‘We have suffered here because we can no longer see the sacred in the trees, flowers, and our fellow men’ (Segovia 2010 p.749)

I have often wondered how we, as humanity, have come to view ourselves as separate from the natural world. The conclusions that have become apparent to me are not based on research that I have read but more of a combination of analysis from viewing the history of Australian Aboriginals and my own heritage. 

After watching the documentary Kanyini last year in the subject Introduction to Sustainable Development I became very aware of the reasons for the current situation Australian Aboriginals find themselves in. They have lost their culture and as a result their identity. According to Segovia (2010) many indigenous groups like the Australian Aboriginals have their culture tied with the rhythms of the earth. They view themselves as not being separate from nature but an integral part of the landscape along with the creatures who also belong to the same earth (Segovia 2010). It can be assumed, then, that as a result of oppression with European arrival to Australia, Australian Aboriginal’s lost their connection with the natural world. Could this be the reason for our Western anthropocentric views of the world? Did we lose our connection with the natural world?

I am lucky enough to be aware of some of my heritage. My father and his family come from Wales. Of the little history that I know of Wales, the Welsh, like the Australian Aboriginals, suffered oppression and had to fight to keep their culture from other invading groups. However, unlike the Australian Aboriginals who have only recently felt the oppression of an invading force, my ancestors suffered centuries before my time. 

According to Segovia (2010) our prehistoric ancestors would have had myths and legends for the patterns that are existent on Earth. Yet we have lost these stories and with it, our connection with the natural world. I have wondered what it was like for my ancestors to lose their connection with the natural world and therefore their culture. Although some still exists through our language, the Welsh and their way of life is very much integrated into the Western anthropocentric context. Did we feel disillusioned and disconnected?

When I think of my Welsh heritage and that they too would have shared the same connection with nature as indigenous groups do today (Segovia 2010) there is a feeling of hope that we may be able to regain this connection. Perhaps through regaining our connection with nature we can start protecting it instead of using it as a commodity.

Segovia V M 2010 Transforming mindsets through Education for Sustainable Development Demography and Social Change- Social Change Elsevier Ltd.