What is a Lifeworld?

Lifeworld is synonymous with the term taken-for-granted world. It refers to the realm of everyday life where routine and convention prevail. Lifeworlds are spaces unreflectively accepted by the participants in the space. A lifeworld consists of the attitudinal norms and habitual practices that define a subculture.

Taken-for-granted Worlds. In. (2009). The Dictionary of Human Geography.

Lifeworlds are used in the phenomenological study of landscape.

Indigenous Lifeworlds

The concept of indigenous lifeworlds refers to the unique ways in which indigenous peoples perceive, understand, and interact with the world around them. This concept encompasses their traditional knowledge, cultural practices, spiritual beliefs, and relationships with the land and nature. Indigenous lifeworlds are characterised by a holistic and interconnected view of existence, often in contrast to Western perspectives.

Key aspects of indigenous lifeworlds include:

• Relationality and interconnectedness: Indigenous peoples often view themselves as inseparable from nature and their surrounding environment. This is exemplified in the statement that "water is to be respected as kin, as a sacred, life-giving being, inseparable from and interconnected with relationships and obligations to landscapes, territories and past, current and future generations".
• Spiritual connection to land and water: Many indigenous cultures consider natural elements as sacred entities. For instance, the Garma International Indigenous Water Declaration asserts that "water has a right to be recognized as an ecological entity, a being with a spirit and must be treated accordingly".
• Traditional ecological knowledge: Indigenous lifeworlds often incorporate deep understanding of local ecosystems, developed over generations. This knowledge can contribute to sustainable practices and environmental conservation.
• Communal responsibility: Indigenous perspectives often emphasize collective stewardship of resources. For example, in the Murray-Darling Basin of Australia, a Barkandji person explained: "The Paaka means 'river', and indji means 'belonging to'. So, as a Barkandji person, I belong to the river. It's Barkandji's responsibility to look after the river".

Understanding and respecting indigenous lifeworlds is crucial for several reasons:

• It promotes cultural diversity and preservation of traditional knowledge.
• It can contribute to more sustainable environmental management practices.
• It supports the pursuit of justice and rights for indigenous peoples, who have often been marginalized by colonial and capitalist systems.

However, indigenous lifeworlds face significant challenges in the modern context, including the ongoing impacts of colonialism, capitalist economic systems, and environmental degradation. Recognizing and incorporating indigenous perspectives into environmental governance and sustainable development strategies can be a step towards addressing these challenges and promoting more equitable and sustainable approaches to resource management.

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