Ancestral Futures

Research Focus

We explore ancestral futures, a concept that emphasizes intergenerational continuity over the modern focus on prediction and innovation. We posit that contemporary societies suffer from temporal fragmentation, where the drive for rapid progress severs vital links between past wisdom and future responsibility. By integrating Indigenous Australian philosophies, specifically the teachings of Bob Randall on Tjukurrpa and Kanyini, we advocate for a shift toward custodianship and relational care. This framework suggests that a viable future depends less on forecasting novelty and more on sustaining the enduring relationships between people, land, and knowledge. Our work redefines futures literacy as the active practice of maintaining the social and ecological infrastructures required for life to persist across generations.