Where the crimson earth reaches the great expanse of the Australian bush lies the ancient tales and continuing traditions of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups. Australia consists of many tribes with their languages, cultures, practices, and beliefs.  According to the Nation Museum of Australia, the Aboriginal people have occupied Australia for at least 65,000 years, predating the modern human settlement of the West.

The land is commonly associated as a serene destination, but let it be known that this is the home and spiritual embodiment of the First People of Australia. Since the colonization of Australia, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait people have steadily been displaced, massacred, and oppressed. Since 2016, the First People have only made up around 3.3 percent of the Australian population. Of that group, the majority were under the age of twenty-five. “Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples live in urban, regional, and remote areas. They are present in all communities, not necessarily on their traditional lands or islands,” according to the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Foundation.

As the world shifts at an alarming rate, preserving cultural heritage has been difficult for the native people of Australia. We gleefully bask in the beauty and allure of this ancient land; it is essential to recognize and acknowledge the First People who inhabited it. Their art and stories are living tales of the world long before our time, stories of endurance and wisdom, their connection to the land, and the importance of spirituality. When there is knowledge and respect for the people who rightfully own the land we occupy, there is harmony and a greater appreciation for Australia’s breathtaking landscapes and scenery. The Aboriginal people are the living embodiment of Australia's soul guardians, inviting the world to witness their eternal spirit's beauty.