Heart of Country

For Australian audiences, 'Heart of Country' offers a vital opportunity to engage with the perspectives of First Nations peoples regarding land management and environmental preservation. It brings to the forefront the ongoing impacts of industrialisation on Indigenous cultural practices and sacred sites. The film serves as a powerful reminder of Australia's unique natural heritage and the responsibility to protect it, fostering a greater appreciation for Indigenous knowledge and sovereignty.

Viewers can anticipate an evocative and informative journey through the Australian landscape, guided by Josie Alec's personal insights. The film aims to foster a deeper understanding of First Nations' connection to Country and the urgent environmental challenges posed by industrial development. It is likely to be a visually rich experience, interwoven with powerful cultural reflections and a clear call for environmental stewardship and respect for Indigenous heritage.

'Heart of Country' functions as a documentary, following Josie Alec on a real-world journey. It blends personal narrative with an exploration of significant environmental and cultural issues facing Australia. The film uses Alec's perspective to investigate the complex interplay between Indigenous custodianship of the land and the expansion of industrial projects that pose a threat to both natural ecosystems and cultural heritage.

The film documents Josie Alec's travels to various locations across Australia where fossil fuel and nuclear projects are either proposed or operational. Through her experiences and observations, 'Heart of Country' illustrates the tangible damage these developments inflict on the environment, from landscape alteration to broader climate impacts. Crucially, it connects these physical disturbances to the disruption of First Nations' spiritual and cultural ties to their ancestral lands.

Josie Alec, a proud Kuruma Marthudunera woman, is the heart and guide of 'Heart of Country'. As the First Nations' Lead for the Australian Conservation Foundation, she undertakes a journey across Australia. Her personal exploration serves as the film's narrative backbone, allowing her to articulate and demonstrate the intrinsic link between Indigenous culture and the natural world, while simultaneously confronting the destructive impacts of resource extraction projects.

'Heart of Country' centres on the profound and ancient connection First Nations peoples hold with their Country. The film explores how this deep spiritual and ecological relationship is threatened by the encroaching presence of fossil fuel and nuclear projects across Australia. It highlights the dual damage these initiatives inflict upon the land and the delicate balance of the climate, urging viewers to consider the consequences of industrial expansion on Indigenous heritage and the environment.