# Understanding place: Aboriginal ways of connecting to place – a critical literature review

## TL;DR

This paper explores how Aboriginal people connect to place and how these connections impact their wellbeing, emphasizing cultural and relational aspects.

## Contribution

The study introduces a cultural place-based framework for understanding Aboriginal place attachments and their implications for health and wellbeing.

## Key findings

- Place attachments for Aboriginal people are rooted in culture, relationships, and spiritual connections.
- Engagement with Country and participation in cultural practices strengthen these attachments.
- The study highlights the potential for place-based connections to improve Aboriginal health and wellbeing.

## Abstract

The objective of this critical literature review was to understand from an Aboriginal experience what is place, how do place attachments form and their wellbeing impacts. Little is known about Aboriginal people’s place attachments in Australia. Understanding how and why Aboriginal people form place attachment has implications for health, wellbeing and policy.

This review was conducted in January 2025 exploring place attachments for First Nations people worldwide. Studies looking specifically at connection to Country were excluded.

The review identified seven articles and one poem exploring First Nations people’s understanding and experiences of place. The Australian studies were conducted in Victoria and New South Wales, whilst the international study was conducted in Canada. Including both short-term and long-term studies of connection to place demonstrated that place was underpinned by culture and had positive wellbeing implications.

Place attachment was influenced by relational experiences (socially, spiritually/ancestrally, with Country and animals), the physical environment (decolonised, cultured) and opportunities to actively participate (learn, share, practice skills and engage in ceremony). Place was imbued with meaning, relationships and safety and through engagement with others (human and non-human), Country and culture people developed a powerful connection.

What is already known about this topic:
Place-based attachment occurs when people create meaningful connections to spaces, often described as cognitive-emotional bonds, and is observed across cultures, place types and eras.It is well established in the field of psychology that place-based attachments have positive social, emotional and psychological benefits (i.e. sense of belonging, memory support, ancestral and cultural connection and stress reduction), improving overall life satisfaction and quality, and increasing social capital, and eco-restoration responsibilities. Removal of these attachments can have negative impacts for wellbeing.There is limited understanding and research from an Aboriginal perspective about place, place-based attachments and their benefits.

Place-based attachment occurs when people create meaningful connections to spaces, often described as cognitive-emotional bonds, and is observed across cultures, place types and eras.

It is well established in the field of psychology that place-based attachments have positive social, emotional and psychological benefits (i.e. sense of belonging, memory support, ancestral and cultural connection and stress reduction), improving overall life satisfaction and quality, and increasing social capital, and eco-restoration responsibilities. Removal of these attachments can have negative impacts for wellbeing.

There is limited understanding and research from an Aboriginal perspective about place, place-based attachments and their benefits.

What this study adds:
This article explores the concept of place for Aboriginal people and how place-based attachments are created and prioritises Aboriginal ontology and epistemology.This article details characteristics which influence Aboriginal people’s development of place-based attachment and lays the foundation for a cultural place-based framework.This article highlights the potential for Aboriginal health and wellbeing to be improved through place-based connections and for further research exploring the specific characteristics of place and their psychological benefit.

This article explores the concept of place for Aboriginal people and how place-based attachments are created and prioritises Aboriginal ontology and epistemology.

This article details characteristics which influence Aboriginal people’s development of place-based attachment and lays the foundation for a cultural place-based framework.

This article highlights the potential for Aboriginal health and wellbeing to be improved through place-based connections and for further research exploring the specific characteristics of place and their psychological benefit.