I am in the process of trying to ‘listen’ to the trees at the moment, and all the other sentient entities that share my land with me. So I love your essay very much. I have worked in the Indigenous rights area academically for a long long time now and have mused on differences between Australia and New Zealand in a few research projects. One stand out for me as far as differences go (and we colonisers love to homogenous Indigenous peoples) is that Maori societies were hierarchical With Chiefs and stratification, and Aboriginal societies in all their diversity were egalitarian. This had huge implications for how the Māoris were able to organise and resist - indeed war against the coloniser, as their social stratification was more similar to the coloniser. Elders here in Aboriginal Australia didn’t hold more power over tribes, just more wisdom. Very different ontological and spiritual stories. I also regularly ponder how to belong to a place that isn’t mine ancestrally, but which holds my spirit. Sharon Blackie here on Substack writes on this so beautifully. Do you know her work? Anyway, sometimes I play with the notion I may indeed have some spiritual ancestors from this land - that my soul may indeed be connected to this place in ways I cannot quite fathom. All food for our imaginations. Lovely to read your work ❤️
Thank you for sharing your experiences and thoughts Cathy. I know of Sharon Blackie and will look for her Substack. Yes, it's a balancing act, feeling so personally connected to a land that isn't ours ancestrally. I don't have any answers other than to respect, protect and love it as best we can, and acknowledge the ancestors and descendents of the indigenous people who came before us. Much to ponder ❤️🌳
Thank you for writing this, I really enjoyed reading it and learning some history. I look forward to hearing more from you and the trees on this topic!
Greetings Jackie from a fellow Kiwi who has found a home here with all the complexities that go with settling in colonised unceded land. Thank you for your thoughtful exploration of colonisation, and some of the differences between what occurred in Aotearoa and here on this continent. It’s something I have thought about a lot too. It makes to total sense to me that you had to write this post of acknowledgment on arrival, as the presence of First Nations being and culture here is powerful and enduring as I am sure you will keep encountering as you travel on through the many Countries of the continent. If you come to Warrane/Sydney do get in touch , would love to meet up !
Thank you Sally, yes I really feel the presence of the First Nations people here in Tasmania - and the convict ancestors. Such a brutal past and yet such a benign present day culture and society. I appreciated you recognising I had to write this post - the thousands of years of living in harmony with nature and each other is truly inspirational, and I struggle to comprehend the loss. And yet we must somehow forgive the settlers who were caught up in their own worldview to such an extent that we can only conclude that they knew not what they did. I'd love to meet up too - we're not heading Sydney way this trip, but maybe in the future ❤️🌳
Beautifully written, Mama. One of the best accounts I've read analysing the differences between colonisation in Australia and New Zealand. I'm so glad you wrote this! Looking forward to hearing what the trees have to say.
Oh Jackie, what a lens you have and I savored every SINGLE word of this. Yes, the trees must shudder sometimes at the things that humans do (and have done). And not only to them. And yet they stand tall and beautiful in their wisdom, ever hoping we will tune in. You captured all of this--including in your photos--so wonderfully! Always love what you write, thank you! <3
Thank you Stephanie, this means so much. I agree, trees have been on this earth for millions of years longer than we humans and they must truly shudder at so many of our (particularly western) antics. They must wonder about our future too. Thank you for your reflections 🙏
I literally cannot wait to hear more about this and what the trees think!!!! I love all the history you included here. I’m in Canada and have done a lot of learning with Indigenous pedagogies - and a LOT of unlearning of colonized beliefs (which is still ongoing). The trees probably have a lot of wisdom. Are they hopeful? I genuinely am so curious and definitely invested now!
Thank you Anira. Yes so much learning and unlearning!!! The trees here in Tasmania have been pretty quiet so far. I feel as though they're sussing me out. I'm not sure I'm on their wavelength yet, but have had a few brief interchanges which I'll write about soon. Quite illuminating already, different to NZ trees!! ❤️🌳
thank you. I'm 5th generation white New Zealander, in Australia now and discovering I have aunt and uncle ancestral lines all through queensland where I now live. I've been attempting to 'uncolonise' my psyche for a long time. I love reading what you have written. My thoughts on 'terra nullius' is it was encouraged to see the people already here as not human so it was easier to steal their land and kill them... and the effects of that are still seen today in the awful racism by so many. I look forward to reading more.
I am in the process of trying to ‘listen’ to the trees at the moment, and all the other sentient entities that share my land with me. So I love your essay very much. I have worked in the Indigenous rights area academically for a long long time now and have mused on differences between Australia and New Zealand in a few research projects. One stand out for me as far as differences go (and we colonisers love to homogenous Indigenous peoples) is that Maori societies were hierarchical With Chiefs and stratification, and Aboriginal societies in all their diversity were egalitarian. This had huge implications for how the Māoris were able to organise and resist - indeed war against the coloniser, as their social stratification was more similar to the coloniser. Elders here in Aboriginal Australia didn’t hold more power over tribes, just more wisdom. Very different ontological and spiritual stories. I also regularly ponder how to belong to a place that isn’t mine ancestrally, but which holds my spirit. Sharon Blackie here on Substack writes on this so beautifully. Do you know her work? Anyway, sometimes I play with the notion I may indeed have some spiritual ancestors from this land - that my soul may indeed be connected to this place in ways I cannot quite fathom. All food for our imaginations. Lovely to read your work ❤️
Thank you for sharing your experiences and thoughts Cathy. I know of Sharon Blackie and will look for her Substack. Yes, it's a balancing act, feeling so personally connected to a land that isn't ours ancestrally. I don't have any answers other than to respect, protect and love it as best we can, and acknowledge the ancestors and descendents of the indigenous people who came before us. Much to ponder ❤️🌳
Thank you for writing this, I really enjoyed reading it and learning some history. I look forward to hearing more from you and the trees on this topic!
A beautiful, thought-provoking piece Jackie. I look forward to hearing what insights the Tasmanian trees will share 😊
Greetings Jackie from a fellow Kiwi who has found a home here with all the complexities that go with settling in colonised unceded land. Thank you for your thoughtful exploration of colonisation, and some of the differences between what occurred in Aotearoa and here on this continent. It’s something I have thought about a lot too. It makes to total sense to me that you had to write this post of acknowledgment on arrival, as the presence of First Nations being and culture here is powerful and enduring as I am sure you will keep encountering as you travel on through the many Countries of the continent. If you come to Warrane/Sydney do get in touch , would love to meet up !
Thank you Sally, yes I really feel the presence of the First Nations people here in Tasmania - and the convict ancestors. Such a brutal past and yet such a benign present day culture and society. I appreciated you recognising I had to write this post - the thousands of years of living in harmony with nature and each other is truly inspirational, and I struggle to comprehend the loss. And yet we must somehow forgive the settlers who were caught up in their own worldview to such an extent that we can only conclude that they knew not what they did. I'd love to meet up too - we're not heading Sydney way this trip, but maybe in the future ❤️🌳
Beautifully written, Mama. One of the best accounts I've read analysing the differences between colonisation in Australia and New Zealand. I'm so glad you wrote this! Looking forward to hearing what the trees have to say.
Oh Jackie, what a lens you have and I savored every SINGLE word of this. Yes, the trees must shudder sometimes at the things that humans do (and have done). And not only to them. And yet they stand tall and beautiful in their wisdom, ever hoping we will tune in. You captured all of this--including in your photos--so wonderfully! Always love what you write, thank you! <3
Thank you Stephanie, this means so much. I agree, trees have been on this earth for millions of years longer than we humans and they must truly shudder at so many of our (particularly western) antics. They must wonder about our future too. Thank you for your reflections 🙏
I literally cannot wait to hear more about this and what the trees think!!!! I love all the history you included here. I’m in Canada and have done a lot of learning with Indigenous pedagogies - and a LOT of unlearning of colonized beliefs (which is still ongoing). The trees probably have a lot of wisdom. Are they hopeful? I genuinely am so curious and definitely invested now!
Thank you Anira. Yes so much learning and unlearning!!! The trees here in Tasmania have been pretty quiet so far. I feel as though they're sussing me out. I'm not sure I'm on their wavelength yet, but have had a few brief interchanges which I'll write about soon. Quite illuminating already, different to NZ trees!! ❤️🌳
thank you. I'm 5th generation white New Zealander, in Australia now and discovering I have aunt and uncle ancestral lines all through queensland where I now live. I've been attempting to 'uncolonise' my psyche for a long time. I love reading what you have written. My thoughts on 'terra nullius' is it was encouraged to see the people already here as not human so it was easier to steal their land and kill them... and the effects of that are still seen today in the awful racism by so many. I look forward to reading more.
and the Australian Who Do You Think You Are episode with Uncle Jack Charles RIP has very good education about the Palawa people in its second half.