Australia is home to the world’s oldest continuing, living cultures. We often refer to two distinct cultural groups: Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples – they are Australia’s First Nations peoples.
But there is great diversity between these groups, with more than 250 different language groups spread across Australia’s mainland and islands
In the area known as Sydney, the Traditional Custodians are peoples of the Eora Nation. They have cared for Country for more than 65,000 years, well before the arrival of the British in 1788.
The Traditional Custodians in areas around the harbour are:
- Gadigal people in the south (in the Sydney city region)
- Cammeraygal people in the north of the harbour.
MARI BURRA WARRANE, Big Sky Sydney
By Konstantina
Mari Burra Warrane, an artwork commissioned by BESydney, translates to “Big Sky (thinking)” in Sydney. The artwork draws inspiration from the hues painted by the sun setting over the harbour—a sight that has captivated the world for hundreds of years.
This artwork features elements representative of innovation, learning, and the educational practices of Sydney’s First Nations peoples, the Gadigal.
The sea creatures and directional arrow are borrowed from Gadigal rock engravings near South Head on Sydney Harbour. These engravings reflect sustainable fishing practices, where Indigenous peoples used the stars and seasons to guide them in their fishing endeavours. South Head held sacred significance, providing insights into the life cycles of Sydney’s Indigenous communities.
The artwork embodies Indigenous beliefs in the cycles of three: past, present, and future—the omnipresent forces that maintain balance between sea, sky, and land. Indigenous culture’s understanding of the sky as a navigational tool, seasonal indicator, and animal behavioural map was crucial for survival.
