Acting locally, thinking nationally: layering Indigenous ontology within wellbeing frameworks

Area of Science:

• Indigenous Studies
• Environmental Sociology
• Cultural Anthropology

Background:

• Contemporary wellbeing frameworks often fail to encompass Indigenous ontologies and holistic perspectives.
• Indigenous nations have long-established practices centered on interconnectedness, now being recognized as 'wellbeing frameworks'.
• Key Indigenous concepts like 'Country' (human-other-than-human relationships) and 'relationality' are central to Indigenous wellbeing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the inadequacy of current wellbeing frameworks in representing Indigenous perspectives.
• To advocate for the integration of Indigenous concepts of Country and relationality into wellbeing frameworks.
• To demonstrate how Country-centered planning and relational wellbeing are integral to Indigenous governance, using Yawuru's 'mabu liyan' as an example.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis of Indigenous ontology and contemporary wellbeing theories.
• Examination of Indigenous governance practices, specifically focusing on the Yawuru nation's 'mabu liyan' philosophy.
• Comparative analysis of Indigenous wellbeing elements (Country, relationality) with existing national wellbeing frameworks.

Main Results:

• Indigenous wellbeing is fundamentally rooted in the concept of Country and deep relationality, encompassing human and non-human connections.
• 'Mabu liyan' (good feeling) exemplifies Indigenous governance systems where Country-centered planning and relational wellbeing are standard practice.
• Current wellbeing frameworks can be significantly broadened and deepened by incorporating Indigenous concepts of Country and relationality.

Conclusions:

• Integrating Indigenous concepts of Country and relationality is crucial for developing more inclusive and effective wellbeing frameworks.
• Acknowledging and incorporating local-scale differences and Indigenous ontologies enriches universal wellbeing approaches.
• A Country-centered and relational approach to wellbeing planning offers a more holistic and culturally appropriate model for Indigenous communities.