Privileged to live and work on Turrbal Country, and in the spirit of reconciliation I acknowledge the sovereign peoples of Australia, who have looked after Country for over 80,000 years, and who are intrinsically connected to land, sea and community.
I pay my respect to their Elders past and present and emerging and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
These lands are, always were, and always will be Aboriginal land.
I have been lucky enough over the years to spend time with various traditional owners of these lands and I give my most heartfelt thank you to those who have taken the time to share knowledge with me and to entrust me with the sacred responsibility of being a custodian of these incredible little bees, and with sharing the knowledge of all things related.
What an honour!
The Aboriginal peoples of Australia have a profound and ancient connection to the land and its creatures, including bees. This relationship with their environment is evident in how they cared for these lands from time immortal. Their relationship with stingless bees and their honey, is a prime example of this intricate web of knowledge, culture, and nature.
Historically, their approach to the environment was not just about resources and sustenance but also about storytelling, cultural identity, and a deep understanding of the land and its cycles.
The bees play a critical role in pollinating plants, which supports the rest of the ecosystem. By caring for the bees, Aboriginal peoples ensured the health and balance of the broader environment. When wild honey was found, it wasn’t just a simple act of consuming; it was a tapestry of stories and knowledge about the land, the bees, and the ecosystem they are a part of.
It’s a reflection of thousands of years of observational knowledge and the transfer of that knowledge across generations. The honey from the stingless bee wasn’t just a sweet and delicious food source, it was also used for its medicinal properties both topically and internally.
The concept of taking only what is needed is deeply rooted in many Indigenous cultures around the world. It’s a principle of sustainability and respect, ensuring that the land and its creatures continue to thrive for future generations. We can draw parallels in how colonies of bees work, always working as a part of a whole to ensure the survival of future generations.
In modern times, with growing concerns about biodiversity and habitat loss, climate change, and the overall health of our planet, there’s so much to learn from Indigenous knowledge and practices.
The Aboriginal relationship with bees, and the broader environment, serves as an example of living harmoniously with nature. It’s a lesson about sustainability, respect, and understanding the intricate connections that make up our world.
By honouring and learning from these practices, we can find ways to coexist with nature sustainably and harmoniously.
We have much to learn.
For further information on cultural significance you can look here:
Tim Heard, The Australian Native Bee Book
Dean Haley, The Honey of Australian Stingless Bees
