Earth-felt Belonging: Restorying intraconnecting ethics of care

Abstract:

Eco-mythologist Sharon Blackie observes that for many people living in contemporary neoliberal societies, “our relationship with place has become demythologised—a fact which is both an explanation for and a consequence of our sense of alienation from the world around us” (2020 np). She argues that processes and practices that remythologise place are not only “an interesting intellectual exercise, but an act of radical belonging” (2020 np). Heeding Blackie's (2020) call to remythologise place, this seminar presentation examines understandings and experiences of longing and belonging through intimate engagement with storied meaning-making processes. It draws on my doctoral fieldwork undertaken on Darkinjung Country (Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia) with five self-identifying women living in Australia’s colonial and patriarchal present. The research acknowledges inherent tensions in undertaking storywork on stolen lands and attempts to navigate these complexities respectfully. This presentation focuses on a key research finding that highlights an often taken-for-granted…