72
camps. Temporary bark shelters are constructed in camp clusters along the watercourses, dry wood
is collected and fires are kept burning during the cold nights to keep warm.
• Spring (September to October)
Murnong continues to flower, and provides root vegetables in abundance. Water lilies, orchards,
sea berry, saltbush and bower spinach flowers and large amounts of greens are used in food. This
is a time of abundance, trees, grasses and shrubs flower and bees and insects collect nectar. Snakes
and lizards become active, young Kangaroos come out of the pouch. The floodplains are flooded
and tadpoles appear in ponds, billabongs, rivers and lakes. Traps are set and tadpoles, snakes and
lizards are roasted on the coals of the circle ovens in the ground. The different clans start to move
towards the special sacred places for the annual gatherings of the tribes that will happen during the
coming summer season.
5.7 Conclusion Statement
This chapter recorded the longer-term history of human and landscape interaction of the land through
investigating the Indigenous knowledge of the past, and the local Aboriginal history of the region of
the state of Victoria, in Australia. It is noticeable from this chapter that the Aboriginal peoples of
Australia, as well as the Wadawurrung of Victoria, retain a wide knowledge of their seasons, seasonal
activities and long-term cycles of climatic events. Further the intimate relationship to the environment
result in an integral interconnectedness between humans and nature. This knowledge provides important opportunities to explore and discuss further with Aboriginal peoples their aspirations for working
with nature to adapt with climate change, as well as sharing their knowledge with non-Aboriginals
about Country and Sea Country, landscape management, the understanding of nature’s patterns, as
well as opportunities to assist in the design and planning of regenerative-adaptive futures. Additionally,
Indigenous knowledge contribute to the appreciation of place (Roös, 2014a, p.671).
Therefore:
Deep cultural and spiritual connections with nature exists within the bioregions of the lands; the
connection with Country is evident in the Dreamtime Stories of the Wadawurrung and other Aboriginal
peoples across Australia. This is similar for all Indigenous people’s knowledge across the world. Not
necessarily obvious and evident to European occupants, but certainly these storylines and knowledge
are engraved within the living structures of the land, constantly present in its evolutionary process.
This advanced Indigenous knowledge need to be investigated, recorded and shared to assist in the
further understanding of a deeper human-nature relationship, and the interconnectedness of humans
and nature.
5.8 Fundamental Pattern 5
Advanced Indigenous Knowledge [5].
When any human settlement is considered, first obtain from the local Indigenous custodians
a deep knowledge of the land and the longer- term history of human and landscape interaction.
Indigenous knowledge of seasons, seasonal activities, long-term cycles of natural and climatic
events will provide insight to Nature’s long-term patterns for adaptation planning (Fig. 5.6).
5 Origins of Advanced Knowledge
camps. Temporary bark shelters are constructed in camp clusters along the watercourses, dry wood
is collected and fires are kept burning during the cold nights to keep warm.
• Spring (September to October)
Murnong continues to flower, and provides root vegetables in abundance. Water lilies, orchards,
sea berry, saltbush and bower spinach flowers and large amounts of greens are used in food. This
is a time of abundance, trees, grasses and shrubs flower and bees and insects collect nectar. Snakes
and lizards become active, young Kangaroos come out of the pouch. The floodplains are flooded
and tadpoles appear in ponds, billabongs, rivers and lakes. Traps are set and tadpoles, snakes and
lizards are roasted on the coals of the circle ovens in the ground. The different clans start to move
towards the special sacred places for the annual gatherings of the tribes that will happen during the
coming summer season.
5.7 Conclusion Statement
This chapter recorded the longer-term history of human and landscape interaction of the land through
investigating the Indigenous knowledge of the past, and the local Aboriginal history of the region of
the state of Victoria, in Australia. It is noticeable from this chapter that the Aboriginal peoples of
Australia, as well as the Wadawurrung of Victoria, retain a wide knowledge of their seasons, seasonal
activities and long-term cycles of climatic events. Further the intimate relationship to the environment
result in an integral interconnectedness between humans and nature. This knowledge provides important opportunities to explore and discuss further with Aboriginal peoples their aspirations for working
with nature to adapt with climate change, as well as sharing their knowledge with non-Aboriginals
about Country and Sea Country, landscape management, the understanding of nature’s patterns, as
well as opportunities to assist in the design and planning of regenerative-adaptive futures. Additionally,
Indigenous knowledge contribute to the appreciation of place (Roös, 2014a, p.671).
Therefore:
Deep cultural and spiritual connections with nature exists within the bioregions of the lands; the
connection with Country is evident in the Dreamtime Stories of the Wadawurrung and other Aboriginal
peoples across Australia. This is similar for all Indigenous people’s knowledge across the world. Not
necessarily obvious and evident to European occupants, but certainly these storylines and knowledge
are engraved within the living structures of the land, constantly present in its evolutionary process.
This advanced Indigenous knowledge need to be investigated, recorded and shared to assist in the
further understanding of a deeper human-nature relationship, and the interconnectedness of humans
and nature.
5.8 Fundamental Pattern 5
Advanced Indigenous Knowledge [5].
When any human settlement is considered, first obtain from the local Indigenous custodians
a deep knowledge of the land and the longer- term history of human and landscape interaction.
Indigenous knowledge of seasons, seasonal activities, long-term cycles of natural and climatic
events will provide insight to Nature’s long-term patterns for adaptation planning (Fig. 5.6).
5 Origins of Advanced Knowledge