Noongar Wellbeing

First Nations stories are rich and diverse, and the world is hungry for them. But when stores are told about, and not with First Nations people, misrepresentation and stereotyping often occur. In this episode we yarn with Noongar Elder Dot West OAM, a leading advocate for the inclusion of First Nations voices in the media. Dot is also a scriptwriter, SBS board member and poet.

Traditional foods or “bush tucker” have seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years. In this episode of Noongar Wellbeing, Ballardong and Whadjuk Elder and author Vivienne ‘Binyaarn’ Hansen shares how Noongar people view food as medicine.

Communication can be an undervalued and underused tool in maintaining wellbeing. It can be rare to find a safe environment to speak openly with others, free of judgement. But you don’t always have to speak to other people. The Country around you can be a great listener.

First Nations people have safely used fire for millennia in unity with the country. Fire is often viewed as something to fear, but it's also a life-giving force. So what does it mean to light your inner fire? In episode two of Noongar Wellbeing, Noongar man and Wilman clan Elder Koodah Cornwall talks about the importance of fire to wellbeing.

We live in a fast-paced world where self-care is glorified and commodified. But there isn’t one journey to wellbeing that works for everyone. Noongar people focus more on community care. So what are some different concepts and methods of achieving wellbeing according to Noongar Elders?

Wellbeing as we know it now has been constructed from a Western perspective, so what does the oldest continuing culture in the world have to say about methods of achieving and maintaining wellbeing?