"Aboriginal Biocultural Knowledge in South-eastern Australia Perspectives of Early Colonists" by Fred Cahir, Ian D. Clark, Philip A. Clarke

Aboriginal Biocultural Knowledge in South‑eastern Australia brings together historical evidence and contemporary scholarship to illuminate the depth, sophistication, and resilience of Aboriginal ecological knowledge in south-eastern Australia.

For tens of thousands of years, Indigenous Australians have held detailed understandings of sustainable hunting and harvesting, seasonal cycles of plants and animals, predator and prey relationships, and cultural fire management. In south-eastern Australia, much of this knowledge was disrupted and overlooked following colonisation. This book responds to that gap by carefully examining early colonial records that documented Aboriginal knowledge of Country, including water systems, plant and animal foods, medicines, and material practices.

Drawing on these historical sources, the authors make a compelling case for the relevance of Aboriginal biocultural knowledge today. The book highlights how Indigenous ways of knowing can inform contemporary conversations around climate change, biodiversity conservation, land and resource management, health, and education.

This text is an important reference for natural resource management professionals, educators, academics, and anyone seeking a deeper understanding of Aboriginal culture, knowledge systems, and their ongoing significance.

About the authors

Fred Cahir is an Associate Professor in Aboriginal Studies at Federation University Australia. His research focuses on Victorian Aboriginal history, frontier history, Aboriginal heritage tourism, biocultural knowledge, and place names, informed by extensive postgraduate research in local Aboriginal history.

Ian D. Clark is a Professor of Tourism in the Business School at Federation University Australia. He holds a PhD in Aboriginal Historical Geography and has researched Aboriginal history since 1982. His professional experience includes managing the Brambuk Aboriginal Cultural Centre and working as a History Research Fellow at AIATSIS. His interests span Aboriginal history, tourism history, and place names.

Philip A. Clarke is a consultant anthropologist specialising in native title and Aboriginal heritage. With academic training in both science and anthropology, his work focuses on ethnosciences, particularly Australian ethnobiology and ethnoastronomy.

A foundational text for anyone seeking to understand Aboriginal knowledge systems and their relevance to caring for Country today.

• ISBN: 9781486306114
• ISBN-10: 148630611X
• Published: 1st May 2018
• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of Pages: 360
• Audience: General Adult
• Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
• Country of Publication: AU
• Dimensions (cm): 24.5 x 17 x 2
• Weight (kg): 0.89