Aboriginal Sea and Sky Country: A Deep Connection to Land, Water, and the Stars

Many people are aware of Country as it relates to the land, but fewer are familiar with the importance of Sea Country and Sky Country in First Nations knowledge systems, law, and spirituality. For tens of thousands of years, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have maintained a profound relationship with the land, waters, and skies of Australia. These domains are integral to Aboriginal culture, embodying deep connections to ancestry, sustainability, and cosmology.

Sea Country: A Living, Breathing Entity

For coastal Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups, Sea Country is much more than just the ocean—it encompasses reefs, islands, estuaries, and all marine life within. Many Aboriginal groups hold custodianship over these waters, with knowledge systems that guide their sustainable use and protection.

Sea Country is home to powerful ancestral beings who shaped the landscape and continue to influence the lives of Aboriginal people today. Songlines—oral maps that narrate the travels of these spirits—guide traditional owners in navigating both land and sea. Dreaming stories tell of powerful creatures such as the Rainbow Serpent, which is often linked to water bodies and rain, and giant sea creatures that act as protectors of sacred marine sites.

Aboriginal communities have long practiced sustainable fishing and marine conservation. Through complex laws and customs, they regulate fishing seasons, ensuring species are not overharvested. Knowledge of ocean currents, tides, and animal migration patterns has been passed down through generations, enabling communities to thrive in harmony with marine ecosystems. Today, Indigenous rangers continue this tradition, working with conservation groups to manage Sea Country sustainably.

Sky Country: The Universe as a Cultural Map

Aboriginal astronomy is one of the oldest star-gazing traditions in the world. Sky Country is not just a backdrop to life on Earth but an essential part of Aboriginal culture, used for navigation, seasonal changes, and spiritual guidance.

Many Aboriginal groups use constellations to track time, guide travel, and predict weather patterns. For example, the Emu in the Sky, formed by the dark spaces within the Milky Way, signals the right time to collect emu eggs. The rising and setting of certain stars indicate seasonal changes, helping communities know when to hunt, harvest, or conduct ceremonies.

Aboriginal people see the sky as a place where ancestors reside. Some constellations represent important figures or spirits, while others tell cautionary tales. For example, the Yolŋu people of Arnhem Land tell of Barnumbirr, the Morning Star spirit, who guides departed souls to the afterlife and brings messages from ancestors to the living. The Pleiades star cluster, known as the Seven Sisters, is linked to one of the most widely shared Dreaming stories across Australia, telling of ancestral women pursued across the land and sky.

First Nations-led conservation efforts continue to protect Sea and Sky Country, blending traditional knowledge with modern science. Indigenous ranger programs work to safeguard marine environments, manage fire on land, and preserve sacred sites, while Indigenous astronomers share their knowledge to educate wider audiences on the depth of Aboriginal sky traditions.

By understanding and respecting Aboriginal perspectives on Sea and Sky Country, all Australians can appreciate the interconnectedness of land, water, and sky, and support the ongoing custodianship of these vital cultural landscapes.

 _______________________________________________________________________________

 References

Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS). Sea Country: Indigenous Rights and Marine Protection. AIATSIS

Hamacher, Duane W. The First Astronomers: How Indigenous Elders Read the Stars. Allen & Unwin, 2022.

Pascoe, Bruce. Dark Emu: Aboriginal Australia and the Birth of Agriculture. Magabala Books, 2014.

"Sea Country and Indigenous Cultural Heritage." Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority

"Sky Country and Aboriginal Star Knowledge." CSIRO Indigenous Science