Country is the realm that surrounds us all, with different understandings immanent in each of us. As a Kuku-Yalanji man, partner, father, son and brother who grew up in Gimuy1 on Yidinji land and now lives and works on Gadigal land, I am always Country and I am always part of Country – Country is always me and Country is always part of me. I am my story – my Country, my culture and my community – and it is always evolving. As an educator in architecture and the Associate Dean Indigenous at the University of Sydney School of Architecture, Design and Planning, these fundamental understandings underpin my pedagogical approach and centre its empowerment of relationships, collaboration, yarning my story and listening to others yarn their stories.
Constitutive of everything, Country is everywhere and always and subjectively relational to living beings. I introduce myself as Kuku-Yalanji; I am Kuku-Yalanji and Kuku-Yalanji constitutes me. Furthermore, I play a part in a storyline of a broader narrative alongside every other actor around me. Country is infinite and a process of the way I constantly relate to Her. It is the process before thought As a result, Country possesses definitions and values that are moving, never static, always produced and never-ending.
