Understanding place: Aboriginal ways of connecting to place - a critical literature review.

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this critical literature review was to understand from an Aboriginal experience what is place, how do place attachments form and their wellbeing impacts. Little is known about Aboriginal people's place attachments in Australia. Understanding how and why Aboriginal people form place attachment has implications for health, wellbeing and policy.

Method: This review was conducted in January 2025 exploring place attachments for First Nations people worldwide. Studies looking specifically at connection to Country were excluded.

Results: The review identified seven articles and one poem exploring First Nations people's understanding and experiences of place. The Australian studies were conducted in Victoria and New South Wales, whilst the international study was conducted in Canada. Including both short-term and long-term studies of connection to place demonstrated that place was underpinned by culture and had positive wellbeing implications.

Conclusions: Place attachment was influenced by relational experiences (socially, spiritually/ancestrally, with Country and animals), the physical environment (decolonised, cultured) and opportunities to actively participate (learn, share, practice skills and engage in ceremony). Place was imbued with meaning, relationships and safety and through engagement with others (human and non-human), Country and culture people developed a powerful connection.