It turns out that if we pay attention to humanity's relationships with FLIGHTLESSbirds this can tell us quite a lot about the 'ownership' of place and humanity's perceptions of PLACEownership.
The Bible teaches that GOD is the ultimate owner of the entire world, as creator of all things (Psalm 24:1). Humans do not possess absolute ownership, but are instead entrusted as stewards to manage, care for, and use Earth's resources for GOD's glory. Thus human's roles involve responsible management rather than ownership of of the world – [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6].
And then there is within Abrahamic religions, the "Promised Land" that refers to an area in the Levant that GOD chose to bestow, via a series of covenants, upon the family and descendants of Abraham. Arguably a self-serving and somewhat arrogant perception.
Alternatively the core concepts of Vedanta suggests that Brahman (The Ultimate Reality) all reality is a single, non-dual principle, often called Brahman, which is infinite existence, consciousness, and bliss. Thus Atman (The Divine Self) Vedanta asserts that the true nature of all human beings is divine, with the individual soul (Atman) being one with the ultimate reality (Brahman). Thus the purpose of human life is to realize and manifest this innate divinity – which is considered a birthright.
In the 21st C this is loaded with contention and along with much of humanity seeing itself as the APEXpredator and the world and all its resources being there for the use of humanity is currenly threatening humanity's ability to survive given humanity's ongoing and imprudent 'exploitation' of the planet's resources – profit from them in some way.
NON-Abrahmatic CULTURALrealites undestand themselves differently and in ways that has sustained THEIRworlds for eons. An example being the African concept of Ubuntu [1 - 2 - 3] Another example, a little closer to home being the Aboriginal concept of caring for country.
Likewise in traditional customary relationships to land in Fiji there is a distinct cultural cum ethnic dimension to the ownership of property and land – LINK. If the WESTERNworld were to look to its histories the concept of THEcommons Pre-Industrial Revolution comes into play.
And then there is are the concepts of LANDliteracy and Communitties of Ownership and Interest.
Against this background colonialism and its aftermath shines a light into dark corners. Colonisers, on the evidence, and using flightless birds as a lens, it is a given that they were there to be seen as a convenient and easily accessed “FOODsource” – Dodo, Moa [LINK] King Island Emu. So, when encountered in a COLONISINGeffort by Eureopians (British in Tasmania !) and the Maori/Polynesians in New Zealand and Pcific they became extinct.
Given the imperatives and sensibilities of 'colonialism', for this reason almost exclusively these birds became extinct in about two generations – via mindless and unsustainable harvesting … AKA relentless vhunting and gathering.
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~The cassowary, a powerful and ancient flightless bird, holds a deep and multifaceted significance in the history and culture of Papua New Guinea. My choice of "PNG Cassowaries" for the NRL team name is excellent, as it taps into a rich tradition that goes back thousands of years.
- Totem & Kinship: For many, the emu is a totem (meat/skin), meaning it is considered a close relative (kin) and a spirit protector. Violating this relationship is seen as causing harm to family.
- Creation Stories: The Emu is believed to be a creator spirit, often associated with the "Emu in the Sky" (formed by dark, not light, stars in the Milky Way), which tells stories of Creation and guides life on Earth.
- Ceremonies: The emu is central to male initiation ceremonies, with ceremonial grounds often built to mirror the position of the emu in the sky. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
- The Emu in the Sky: The shape of the emu within the Milky Way's dark clouds dictates the seasons.
- April/May: When the constellation appears to be sitting, it indicates the start of egg-laying season.
- August/September: When the emu is "standing" on its head, it marks the time to look for eggs, and when the males begin to hatch and care for the young.
- Seasonal Indicators: The position of the celestial emu signals when waterholes are full or when they have dried up. [1, 2, 3, 4]
- Food and Resources: Emu and their eggs are traditionally hunted for food.
- Utility of Materials: Every part is used: fat for medicinal oil (e.g., to treat joint pain), bones for tools and knives, tendons for string/sinew, and feathers for ceremonial attire and decorations. [1, 2, 3, 4]
- Tasmania: Tasmanian stories speak of the emu as part of the cultural landscape, with multiple names used for the bird, such as gonanner, ponanner, or tooteyer.
- Murchison Region (WA): Collecting emu eggs remains a strong cultural practice that connects people to Country and teaches traditional tracking skills to younger generations. [1, 2]
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