{
  "id": 1560301,
  "title": "For Indigenous people, connection to Country can be a preventive health measure",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/for-indigenous-people-connection-to-country-can-be-a-preventive",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-08-17T20:10:56.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Conversation AU",
    "slug": "the-conversation-au",
    "url": "https://theconversation.com/for-indigenous-people-connection-to-country-can-be-a-preventive-health-measure-289306"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The deep connection between Indigenous Australians, their land and spirituality is a key aspect of their health and wellbeing. This understanding is reflected in various cultural practices such as art, songs, stories, ceremonies and languages, which are being revitalized and practiced across the continent. Indigenous people view their bodies as an integral part of their Country, which encompasses the living lands, waters and skies they are entrusted with caring for. Dreaming stories recount how human bodies are formed from the earth of their Country. When Indigenous people are removed from their Country or denied access to it, their mental, physical and social wellbeing is negatively impacted. The study of First Nations spirituality and its relationship with health reveals that when the land is damaged, the body is also affected. This is due to the inseparable link between the spiritual, psychological and physical aspects of Indigenous identity, as explained by Garry Deverell, a Trawloolway theologian. Decisions that alter, extract from or destroy Country, often without consultation, continue to occur across Australia, causing trauma and contributing to poor health outcomes. Studies have shown that reduced access to and sovereignty over Country lead to poorer mental and physical health. These harms, when prolonged and unresolved, can result in an accumulation of physiological stress, known as \"allostatic load,\" manifesting as increased risks of depression, cardiovascular disease and impaired immune function. Indigenous cultural practices, maintained for over 65,000 years, play a crucial role in regulating the nervous system and fostering a sense of calm, safety and connection. Active protection, maintenance and custodianship of Australia's lands and waters are fundamental determinants of health. While institutions have made progress in improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing, structural limitations remain. The most effective interventions involve communities exercising genuine custodial agency in cultural camps, cultural burning programs and ranger programs, where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land managers govern Country. Supporting these practices can yield significant and measurable health benefits, reminding us that the systems of care that kept this continent healthy for tens of thousands of years still exist and need to be integrated into modern institutions.",
  "summary": "When Indigenous people are displaced from or denied access to Country, measurable declines in mental health, physical health and emotional wellbeing follow.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}