The need to protect
You can find out about this very special ecosystem and the plants and animals that call it home at:
Indigenous knowledge
The value of Indigenous knowledge to understanding and conserving our world is immense.
At a time when efforts to save the planet have taken on some urgency, it’s important to remember that Indigenous perspectives and practices have stood the test of time.
There is great learning to be gained from the experiences, spirituality and stories of the Noongar people, not the least of which relate to care for the environments we live in.
Aboriginal knowledge passed from generation to generation is precious. Many non-Indigenous people have a desire to learn but the pathways are not always clear.
In the months ahead, we hope to facilitate access to indigenous knowledge through elders, traditional owners and those who work with and are learning from Aboriginal people in a quest to live sustainably, relevantly and with deep appreciation for ‘place’.
What are totems
In Aboriginal spirituality, the self does not exist in isolation because all things and beings share the same spirit.
People, plants, animals, land, water and celestial bodies are all connected and alive. There is an ethical and moral obligation for respect.
Aboriginal totemic practice is spiritual. Plants, animals and objects in nature are inherited and, with that inheritance, comes a responsibility to care for the totem. This means making sure an environment exists for it to survive – and thrive.
Professor Len Collard, ARC Chief Investigator at UWA's School of Indigenous Studies, talka about his totem 'Moodjar' here.
Do your part
Sometimes the problems of the world seem so big.
There’s no question that saving the environment is a massive undertaking. Let’s forget about that for a moment and embrace the Indigenous practice of totems, standing up for just one endangered plant or animal. Here are things you can do:
Commit – let us know what plant and/or animal you’ll be a champion for. We’ll track who’s doing what and provide a forum to talk about ideas, activities and progress
Learn - everything you can about your totem, the challenges it faces to survive and how to create the environment it needs to survive
Share - your new-found knowledge with others – in conversation, through social media
Advocate - for the changes that will help your plant or animal survive. Start by gathering your family, community groups, work colleagues around your totem
Don’t quit – every little bit helps. UWA has close to 130,000 alumni. Each of us, doing even a little bit unfailingly, can change the world
Become a champion
Use the form below to let us know if you will be adopting a species and we will follow-up with you to find out what species you've picked (or if it picked you!), track who’s doing what and tell the world about your ideas, activities and progress.