Work

Sovereign budyaan flying together: sovereign relationships across the Wiradyuri PhD journey

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: First Nations sovereignty is core in supporting research experiences of First Nations PhD students. This article is based upon the relationality of three sovereign budyaan (birds), and the sovereign Wiradyuri (sovereign First Nations in so-called New South Wales, Australia; also spelt or referred to as Wiradjuri) cosmology, by exploring a Wiradyuri Wambuul (Macquarie River Clan of the Wiradyuri Nation in so-called New South Wales, Australia) scholar’s experiences with her two sovereign yalmambildhaany (teachers), connect with Wiradyuri concepts of teaching, speaking and Country. Yalmambildhaany guide and support the First Nations researcher to learn from Country, ancestors, buyaa (Wiradyuri cultural law) and songlines to ensure their research embodies sovereignty. This article highlights the importance of sovereign research for First Nations peoples and the need to centre First Nations cosmologies.

Source: AlterNative An International Journal of Indigenous Peoples

DOI: 10.1177/11771801251318462

Authors: Jessica Russ-Smith, Sue Green, Christopher Orchard

Institutions: Australian Catholic University, Charles Sturt University

Language: English

Topic: Indigenous Health, Education, and Rights

Subfield: Health

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Quality education

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,650