Connecting with Country

02/09/2026

Today marks 63 years since the second of two bark petitions was tabled in parliament.

In February 1963, the Yolngu became aware that the Federal Government had approved plans for the mining and processing of bauxite in north-east Arnhem Land.

The Yirrkala bark petitions (Näku Dhäruk) were the Yolngu’s formal response that sought to have their rights to Yolngu and Arnhem Land recognised.

It was the first time documents that incorporated First Nations ways of representing relationships to land were recognised by parliament.

The petitions led to a Select Committee to investigate Yolngu grievances but did not halt mining. While subsequent legal action by the Yolngu was unsuccessful, their actions resulted in the first land rights legislation in Australia, the 'Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976'.

📷: Northern Lands Council (NLC) Chairman Silas Roberts (left) and Gumatj leader and NLC Manager, Galarrwuy Yunupingu, viewing the petitions during a visit to Canberra. Image courtesy AIATSIS and Yirrkala community, item AIAS.031. BW-N00254_08

04/08/2026

My green hood orchids are now flowering and the silver wattle has started to bloom. You can hear the currawongs calling for the rain.

Yay, it's Guling!

The Kulin Nation Indigenous seasonal cycle recognises seven distinct weather periods that occur across the year. The temperatures are increasing, and cold weather is coming to an end in the season of orchids.

In the Kulin Nation calendar, Guling is when the orchids are flowering, and the koalas are bellowing at night.

To find out more about the Kulin Nation seasonal cycle, visit https://www.rsv.org.au/articles/seasons-in-the-sky

04/08/2026

When you look at Mungo Man and Mungo Lady at over 42,000 years old they are beyond the accuracy of carbon dating. They are about ten times older than the pyramids. They were around at the time of the megafauna.

Australia has a wonderful history. Let’s celebrate it!

Free Resource

02/08/2026

From NT to Glasgow 🤯🥹

At just 18 years old, Briseis Brittain has delivered a Commonwealth Games debut to remember, claiming bronze in the Women's 200m T38 Final in 27.66 (+1.3).

The teenager from the Northern Territory rises to the occasion on one of the biggest stages of her career, adding another medal to Australia's tally in Glasgow. 🌟

31/07/2026

26/07/2026

Keep your eye out around Narmada

16/07/2026

Caring for water

What happens when Traditional Owners, landholders and water managers work together to get water back on Country? 💧🌿

At Box Creek in the Riverina, water for the environment was delivered for the first time at the request of Mutthi Mutthi First Nations people and local landholders, supporting both cultural heritage and ecological values.

The project brought together First Nations, local landholders, environmental water managers and NSW DCCEEW’s Healing Country team to identify and protect water-dependent cultural sites, while restoring flows to a creek that had not experienced dedicated environmental water before.

As Mutthi Mutthi Elder Patsy Winch reflected, the return of water quickly brought new life to the landscape, with frogs, birds and native food sources reappearing.
Read the case study: https://ow.ly/XQny50Zo9LV