). Additionally, through activities such as 'Welcome to Country' ceremonies, the participants expressed a sense of empowerment in participating in cultural practices, as well as connecting with the land (Dudgeon et al., 2022).

Moreover, there is a symbiotic relationship between the act of caring for Country, and self care. Through engaging with cultural stories, providing purpose, and strengthening the mind, mental health is improved (Taylor-Bragge, 2021).

"I was always envious of how the old people's minds were as sharp as ever even in their old age. Always on the land, being reminded about all the amazing stories through their relationship with Country." (Steffensen, 2020). When in connection with the land, exercising this holistic knowledge benefits the wellbeing and mental health while strengthening the mind of Indigenous Australians (Steffensen, 2020).

Test your learning! 1 Which of the following is not considered a key element of SEWB? Connection to Country Connection to Spirit and Ancestors Connection to wealth and financial success Connection to culture and tradition 2 In SEWB, Connection to Country is important because it fosters a deep sense of identity, spirituality, and belonging. True False

Self-determination theory in Connection to Country

Self-determination theory (SDT) places an emphasis on basic psychological needs which are: autonomy, competence and relatedness (Ryan, 2009).

What is self-determination?

The self-determination theory is a broad framework which has been used to understand human motivation, personality development, and wellness (Ryan, 2023). This theory contains six sub-theories which are used to explain different aspects of human motivation and well-being, one of them being the Basic Psychological Needs Theory (BPNT) which shall be discussed further in relation to Connection to Country.

Basic Psychological Needs Theory (BPNT)

Figure 4: Self determination key elements

The BPNT theory suggests that basic psychological needs act as essential nutrients which if satisfied, can aid in an individual's optimal psychological development, well-being, and self-motivation (Ryan, 2023)

Autonomy, competence and relatedness (see Figure 4 for summarized definitions) play a key part in the well-being of an individual because they give one a sense of control, as well as a sense of belonging due to building a supportive community and building strong bonds.

Application of SDT in connection to Country

SDT is important in understanding Indigenous Australians motivation and emotional connection to the land and community and why it affects their identity and well-being significantly.

Self-determination for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is crucial because it gives them the power to make their own decisions about governance and what happens on their land and to their communities.

SDT means the transfer of decision making, control, and power from the government to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and organizations (VPSC, 2021). This could be applied to different contexts such as protection for children, management of natural resources, education, justice, as well as health care (VPSC, 2021).

Former Murdi Paaki chair Sam Jeffries says “Our mob believe that true self-determination is making the decisions about what you feel is important to you.” (Jeffries, 2012)

SDT	Application to connection to Country
Autonomy	Having autonomy over decisions made to manage and care for Country and community is paramount. Often times, Indigenous Australians view their relationship with Country as mutually beneficial, therefore any disruptions caused (government intervention, land dispossession, colonization etc.) affect their well-being, self-identity, and cultural practices negatively. However, satisfaction of autonomy as a basic psychological need enables one to experience a sense of integrity (Vansteenskiste, n.d)
Competence	Having control over their own environment and their own lives means retaining the knowledge passed down from generation to generation about traditional cultural practices, which provides them with a sense of mastery and reinforces competence. These activities and this practice of cultural skills play a key role in improving their well-being as it also strengthens community.
Relatedness	The land is their giver and their mother. Connection to Country aids in fostering a relationship with their ancestors, their families, and future generations. This connection fulfills their sense of relatedness thereby improving their mental health and well-being. A disruption to this connection, as seen during the stolen generation, is psychological harmful hence negatively impacting their mental health quite heavily.

Test yourself! How will reconnecting with traditional cultural practices, the land, and community help satisfy relatedness as a need in SDT in the healing process? Promotes individual goals Reduces the need for community support Fosters a sense of identity and belonging with community and the ancestors None of the above

Limitations in applying Western psychological theories

Applying Western psychological theories to Indigenous frameworks may pose a number of issues due to completely different worldviews. One of the most important things to be considered is the role that Country plays when revising Indigenous Australian well-being frameworks (Sangha et al., 2024)

• Differences in beliefs are bound to be a significant limitation. For example, Western Indigenous worldviews. Majority of the existing psychological theories are rooted in Western research and there is a lack of research and representation of different worldviews and perspectives (Sangha et al., 2024). It cannot be a "one size fits all" situation because people's values and beliefs differ all over the world. Furthermore, Indigenous Australians are extremely diverse. Applying the same Western psychological frameworks and disregarding their different needs and issues may pose a problem.
• Secondly, ecological and spiritual connections may not apply significantly to Western ideas of healing. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, connection to the land, spirit, ancestors is salient. Relationships with the land are deeply spiritual and involve Dreaming and ecological stewardship (Hume, 2002). However, Western psychological models rarely account for spiritual dimensions and other related beliefs which can be limiting in the research carried out.

Reflection 1. What steps can be taken in order to incorporate Indigenous knowledge into contemporary and Western psychological practices and policies? 2. In what ways can recognizing the importance of community, Country, and culture lead to providing more effective and useful support for the mental health of Indigenous Australians? 3. Have your views on the importance of connection to Country/land changed after learning about Indigenous Australians perspectives? What has stood out to you?

Conclusion

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the Stolen Generation continue to experience discrimination, poor healthcare, lack of opportunities and lack of good education systems among other issues due to racism and colonization (VPSC, 2022)
• There is a direct correlation between connection to Country and wellbeing of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, being that connection to the land has a significant effect on their wellbeing and the wellbeing of the community (Dudgeon et al., 2022)
• A deep and innate connection to the traditional homelands is central to the lives and the wellbeing of Indigenous Australians (Taylor-Bragge, 2021), Connection to the land is vital for the First Nations Australians to thrive, as it provides them with the space to connect with their ancestors and community in a sacred an spiritual way (Gee et al., 2014)
• The well-being of Indigenous Australians is best understood through the use of a holistic framework such as SEWB.
• In order to develop beneficial policies and programs, well-being frameworks need to evolve and include representation of all sorts of contemporary values and beliefs, including the role of nature.
• Indigenous knowledge systems and Western psychological theories may be integrated, but this has to be done with careful consideration, as well as respect for a holistic approach and different cultural perspectives (Gee et al., 2014)

See also

• Self determination theory (Wikiversity)
• Indigenous Australian self-determination (Wikipedia)

References

Christopher P Burgees, F. H. J. H. L. B. J. M. D. Y. C. G. A. M. R. S. B., 2009. Healthy country, healthy people: the relationship between Indigenous health status and “caring for country”. Medical Journal of Australia, 190(10), pp. 567-572.

Commission, V. P. S., 2021. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander self-determination. [Online] Available at: https://vpsc.vic.gov.au/workforce-programs/aboriginal-cultural-capability-toolkit/aboriginal-self-determination/

Graham Gee, P. D. C. S. A. H. K. K., 2014. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social and Emotional Wellbeing. [Online] Available at: https://www.thekids.org.au/globalassets/media/documents/aboriginal-health/working-together-second-edition/wt-part-1-chapt-4-final.pdf

Group, S. H. R., 2004. Social and Emotional Wellbeing Framework: a national strategic framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health and social and emotional well being 2004-2009. Canberra: s.n.

Hume, L. (2002). Ancestral Power: The Dreaming, Consciousness and Aboriginal Australians. Melbourne University Press. Jeffries, S. (2023, December 4). MURDI PAAKI Self-determination. Retrieved from Reconcillliation AUS (youtube): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvfTj9nbH6c&t=2s

Kamaljit K. Sangha, Y. D. (2024). A comprehensive analysis of well-being frameworks applied in Australia and their suitability for Indigenous peoples. International Journal of Quantitative Studies on Health and Well-being.

Langton, M. (2020). Understanding Sovereignity . Retrieved from Agreements Treaties and Negotiation Settlements : https://www.atns.net.au/understanding-sovereignty

Nicholas Biddle, H. S., 2012. The Relationship between Wellbeing and Indigenous Land, Language and Culture in Australia. Australian Geographer, 43(3), pp. 215-232.

Pat Dudgeon, E. P. C. J. C. C. M. G. K. J. C. A. R., 2023. 'Speak Up and Be Strong': The Cultural, Social and Emotional Wellbeing Program with Boronia Pre-Release Centre for Women. [Online] Available at: https://cbpatsisp.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Project-ID-474-Boronia-CSEWB-Program_18Oct22.pdf

Pat Dudgeon, K. L. D. C. M. A. R., 2022. Understanding Aboriginal Models of Selfhood: The National Empowerment Project’s Cultural, Social, and Emotional Wellbeing Program in Western Australia. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(7).

Rudi Louis Taylor-Bragge (Iowendjeri Boonwurrung), T. W. (.-N. L. J., 2021. People Needs Country: the symbiotic effects of landcare and wellbeing for Aboriginal peoples and their countries. Australian Psychologist, 56(6), pp. 458-271.

Ryan, R. M. (2023). The Oxford Handbook of Self-Determination Theory. Oxford University Press.

Steffensen, V. (2020). Fire country: How Indigenous fire management could help save Australia.

Vansteenkiste, M. (n.d.). What are basic psychological needs in SDT? Retrieved from Basic Psychological Needs – selfdeterminationtheory.org. (n.d.). https://selfdeterminationtheory.org/topics/application-basic-psychological-needs/

Welfare, A. I. o. H. a., 2019. Social and emotional wellbeing. [Online] Available at: https://www.indigenoushpf.gov.au/measures/1-18-social-and-emotional-wellbeing#:~:text=Mental%20health%20conditions,health%20condition%20(ABS%202019). [Accessed 2019].

Welfare, A. I. o. H. a., 2022. Suicide & Self-harm monitoring. [Online] Available at: https://www.aihw.gov.au/suicide-self-harm-monitoring/data/populations-age-groups/suicide-indigenous-australians [Accessed 2022].

Yang, Y., Cai, H., Yang, Z., Zhao, X., Li, M., Han, R., & Chen, S. X. (2022). Why does nature enhance psychological well-being? A Self-Determination account. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 83, 101872. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2022.101872

Yashadhana, A., Fields, T., Liu, E., Serova, N., O’Leary, M., Kenning, G., Kuchelmeister, V., Lockhart, J., & De Leeuw, E. (2023). Therapeutic aspects of Connection to Country and cultural landscapes among Aboriginal peoples from the Stolen Generations living in urban NSW, Australia. Public Health Research & Practice, 33(4). https://doi.org/10.17061/phrp3342332

External links

• Connection to Country (Welcome to Country)
• Indigenous people with access to their traditional lands (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare)
• Land is our future: Caring for our Country (Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council)
• The importance of Land (Australians Together)
• The Interconnectedness of life (Medium)