Stephen Hopper discusses his experience with totems he has been allocated by the Noongar people.

From 2006 to 2012 Stephen Hopper AC FLS FTSE as Director of Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew in London, led this powerhouse organisation of plant biology through it's 250th year.  He is now Winthrop Professor of Biodiversity at the University of Western Australia, based in Albany at UWA's Centre of Excellence in Natural Resource Management. In 2012.  He was awarded Australia's highest civilian honour of Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) for "eminent service as a global science leader in the field of plant conservation biology, particularly in the delivery of world class research programs contributing to the conservation of endangered species and ecosystems."  He has six totems allocated by Noongar elders: Black snake, Kangaroo Paw, Eucalyptus caesia, Karak (Forest Redtail Balck Cockatoo), Honey Eaters (pollinators of Kangaroo Paw) and Honey Possum's (the tight squeezer).

Short takeouts: Totems are a powerful idea.  The Noongar word for totem is 'borrungur'.  There is a sense of commitment and 'becoming' your totem.  Look for an opportunity for a respectful conversation with an indigenous elder about the role of totems in their culture. This might lead to asking an indigenous elder to assign a totem.  There is a sense of understanding the biology and looking after a totem.

ecoconnect.me implications: Stephen is not aboriginal himself.  Stephen's engagement with totems is a bridge between an ancient system of connecting with biology and the top ranks of biological science.  The ecoconnected relationship is randomly allocated so not related to a person's character.  In terms of connecting to country, the country is 'planet earth' with a particular habitat unlikely to be local.  Totems are likely to be iconic species.  Ecoconnections aim to connect all species, building consciousness beyond the iconic species.