Francesca Benna

From the Time of Dreaming to the Time of Globalization or Vice Versa?

There are not two crises, one social and one environmental; the natural and human environments degrade together.

09/04/2026

Keywords: Australia, Aboriginal, Medicine, Antropocene

This study emerges from eighteen months of field research in Australia, during which I was able to analyze various religious approaches to ecology, particularly the profound knowledge of nature and its laws held by Australian Aborigines. This direct experience shaped my academic trajectory toward the study of traditional ecological knowledge and its relevance in the Anthropocene. I focused on the rediscovery of local knowledge systems, environmental conservation practices, and possible alternatives to dominant Western models. The analysis of Aboriginal traditions, traditional medicine, and concrete examples encountered during my time in Australia constitutes the core of my research.

Key Research Questions

• How do different religions and worldviews shape the relationship between human beings and nature?
• What can we learn from Aboriginal traditional ecological knowledge?
• How can these knowledge systems contribute to environmental conservation in the Anthropocene?
• Is it possible to integrate traditional practices, such as bush medicine, into contemporary systems of healthcare and sustainability?
• How do Indigenous spiritual and cultural practices offer alternative models to the Western view of nature as property?

This research is significant because it critically examines dominant models of human–nature relationships. Aboriginal ecological knowledge represents a concrete example of a sustainable and respectful relationship with the land, based on interdependence and belonging. From a social perspective, this work contributes to the recognition and valorization of knowledge systems that have often been marginalized, showing how they can offer relevant responses to the current ecological crisis. From a scientific perspective, it adopts an interdisciplinary approach that brings together anthropology, religious studies, and ecology, highlighting the importance of integrating diverse perspectives to address the challenges of the Anthropocene.

Methods and Techniques

The research is based on a qualitative and ethnographic approach. During my eighteen months in Australia, I conducted field observation, engaging with cultural practices, oral traditions, and Aboriginal knowledge systems. Particular attention was given to the concept of Dreamtime (or Dreaming), understood as a foundational law and a guiding principle regulating the relationship between humans and the environment. For Aborigines, the land is not merely a place to live but is considered sacred and alive. They believe that the land was created by ancestors during the Dreamtime, this spiritual bond with the land translates into a profound respect for the natural environment and all life forms inhabiting it. I examined how knowledge is transmitted through songs, art, rituals, and sacred places, as well as practical environmental management techniques such as controlled burning, sustainable harvesting, and the use of plants in bush medicine. This empirical work is complemented by a comparative analysis of other religious traditions and contemporary practices, as well as a reflection on the growing interest in alternative medicine and holistic approaches to health.

Findings

The findings show that Aboriginal knowledge systems offer a radically different model of relating to nature compared to Western perspectives: the land is not seen as property, but as a living entity to which humans belong. This worldview is reflected in sustainable practices that have been transmitted across generations, maintaining balance between human communities and the environment. The individual is part of an interdependent community, which extends to include soil, water, plants, and animals. Australian Aboriginal perspectives emphasize that modern society has lost its vital connection with the earth. In Western views, the land is often treated as property to be exploited, rather than as a community to which we belong. This contrast is reflected in One Night the Moon: white Australians see the land as something to own (“This land is mine”), while Indigenous Australians see themselves as part of it (“This land is me”). Field observations also highlight the importance of Aboriginal traditional medicine, which is based on the use of natural elements and a holistic understanding of health that integrates physical, spiritual, and environmental dimensions. Overall, this research suggests that the rediscovery and integration of traditional ecological knowledge can provide concrete alternatives for addressing the challenges of the Anthropocene, contributing to a more sustainable and interconnected vision of the relationship between humans and nature.

email: francesca.benna@uniroma1.it