A journey of 40,000 years
Theirs is a journey of 40,000 years. On this path, the Indigenous People of Western Australia have developed their cultures in harmony with the ecosystem. They have lived from the Earth while exercising stewardship that worships the land and the web of life it sustains. Each step they have taken, through deserts and lifetimes, is a legend to be passed down.
If we follow these footprints back through time, they will lead us through rivers of sorrow, mountains of hope and generations of survival.
The stolen generation
More than two hundred years ago, the Europeans first arrived in Australia with their heavy suitcases. Suitcases filled with different ideas, different religious beliefs and different plans for the region and its local communities. The Europeans sought to erase the footprints of the native people and to build a new civilization. They uprooted trees from the land and children from their parents.
For a hundred years, countless Aboriginal children were forcibly taken from their families, deprived of their native culture, and converted to European cultural and religious lifestyles in an effort to purge the Indigenous People from their native land. They are known today as the"Stolen Generation."
The winds of change
These harsh years caused relentless struggle, desperation and loss, but also eventually brought small winds of change. In 1976 the Aboriginal Land Rights Act opened the way for the native people to find their rightful path again.
This began their journey to healing their communities and their lands.
Healing at every step
Throughout the Aboriginal People's journey, the Earth and its natural resources have been the ground that supports their every step. Today, the Australian sandalwood tree carves the way for a vibrant and hopeful future.
The indigenous Mardu community cuts and harvests the sandalwood, led by Kenny Farmer. His appreciation for the sandalwood he harvests is rooted in a deep respect for the Earth it grows from, its healing properties, and the communities of native people who benefit from its business.
A winning partnership
Today, Aveda and the Indigenous Communities of Mardu Peoples of Kuktabubba have a strong business partnership that continues to bear many fruits. For the Mardu Peoples, the harvesting of sandalwood provides a sustainable economic base for its people. Aveda's partnership with Western Australian Aboriginal Peoples assures responsible sourcing and harvesting practices.
Until now, the Aboriginal Peoples who have harvested sandalwood from their lands have received a very small percentage of the profits from the final harvest. As partners to Aveda, the Aboriginal Peoples receive fair payment for their sandalwood harvest creating a business where all parties benefit.
The spirit of native lands
Today, the legendary Western Australian sandalwood tree grows strong and pure out of the orange sand. If you place your hands on its golden bark, you will feel the spirit of the native lands. If you look deep into the twists and turns of its branches, you will see a thousand ceremonies filled with song and dance. If you breathe in its exotic fragrance, you will remember the land's history, and feel the hope of its people's future.
"Aveda's core vision and the cultural practice of Indigenous People are parallel. We as a team can join forces to make good business for the rest of the world."
Dr. Richard Walley (Myoongor Peoples)
Theirs is a journey of 40,000 years. On this path, the Indigenous People of Western Australia have developed their cultures in harmony with the ecosystem. They have lived from the Earth while exercising stewardship that worships the land and the web of life it sustains. Each step they have taken, through deserts and lifetimes, is a legend to be passed down.
If we follow these footprints back through time, they will lead us through rivers of sorrow, mountains of hope and generations of survival.
The stolen generation
More than two hundred years ago, the Europeans first arrived in Australia with their heavy suitcases. Suitcases filled with different ideas, different religious beliefs and different plans for the region and its local communities. The Europeans sought to erase the footprints of the native people and to build a new civilization. They uprooted trees from the land and children from their parents.
For a hundred years, countless Aboriginal children were forcibly taken from their families, deprived of their native culture, and converted to European cultural and religious lifestyles in an effort to purge the Indigenous People from their native land. They are known today as the"Stolen Generation."
The winds of change
These harsh years caused relentless struggle, desperation and loss, but also eventually brought small winds of change. In 1976 the Aboriginal Land Rights Act opened the way for the native people to find their rightful path again.
This began their journey to healing their communities and their lands.
Healing at every step
Throughout the Aboriginal People's journey, the Earth and its natural resources have been the ground that supports their every step. Today, the Australian sandalwood tree carves the way for a vibrant and hopeful future.
The indigenous Mardu community cuts and harvests the sandalwood, led by Kenny Farmer. His appreciation for the sandalwood he harvests is rooted in a deep respect for the Earth it grows from, its healing properties, and the communities of native people who benefit from its business.
A winning partnership
Today, Aveda and the Indigenous Communities of Mardu Peoples of Kuktabubba have a strong business partnership that continues to bear many fruits. For the Mardu Peoples, the harvesting of sandalwood provides a sustainable economic base for its people. Aveda's partnership with Western Australian Aboriginal Peoples assures responsible sourcing and harvesting practices.
Until now, the Aboriginal Peoples who have harvested sandalwood from their lands have received a very small percentage of the profits from the final harvest. As partners to Aveda, the Aboriginal Peoples receive fair payment for their sandalwood harvest creating a business where all parties benefit.
The spirit of native lands
Today, the legendary Western Australian sandalwood tree grows strong and pure out of the orange sand. If you place your hands on its golden bark, you will feel the spirit of the native lands. If you look deep into the twists and turns of its branches, you will see a thousand ceremonies filled with song and dance. If you breathe in its exotic fragrance, you will remember the land's history, and feel the hope of its people's future.
"Aveda's core vision and the cultural practice of Indigenous People are parallel. We as a team can join forces to make good business for the rest of the world."
Dr. Richard Walley (Myoongor Peoples)
An update on Sandalwood:
"10 years ago Aveda switched their supply chain of Indian Sandalwood to Australian Aboriginal-collected sandalwood. This was because of rampant poaching of the sandalwood tree in the once–lush forests of Southern India.
I recently visited these areas in Southern India, to see these forests for myself – and specifically to find out if sandalwood poaching is still a problem.
Sadly the answer is categorically yes – sandalwood poaching is still rampant.
Poachers, often run by criminal gangs, break into forests, chop down trees, and float the trunks and roots across rivers, to bordering states where the poachers cannot be caught.
My next question was how much longer sandalwood trees could survive, or were trees becoming completely exhausted because of poaching?
The answer soon became painfully obvious. I asked questions to local people and researched Indian newspapers and came to the conclusion that the situation is dire: there are few sandalwood trees left growing at all. I found one sandalwood tree surrounded by barbed wire and an electric fence, and heard of another contained within a tight brick wall around its trunk.
I then ventured into the few remaining forests of South India. Once vast forests, I was distressed to see how they are now disappearing at alarming speed. On a positive note – 2 large tusked Indian elephants came to investigate my jeep, and I saw an abundance of deer and other wildlife, including paw–tracks of both tiger and leopard.
On the fringes of these remaining forests I met original tribal people of the forest, who are now displaced. These people have a vast Indigenous–based forest management culture which is now not being used.
To see the dwindling forest areas and meet the displaced people with my own eyes brought great sadness, yet I was also proud of Aveda's action plan – both Aveda and Estee Lauder Companies, Inc. made a proactive approach to find other sources of perfume–grade sandalwood, starting in 2003. It was of vital importance to send a message to all users of Indian Sandalwood that the trees and forests needed to be protected and respected".
NS - Aveda online, February 2010
"10 years ago Aveda switched their supply chain of Indian Sandalwood to Australian Aboriginal-collected sandalwood. This was because of rampant poaching of the sandalwood tree in the once–lush forests of Southern India.
I recently visited these areas in Southern India, to see these forests for myself – and specifically to find out if sandalwood poaching is still a problem.
Sadly the answer is categorically yes – sandalwood poaching is still rampant.
Poachers, often run by criminal gangs, break into forests, chop down trees, and float the trunks and roots across rivers, to bordering states where the poachers cannot be caught.
My next question was how much longer sandalwood trees could survive, or were trees becoming completely exhausted because of poaching?
The answer soon became painfully obvious. I asked questions to local people and researched Indian newspapers and came to the conclusion that the situation is dire: there are few sandalwood trees left growing at all. I found one sandalwood tree surrounded by barbed wire and an electric fence, and heard of another contained within a tight brick wall around its trunk.
I then ventured into the few remaining forests of South India. Once vast forests, I was distressed to see how they are now disappearing at alarming speed. On a positive note – 2 large tusked Indian elephants came to investigate my jeep, and I saw an abundance of deer and other wildlife, including paw–tracks of both tiger and leopard.
On the fringes of these remaining forests I met original tribal people of the forest, who are now displaced. These people have a vast Indigenous–based forest management culture which is now not being used.
To see the dwindling forest areas and meet the displaced people with my own eyes brought great sadness, yet I was also proud of Aveda's action plan – both Aveda and Estee Lauder Companies, Inc. made a proactive approach to find other sources of perfume–grade sandalwood, starting in 2003. It was of vital importance to send a message to all users of Indian Sandalwood that the trees and forests needed to be protected and respected".
NS - Aveda online, February 2010
