Supporting initiatives that care for Country
PlantingSeeds Projects acknowledges and proudly supports First Nations peoples in Australia in their active pursuit of caring for Country. Here, we shine the spotlight on three organisations owned and run[JF1] [JM2] by First Nations peoples in Australia that are dedicated to sharing their knowledge and inviting others to learn more about caring for the species that share land, air and sea.
Caring for Country is not just a ceremonial act but a holistic way of maintaining a healthy ecosystem and its associated biodiversity. The concept encourages a healthy supply of food, water, and shelter for species to share so they can live in harmony.
As First Nations peoples in Australia have cared for Country for tens of thousands of years, we can learn much from ancient wisdoms that continue to be highly relevant today.
With species loss at an all-time high, ancient wisdoms can teach us much about the fine balance we must strive for. PlantingSeeds Projects understands the important roles that each element within the biosphere plays, and it is for this reason that we advocate for a collective response in caring for Country inspired by First Nations’ principles.
IndigiGrow
PlantingSeeds Projects has a strong relationship with IndigiGrow, a Sydney-based Aboriginal-owned nursery d[JF3] esigned to connect people with native plants, care for Country, and share cultural knowledge. Through IndigiGrow’s generosity in sharing their knowledge, PlantingSeeds Projects has benefitted from the guidance of installing the most appropriate plants in the most optimum environments on many sites, from schools to corporate settings.
Through IndigiGrow’s services, the community can learn more about native Australian plants and how we can work together to care for Country. IndigiGrow employs young Aboriginal apprentices to immerse themselves in learning about their culture and pass on vital traditional knowledge. The organisation also seeks to educate the general public through its nursery services.
IndigiGrow's efforts are particularly crucial in the face of urgent environmental challenges. The Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub (ESBS), a key ecosystem, is currently endangered, with only three per cent remaining [JF4] compared to its previous coverage of 5,300 hectares in the coastal areas of Sydney. The ESBS, with its diverse range of shrubs, grasses, heaths, and small trees, provides essential habitats and food sources to local fauna species. Its preservation is critical and requires our immediate attention. IndigiGrow is instrumental in its efforts to preserve and extend the ESBS by cultivating the associated plants and selling them to the public.
IndigGrow operates through its nursery at La Perouse, Sydney, and wholesale opportunities in Austral, Sydney. [JF5] Corporate volunteering is also encouraged to give people an in-depth experience of learning about local native plants and local knowledges of the area. Click here to connect with IndigiGrow in either of these ways.
Jagun Alliance
Connection to Country requires relationships. Jagun Alliance seeks to encourage this by helping people within various organisations, landholders, and communities to develop meaningful relationships with local First Nations communities to grow and expand their understanding and appreciation of caring for Country. Developing these relationships encourages increased collaboration to care for biodiversity on a local level.
Jagun Alliance is a not-for-profit, Aboriginal-owned and directed organisation located in the Northern Rivers, NSW, [JF7] that engages in various communities and contexts to allow relationships to prosper. Actively engaging with traditional land management activities, Jagun Alliance invites people from all walks of life to meet on-site for connections through conversations, learning about cultural fire and the importance it plays in nurturing the soil and endemic plants, which is essential for various wildlife food sources and in reducing the intensity of bushfires.
Cultural or cool fire refers to the land management technique of intentionally starting low-heat fires in various ecosystems to replenish the soil with essential nutrients and reduce fuel for the intense bushfires we have been experiencing with increasing frequency over the years. One of Jagun Alliance’s projects has been to regenerate the Pink Nodding Orchid by using cultural fire. This initiative has been credited with increasing the population of this endangered species.
Jagun Alliance continues to respond proactively to disasters in recovery and preparedness to preserve the local ecosystems and all who inhabit them. To keep up to date with their current projects, click this link to email Jagun Alliance or click here to follow them on Facebook.
DeadlyScience
Caring for Country does not always just involve direct action. Effective land management [JF9] [JM10] also benefits from traditional knowledges informing modern western approaches in innovation development. Science & Technology Australia (STA), a leading body in science and technology within Australia, advocates with senior Indigenous leaders in science and research for a standalone priority [JM11] ‘to elevate and invest in First Nations perspectives on science, technology and innovation’ to be included in the Draft National Science and Research Priorities.
This standalone priority is a crucial way of ensuring an e*ective relationship between traditional knowledges and practices and modern innovations, encouraging more First Nations young people to explore STEM-related (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) vocations.
DeadlyScience is a not-for-pro%t organisation dedicated to this mission. It provides STEM resources and learning opportunities across Australia and encourages relationships and connections between young Indigenous Australians and the professional STEM world. Developed in 2018, DeadlyScience has grown to become a leading Indigenous STEM charity nationwide.
DeadlyScience integrates real-life experiences of Indigenous STEM professionals. These professionals, often working in rural and remote locations, play a pivotal role in engaging with students, ‘making the invisible opportunities visible.’ Theone-hour sessions allow students to connect, ask questions, and hear unique andpersonalised experiences of working lives.
DeadlyScience not only fosters real-life connections between students and outstanding STEM individuals but also o*ers curriculum-based resources that respect and value Indigenous culture. These resources are designed to equip teachers with the tools they need to provide a culturally inclusive learning environment.
Click here to learn the different ways you can work together.
Collaboration is key
We have incredible opportunities to partner with one another to care for Country in practical and meaningful ways. Often taking the smallest step is the most productive
Click here to connect with IndigiGrow
Click here to head straight to The Cultural Burning Hub’s video resources.
Click here to learn how you can partner with DeadlyScience