The Indigenous Doughnut
A Country Centred Circular Economy
The Indigenous Doughnut is a Country Centred - Circular Economy (CC-CE) model and framework. It draws on millennia of learnings of managing and living on Country. The model provides a bridge for wider Australia to ‘Walk together’, to care for Country and to build a thriving, restorative and resilient economy.
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The CC-CE model and framework have been co-created by Paul Paton, CEO of the Federation for Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations and Damien Melotte, founder of Good human. The CC-CE model will continue to evolve as it's translated by Mob for their Country and through learnings from application.
We invite wider Australia to ‘Walk together’, to care for Country and to build a thriving, restorative and resilient economy that can benefit all.
The CC-CE model
Walking together
The Indigenous Doughnut is a CC-CE model that can be
For Traditional Owners. To be adapted, translated and utilised by local Traditional Owners, to suit their Country, Culture, Language, Community and Economic priorities. Utilised to provide internal direction and leadership in identifying Country Centred Circular Economy partnership opportunities.
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For Australia. To be utilised by all Australian Businesses, Government Agencies, NGO's, Education Institutions and Partners to better understand a Country Centred Circular Economy and co-create opportunities to ‘Walk together’.
Care for Country
"The Indigenous Doughnut has been created to enable a better understanding that our relationship with Country over generations gives us knowledge and authority to give guidance about incorporating the connection and care of Country principles into Circular Economy practice.”
Paul Paton. July 2023.
Participate at a systems level
The CC-CE model
Participation in caring for Country at a systems level.
The Participation Loop is a bridge that spans all the elements of a dynamic systems interplay on Country.
Participating in the Care of Country is at the heart of the Indigenous Doughnut model. Building on Circular and Regenerative Economy strategies, the 12 CC-CE ‘S strategies’ can be used as guides to ‘Walk together’ and can be considered when designing, refining and redesigning partnerships, products and services.
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Whilst the CC-CE model can be utilised in conjunction with Kate Raworth's brilliant Doughnut economics, social foundation elements.
The CC-CE model '12 S' strategies
C01. Stewardship An obligation to care for Country. Not to be cruel. Moderate use of resources.
C02. Seasons Understand Seasonal indicators and considerations.
C03. Species - Know local Species and ecosystem relationships. Local species as Participants.
C04. Source - Identify indigenous sustainable Sources. E.g. Original water tables.
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C05. Sharing - Sharing and Reciprocity. E.g. Share abundant seasonal crops with neighbours.
C06. Social Impact - Actions that contribute to societal health and well-being.
C07. Supply chains - Sustainable, regenerative, fair and transparent supply chains.
C08. Systems - Systems not Silos. Systems dynamics. Develop collaborative business systems.
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C09. Scale - How does it operate on Country at different scales? Macro, Meso and Micro.
C10. Sense and Respond - Feedback Loops. Capture and respond to real needs.
C11. Synergy and Time - Take a broader and longer view of time. Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow.
C12. Songlines and Stories - Traditional Owner Cultural knowledge and Lore. Seek publicly available information.
The icing on the doughnut
The Indigenous doughnut CC-CE intends to improve life for all living on Country through shared participation in caring for Country. The CC-CE model, strategies and tools open up shared value pathways and opportunities to bring together the best of both worlds to build a thriving and resilient Australia.
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A CC-CE whitepaper will be launched in coming months and the model and framework will be available under varying licences for commercial use and non commercial creative commons use.
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Traditional Owners are encouraged to send your enquiries directly to Paul Paton CEO at Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations.
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We welcome all local and international enquiries, feedback and ideas.