Larissa Behrendt - Environmental Sustainability: what we can learn from Aboriginal Culture

"The concept of sustainability has always been central to Indigenous cultures' - Larissa Behrendt (of the Eualeyai/Kamillaroi people) talks about the lessons derived from her Indigenous culture relating to climate-change, environment/sustainability, Aboriginal totems and customs, wisdom and the principles of connectedness. 'I'd like to see the Indigenous cultures of Australia become the central cultures of this country, that all Australian feel that Indigenous cultures are part of our heritage.' In order to achieve this, Larissa advocates the need to protect Indigenous culture within a culture of human-rights.

Peter Doherty - Nobel Prize Laureate - mentions the importance of hunter-gatherer societies.

About Larissa: Professor of Law and Indigenous Studies at the Jumbunna Indigenous House of Learning, University of Technology, Sydney, Larissa is also a practising Barrister who has previously worked with the United Nations. She is currently Chair of National Indigenous Television, Director of Bangarra Dance Company and is on the board of the Museum of Contemporary Art. Larissa is also a judicial member of the Administrative Decisions Tribunal and the Serious Offenders Review Council and an Acting Commissioner on the Land and Environment Court, Fellow for the Australian Social Sciences Academy, a Foundation Fellow for the Australian Academy of Law and a member of the ARC College of Experts. She is published on property law, Indigenous rights, dispute resolution and Aboriginal women's issues and is a regular columnist for the National Indigenous Times. Larissa is also an author; 'Home' is her first novel, and 'Legacy' is her latest work (2009).

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Larissa
• Behrendt
• Indigenous
• Aboriginal
• Climate
• Change
• Environment
• Sustainability
• Wisdom
• Women

[jxxxjppp]

im sure shes a nice person,and certainly extremely articulate but most of her ancestry and heritage is white european! she has a german father and racially mixed mother.i dont begrudge her her right to call herself "aboriginal"but shes hardly indigenous.

[thejuicemedia]

@jxxxjppp consider that it is now generally agreed that there is no biological evidence for 'race'. terms such as 'racially mixed' do not make any sense (other than to those who actually believe in the fiction of race - often called 'racists'). everyone is "Indigenous:" Unless you came from outer space, you simply cannot fail to be indigenous in relation to some part of this planet. People who identify as Aboriginal are indigenous to Australia. If you are one you are also the other.

[casting4325]

@coit7 - Every Australian should have a totem at birth, black,brown or white.That way they are connected to the land & environment.

[casting4325]

@cout7 - Your a good Australian & Indigenous people will need your assistance if we are to see change (as we always have).There is a lot of good in white Australians cout7 & Indigneous people see that goodness.But we also see that too many good Australians are willing to remain quite or sit on the fence. "all that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men/women do nothing. Do not allow evil to triumph. Do not sit by and do nothing. (Edmund Burke)

[mixmatt]

Larissa you are a superb speaker with the credentials to back up your words. I have seen only two of your presentations and both just blow me away. Sterling speech and so very true. More please.

[coit7]

As a white Australian, I would LOVE to see aboriginal culture the central culture in this country, a resource based economy and let us learn and all return to our roots...Mother Earth, as Uncle Bob Randell says Love to all, peace brothers/sisters.

[zyx645]

Very good presentation Larissa!

Thanks GoodHeart Sister for shareing this,how Indiginous people are healthy and happy until they become effected by the one dimensional view of self rejection by some.The complex natural ways have no seperation of self,self sustaining with this wisdom of respecting the Earth and all the beautiful ways of life.Its a truth that healthy people equal the healthy way of the land and how its treated,so many have had this choice taken away.

Thanks for your good work!

[bones22j]

good vid. I hope you guys do more rap news with Robert Foster.