In an effort to reclaim and shape their future, the Gugu Badhun Nation is purposefully designing an
economic development framework that is rooted in cultural values and moves beyond the conventional frameworks of capitalism.
In a new publication, ‘For the good of the Gugu Badhun people’: Indigenous Nation building, economic development and sharing as sovereignty, IFC researcher Dr Janine Gertz explains how conceptualising sharing as sovereignty illustrates Indigenous notions of sovereignty as a verb, rather than a noun.
Central to this vision is the principle of sharing, which Gertz and colleagues argue is not only a cultural practice but also an act of sovereignty, deeply embedded in Gugu Badhun law. This approach challenges western notions of economic systems, prioritizing responsibility to each other, the land, plants, animals, and neighbouring Nations.
Through storytelling and other cultural practices, Gugu Badhun people are asserting their right to self-determination by defining and cultivating an economy that reflects their values and vision for the future. This work underscores the transformative potential of Indigenous Nation (re)Building and highlights the need and choice of Indigenous communities to develop alternative economic systems that support long-term sustainability and self-determination.
Read the full article here: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/07255136241308886