Layers of Meanings in Our Landscapes: Hiding in Full View

Kurduboodjar means love of place, in Noongar language – the Aboriginal language of the South West of Western Australia. In this research kurduboodjar is illustrated as a way of addressing the complex problems of our time such as climate change and overclearing of natural places. Katitjiny bidi, a Noongar learning journey metaphor is used to reflect upon Peirce’s and Latour’s meaning-making processes. Using Bhaskar’s critical realism a decolonising treatise is produced, aiming to liberate Noongar knowing from colonial subjugation and show Noongar ways to understand meaning in landscapes. Since the dawn of time, Noongar insight has been embedded in landscape in relational ways to speak its meanings. We show that whilst climate change is the sign of the times, kurduboodjar can help heal our lifeway. We critically review progress towards this goal of social change, and find that a Noongar language and cultural resurgence is underway in Noongar country – an observation being made about many places and their First Cultures by commentators across Australia.