OUR WORK
Let's build a culture where Australians unite around a living country, reclaiming our shared role as custodians of this land.
Our Work | Voice of Country | Photo: Justin McManus
Voice of Country
Australia’s natural balance is under threat from invasive species and it’s seriously endangering our cultural and ecological heritage.
Since colonisation we have suffered the devastating loss of over 100 native plants and animals – species that are now gone forever.
Sadly, with extinction, we also lose precious traditional ecological knowledge and connection. The long lasting impacts to First Nations communities’ culture and connection to Country is irredeemable.
The sounds of a diverse landscape—the rustling of leaves, the calls of native birds, the flow of clean rivers—represent a healthy Country, a voice that has echoed for thousands of years and that First Nations peoples have long cared for. Today, this voice calls louder than ever.
This is why the Voice of Country campaign puts Indigenous knowledge and culture at the forefront of invasive species policy making. By restoring and empowering these voices, we can protect our Country from the threat of invasive species.
“A Voice of Country is basically that, giving our soil, our water and our species, their voice because they actually haven’t had a voice for 235 years.”
Richard Swain, Indigenous Ambassador for the Invasive Species Council and Voice of Country campaign lead.
We didn’t start 50 years ago and we need to really start now. We can make the next decade either the decade of healing country or the decade of saying goodbye. It’s a choice, and it’s an easy choice.
The voice of Country is being ignored, if we listened to it, it would be crying out to slow down the threat of invasive species. It would call for a modern Australian culture that listens, connects and cares for it.
Invasive species threaten First Nations cultural traditions, such as food sources, bush medicine, culturally significant species and sacred sites.
First Nations people are often rangers, doing the groundwork to preserve land, however are often not offered leadership opportunities to make decisions about policies and funding that affects their success.
The voice of Country campaign works to elevate the voice of the plants and animals that evolved here to all Australians including those with power.
We will do this by bringing together and amplifying a chorus of Indigenous voices who have deep connection to caring for Country. With that connection to Country, if modern Australia embraces it, and with the best of regenerative science, we can save some species and turn the ship of extinction around.
Ultimately, we are calling for a federal Indigenous Caring for Country Commissioner who will be an independent advocate for Country in order to preserve connection to Country and cultural heritage. Such a role will:
- Be a conduit between First Nations grassroots environmental movements, rangers, land managers and decision-makers
- Be a public advocate for maintaining connection to Country and the impacts of invasive species on First Nations communities.
- Ensure resourcing, coordination and government support required to effectively manage invasive species on Aboriginal land.
We've lost our Tucker. We've lost our five trees. We've lost, you know, the kurrajongs very palatable for the invasive species. So all those ice-cream species that the invasive species like they were once our Tucker, we, we've lost that. So it is the right time Australia's ready.
In northern Australia buffel grass is smothering and altering the landscape.
Buffel grass creates a monoculture which covers sacred sites, and outcompetes species which provide bush food and bush medicine. This alteration of the landscape prevents the teaching of cultural knowledge.
Northern Australian First Nations desert people have been leading the campaign for more action on buffel grass and have released a statement on the issue, learn more about their work and the impacts of buffel grass.
Voice of Country Pledge
In taking this pledge you commit to listening to Voice of Country – and take responsibility for protecting our ancient rivers, diverse landscapes and unique species from invasive species.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders and organisations — add your name to our call for a Commissioner for Country.
Voice of Country Objectives
Despite growing on the ground rangers and land managers, Australia lacks empowered, independent, Indigenous leadership in the conservation space to advocate for caring for Country. Indigenous people in Australia have cultural traditions and obligations that are inextricably linked to Country, however environmental decisions too often don’t account for this.
The lack of consideration for Indigenous knowledge in decision-making is why there is a strong need for an independent, authoritative Indigenous voice that guides the protection and management of natural and Indigenous cultural heritage values protected under national law. This role cannot speak for all Country but can elevate the concerns Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities when it comes to caring for Country.
Modern Australia is yearning for a connection to Country that it hasn’t had because, our soil, water and species haven’t had one good minute in 235 years. There’s a change in the air, will it come quick enough?
Now is the time to start the healing, healing Country and healing the connection between First Nations people and Country. It’s time to restore and empower the voices of plants, animals, rivers and deserts, a vital step to achieve this is a Commissioner for Country. Such a commissioner would be an Indigenous representative to advise governments and be a public advocate for Country.
Australia now has a historic opportunity to restore Country and culture by protecting it from the threat of invasive species. In order to do this successfully Indigenous knowledge must be at the forefront in decisions of environmental and cultural significance.
“Australia could make a statement that we’re prepared to heal Country and we’re prepared to give Aboriginal people respectful roles and particularly healing Country roles.” Richard Swain.
The Commissioner for Country will be an empowered public champion that provides a voice to protect, restore, manage invasive species, and repair Country – a voice of Country. This voice would not replace or supersede the voice of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities but elevates and empowers those seeking to care for Country. This voice is for Country, working toward healing Country. Key responsibilities will include:
- Support First Peoples as land managers with information and navigating government agencies.
- Provide resourcing opportunities to ensure First Peoples have the resources required to care for Country.
- Provide uplift and capacity building for Indigenous groups.
- Be an advocate for biodiversity and culturally significant species.
- Provide advice on decisions that impact Indigenous people, particularly regarding Caring for Country.
- Progress Indigenous-led solutions in the environmental sector and inform environmental policy and program design.
- Ensures Cultural Authority through Culturally appropriate and co-designed Indigenous participation and engagement in decision-making.
“So I have totems and most blackfellas do.
And so for a totem, I’m related to them.
I have to know, I have to care for them.
I have to care for their diet, care for their water, care for their habitat.
And so when you’re interrelated with species, it’s like, it’s your family that’s suffering.”
– Richard Swain
In Aboriginal cultures people, clans, families and nations can be given a totem, usually an animal. You, your family, clan or nation may have responsibilities for the wellbeing of your totem. This element of Aboriginal cultures encourages connection, balance and responsibility to the natural environment. Totems also demonstrate how species at threat of extinction from invasive species have impacts on Aboriginal cultural heritage. This information is based on the following resources where you can learn more about Aboriginal cultures and totems.
In our vision Country and culture are thriving. Indigenous people have empowered voices at the table when it comes to health the Country their culture is inextricably connected to. But right now, despite holding generations of deep cultural connection to Country, there is no place for those voices. Country and culture continues to be threatened and ignored. This how we aim to achieve the vision.
Indigenous representatives from leading environmental organisations and Indigenous organisations have added their names to our call for a Caring for Country Commissioner. An Indigenous Caring for Country Commissioner will amplify the chorus of Indigenous voices who want to heal Country. It will be a direct voice from community to government ensuring that the voice of Country can be heard. This list is growing, and as it grows, the federal government will no longer be able to ignore this call. Add your organisation to this proposal.
At every opportunity we are raising the issue of invasives species impact on Country and culture to those that can do something about it.
Richards Swain has been meeting with MPs at the federal and state level, appearing at public inquiry hearings, and building allies in the halls of power.
Our priority is a federal Commissioner for Country, but we are pursuing opportunities at the state and territory levels, especially in NSW. A Commissioner at the federal level will be a thought leader, public advocate and go to resources for land managers across the county. The state and territory jurisdictions will have more practical and on the ground powers. This is why we are advocating for a commissioner in all governments.
Through media, speaking engagements and networking Richard Swain is sharing his story and the story of Country.
By raising awareness, building allies and spreading the word Richard is building relationships, allies and bringing the voice of Country into the room.
By yarning with mob he is collecting and sharing stories, and gaining a stronger network of Indigenous people who agree that County and connection to culture need to be better protected.
See recent articles:
‘Feral horses don’t know state borders’: the push to protect Victoria’s Alpine national park’ | Sun 18 Feb 2024 | The Guardian
Invasive species a dire problem for country, culture | June 2, 2024 | National Indigenous Times (NIT)
Aerial shooting of feral horses approved by NSW government | October 27, 2023 | Sydney Morning Herald
How to get involved
Join us in calling for an Indigenous, independent, public advocate for Country.
We are inviting Indigenous representatives or organisations and Indigenous led organisations to add their name to our call for a federal Commissioner for Country.
A growing number of organisations are signing on, momentum is building and the voice of country can no longer be ignored. With environmental reforms ongoing and a federal election around the corner, now is the time to apply the pressure.
Are you, or you an Indigenous organisation or Indigenous representative and would like to join us in calling for giving Indigenous people a real day in protecting Country? Sign on.
Pledge your commitment to Caring for Country.
Are you an ally or an Indigenous person who would like to pledge your support to caring for Country? Then we invite you to sign the Voice of Country Pledge to show solidarity with Indigenous people who are caring for Country.
Educate yourself
Caring and connection to Country is a fundamental feature of Indigenous culture.
For example, totems, in Indigenous cultures individuals, clans and nations can have a cultural obligation to care for their totem. When totem species are under threat cultural traditions are also under threat.
We invite you to dive deeper into the cultural importance of caring for Country by reading through the resources below.
Evolves
Country Needs People
Sydney University
Learn More
Learn more about the works of Indigenous led organisations such as the Indigenous Desert Alliance.
An insight into the impacts of invasive weeds like Buffel grass on Country.
Learn more about the significant of totem species being threatened by invasive species such as the Golden Shouldered Parrot.
A guide for best practice for sharing and application of Indigenous knowledge in caring for Country provided by Northern Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance.
Richard Swain in the media:
‘Feral horses don’t know state borders’: the push to protect Victoria’s Alpine national park | Sun 18 Feb 2024 | The Guardian
Calls for new First Nations Commissioner to care for Country amid NSW invasive species concerns | September 25, 2024 | NIT
Kosciuszko National Park brumbies causing ‘abhorrent’ damage, says Indigenous river guide | Tue 7 Jul 2020 | ABC News
Aerial shooting of feral horses approved by NSW government | October 27, 2023 | Sydney Morning Herald
Pledge to listen to Country
Voice of Country is an invitation to all Australians – whether you’re Indigenous or not – to care for and heal Country. To take responsibility as a caretaker of this land and accept your role as a custodian. And to listen to and amplify the voices of First Nations people, who have cared for Country since time immemorial.
Indigenous-led
Voice of Country aims to build a national, Indigenous-led distributed network of caring Indigenous leaders and communities united together to save Country from invasive species.
If your Indigenous-led organisation wants to be part of this collective and powerful voice on managing Country, reach out to Richard Swain, Voice of Country Project Lead for more information at voiceofcountry@invasives.org.au
With the hands of Indigenous people and the hearts and minds of modern Australian communities, it will take all of us to Care for Country.
