The importance of land/country to australian aboriginals.

For Aboriginal Australians, the land has a special significance that is rarely understood by those of European descent. The land, or country, does not only sustain Aborigines in material ways, such as providing food and shelter, it also plays a major role in their spiritual lives. As Rose put it, "Land provides for my physical needs and spiritual needs." (1992, p.106). To use Rose's own term, to Aboriginals the land is a 'nourishing terrain'. (1996, p.7). The …

…come from the law. The Aboriginal peoples' strong ties to their land can also be explained in terms of the law - "'Everything come up out of ground - language, people, emus, kangaroos, grass. That's Law.'" (Hobbles in Rose, 1992, p.57). The law is inextricably linked with the people and the land. The importance of country to the Aboriginal people cannot be overstated - it is a part of their heritage, culture, identification, and spirituality.