The Wurundjeri connection to land and Country is based on their cultural and spiritual values. Central to these beliefs is the notion of belonging to the land rather than owning the land. They didn’t build permanent homes but lived in a cycle. They set up temporary camps within set boundaries, moving when the land needed time to heal. They returned when the land could provide for them again. The land met all their needs — food, water, medicine and shelter. In return, they treated the land with respect, taking only what they needed and caring for it.
FIGURE7 Healesville is part of the Wurundjeri lands
10.9.6
Why do Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples choose
to live on Country? For tens of thousands of years the land provided all their needs. The land is seen as the foundation of people — past, present and future. Connection to Country is highly spiritual. It links to a sense of belonging and identity. Country is more than physical land; it includes plants, animals, sky, people, language, customs, seasons, creation spirits and cultural heritage. The land is like a ‘living museum’ for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. It holds their collective memory from the time of the Dreaming. This is reþected in ancient burial grounds, cultural sites and watering holes that helped them survive across generations.
FIGURE8 Country is a complex idea where all aspects of physical and spiritual life are connected.
TOPIC10 Place and liveability 395
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