Emergence Magazine Podcast
Deep Time Diligence – A Conversation with Tyson Yunkaporta
Feb 11, 2025
Tyson Yunkaporta, an Aboriginal scholar and author, delves into Indigenous understandings of time and place. He contrasts cyclical time with mechanized concepts, emphasizing our obligation to landscapes and future generations. The discussion highlights the power of storytelling in preserving cultural wisdom and collective memory, intertwining narratives and ecology. Tyson advocates for intergenerational dialogue as a means of data storage and governance, urging adaptability in facing contemporary challenges without romanticizing the past.
39:41
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Quick takeaways
- Tyson Yunkaporta emphasizes that Indigenous perspectives view time as a relational concept deeply intertwined with the landscape and environment.
- He advocates for the importance of storytelling in preserving cultural and ecological knowledge, enabling resilience through diverse narratives and shared wisdom.
Deep dives
Indigenous Understanding of Time and Place
Indigenous perspectives on time are inherently tied to the concept of place, emphasizing that time is not a linear construct but a relationship shaped by the landscape and environment. Tyson Young-Kaporta highlights that traditional Aboriginal languages lack abstract nouns related to time, illustrating a worldview where time is inseparable from location and context. Instead of asking, 'What time is it?' one might inquire 'In what place are we now?' This relational view can enrich our understanding of ecological and cultural ties, urging us to view time as a dynamic process that enhances our connection to the earth and the stories it tells.
