My generation had lived in a world that was pretty certain, while I had a distaste for the excesses of American individualism, the brazen belief in American exceptionalism, we believed in friendships, alliances and shared values. This wasn't the incremental annoyance but a wholesale betrayal of those values. This seemed beyond international politics and an abandonment of diplomacy, it was a moving fault-line in the international order, and we have no choice but to ride this runaway transition until it found a new equilibrium. No one really knows how long it will take to play out.

Acknowledging First Nations Wisdom & Ongoing Struggles

I acknowledge Kaurna Country, the land of the First Peoples of the Adelaide Plains, South Australia. Country is alive. It’s not just a place; it’s a deep, interconnected system that encompasses the land, water, creatures, and people. Ancestors are still here, guiding us in ways that aren’t just ideas but real forces that shape the world today.

Through my connection with cultural people, I’ve learned to understand that this relationship with Country runs deep, far beyond the land itself. It’s a spiritual connection, a responsibility, and a way of seeing the world that has taught me more than I could ever explain. It’s been a privilege to listen, to learn, and to be part of these conversations.

Pathmakers Framework (PF) comes directly out of these connections. It’s rooted in listening—in hearing the stories around the campfire, in respecting the principles that have held societies in balance with their environment, their neighbours, and their traditions. These aren’t abstract ideas; they’re lived, tested, and enduring ways of being. The wisdom of these cultures is the foundation for how we approach the challenges of today.

But PF isn’t about a single culture or group of people. It’s for everyone. The Pathmakers Framework is not a fixed or exclusive idea; it’s a tool—a way of creating pathways and finding our way through an uncertain world. It’s about recognising our shared responsibility for the world around us and honouring the wisdom that’s been passed down to us.

What I’ve learned from First Nations peoples is that the journey isn’t just about progress or survival—it’s about connection. Connection to the land, to each other, and to the past. And that connection is what will guide us forward.

This framework acknowledges the ongoing struggle for justice, cultural survival, and self-determination that First Nations peoples continue to face. Their leadership and wisdom are vital to the path we all walk. And while the Pathmakers Framework doesn’t belong solely to them, it draws directly from the lessons, traditions, and resilience they’ve embodied for millennia.

As we move forward, we must do so together—honouring these teachings and building pathways that lead to a more balanced and respectful way of being in the world.

What is the Pathmakers Framework?

The Pathmakers Framework isn’t about providing all the answers. It’s not a one-size-fits-all solution or a neat little roadmap to follow. It’s a way to make sense of the terrain ahead when we’re not sure where to start, or even where we’re headed. When the world feels uncertain, sometimes the hardest part is just knowing how to begin. The Pathmakers Framework offers a way to step into that uncertainty. Think of it as a map of sorts—not to a fixed destination, but a guide to help us through the challenges we face. It’s not about having all the answers, but about finding our footing and moving forward, together.

Built around five landmarks, each one represents a key part of how we can move forward, step by step. These aren’t destinations we’ll reach and leave behind—they’re markers on the journey. The Pathmakers Framework is about staying grounded in what matters while we move through the uncertainty. The landmarks aren’t fixed; they’re living, shifting with us, reminding us that we’re learning as we go.

Here’s how the landmarks guide us:

• Cultural Heritage: Understanding where we’ve come from. Not to get lost in the past, but to recognise the wisdom and lessons it holds for us today. Our heritage isn’t something that’s locked away—it’s alive in the way we live and the choices we make. It’s a touchstone for the future.
• Economic Reciprocity: Rethinking how we share and exchange. This isn’t about the narrow view of profit or scarcity; it’s about collaboration, mutual respect, and sharing resources in ways that lift everyone up, not just a few. It’s about creating systems where prosperity doesn’t come at the cost of others.
• Environmental Connection: Rebuilding our relationship with the land. The land isn’t a resource to be extracted—it’s part of who we are. Our connection to the environment shapes us, and understanding that is key to understanding our role as stewards. It’s a relationship we can’t afford to take for granted.
• Community Collaboration: It’s about deepening connections, not just within our own communities but across cultures and backgrounds. Collaboration means listening, understanding, and finding common ground. It’s not about all being the same—it’s about bringing our diverse perspectives together to face what’s ahead.
• Governance Innovation: Rethinking how decisions are made, and by whom. We’ve seen the limits of top-down power structures. Now it’s about creating systems that are transparent, inclusive, and fair—ones that work for everyone, not just a few.

These landmarks aren’t isolated—they’re interconnected. As we move through the terrain, we’ll see how they shape and shift one another. The Pathmakers Framework is a guide, but not in the sense of a fixed, straight line to follow. It’s more like a compass, helping us navigate the unknown, to take the next step, even when we’re not sure what that step looks like.

The beauty of this framework is that it’s not about having all the answers, or knowing exactly where we’re going. It’s about the journey itself. It’s about creating space to listen, to explore, and to learn. And when we don’t know where to start, the Pathmakers Framework is a place to begin.

The Hero’s Journey and Our Own Path

Building on the same basis of interconnectedness and navigating uncertainty, the Hero’s Journey offers a valuable framework for understanding not just individual transformation, but the collective path we all walk. It’s about more than personal growth—it’s about our shared human experience, and how we face challenges together.

The Hero’s Journey is often framed through the lens of ancient myths, but it’s just as relevant in our modern lives. We all face moments of uncertainty, moments where the world seems to shift beneath us. These are the moments that bring change, challenge, and potential. They are the thresholds that mark where we’ve been and where we’re going. And just like the myths, these challenges don’t have a one-size-fits-all solution. They are the complex, evolving aspects of life that force us to grow, adapt, and connect.

But here’s where it gets important: this journey is not just an individual one. We are all on it together, navigating through uncertainty as a collective. The Hero’s Journey, in its essence, is about crossing into unknown territory, encountering the unknown and the unfamiliar—not just for personal gain, but for the good of the community as a whole. It’s about how we support one another, how we share wisdom, how we rise together in the face of challenges.

The Hero’s Journey is not a solo endeavor—it’s something we live together, learning and evolving with each landmark we encounter. As we cross thresholds and move through unfamiliar landscapes, we learn from each other’s stories, struggles, and strengths. The Hero’s Journey is as much about communal growth as it is about individual transformation.

And that’s the heart of what the Pathmakers Framework is about. It’s a guide for this collective journey, helping us find our way when we don’t always know where to start. It doesn’t promise to have all the answers, but it offers a way to begin, a way to understand the terrain ahead, and a way to walk it together, step by step. It’s not about rushing to a destination—it’s about walking with intention, understanding the landmarks that guide us, and using those markers to support each other along the way.

In a way, the Pathmakers Framework is the map we didn’t know we needed to navigate the collective Hero’s Journey—so we don’t walk alone.

Grief, Space, and Change

One crucial part of this collective journey is grief. But grief isn’t just about mourning what’s lost—it’s a way of clearing space—emotionally, spiritually, and mentally. It’s about releasing what no longer serves us, what we need to let go of in order to make room for the new. This process doesn’t just help us deal with loss; it prepares us for what’s ahead. We often don’t think about grief as a tool for growth, but it’s essential if we’re going to move forward with clarity and intention.

Grieving the world we’ve lost—whether that’s our culture, our environment, our communities, or even our sense of stability—allows us to truly process what’s happening in the present. It’s through this act of grief that we can begin to let go of what holds us back, and from that space, we can face the unknown.

In mythic storytelling, there’s often a threshold guardian that we must face before transformation can take place. Grief acts as that guardian in our journey— it’s a necessary passage we must go through before we can transform and move forward. It’s not about staying in grief forever, but about honouring it, feeling it fully, and using it as a catalyst for change.

Grief also expands our emotional bandwidth. It’s like opening up space within ourselves, making room for deeper connections and more intentional actions. If we’re going to move through this journey together, grief is an essential step. It clears away the emotional clutter, creating the capacity for reflection, healing, and growth. Without that space, we’re not able to make the changes we need—personally, collectively, or environmentally.

Grief doesn’t just mark an ending. It’s the preparation for what’s next. It allows us to face the journey ahead with greater resilience, understanding, and connection. And in that, it becomes a vital part of the transformation we’re all going through.

Moving Forward, Together

The Pathmakers Framework isn’t just for one group of people or one culture—it’s for everyone. It’s a collective invitation to walk this journey together, with intention and clarity. We’re all facing an uncertain world, and we need to find ways to navigate it side by side. Whether you’re part of an Indigenous community, a business leader, or someone simply seeking a way to contribute to your community, the Pathmakers Framework offers a shared path forward.

The framework encourages collective action, where we learn together and share our experiences as we navigate change. It’s built on relational ways of working, where collaboration is at the heart of how we face the challenges ahead. This isn’t about one group leading or dictating the journey—it’s about all of us finding our way forward, drawing on the wisdom and knowledge of the past, and moving towards a future that reflects our shared values.

Over time, we’ll dive deeper into each of the five landmarks that guide this framework. Each landmark offers a unique perspective on the world, and together they help us address real-world challenges in meaningful, actionable ways. The journey is ongoing, and as we move through it, we’ll continue learning and evolving together.

The key is walking this journey together—acknowledging the grief that’s part of this process, learning from the past, and shaping the future intentionally. This framework is a guide for that shared journey, one that is open to all and grounded in mutual respect, understanding, and action.

Further Reading

There are five landmarks in the Pathmakers Framework. They are:

1 Economic Reciprocity – This landmark focuses on fostering mutual exchange and ensuring that communities benefit equitably from the resources and opportunities that come from working together, with a strong emphasis on sustainability and shared prosperity.

2 Environmental Connection – This landmark is about building and strengthening the connection between people and their environment, recognising the interdependent relationship that sustains both. It highlights the importance of caring for country and understanding the environmental processes that shape and are shaped by human actions.

3 Community Collaboration – This landmark focuses on working together, building trust, and strengthening relationships within and between communities. It looks at how collaboration can drive collective action and create shared solutions for the challenges communities face.

4 Relational Governance – This landmark encourages the development of new and inclusive governance systems that respect the rights of all people, particularly Indigenous peoples, and foster resilience, adaptation, and sustainability in the face of changing social and environmental conditions.

5 Cultural Heritage – This landmark underscores the importance of preserving and celebrating cultural practices, traditions, and knowledge. It fosters an understanding of how cultural heritage shapes identity, strengthens communities, and contributes to the resilience of people and place.
These landmarks work together, each influencing and being influenced by the others, forming an interconnected framework that promotes holistic and grounded approaches to community resilience, cultural heritage, and environmental stewardship.

Tags: cultural heritage, environmental connection, economic reciprocity, community collaboration, grief, relational governance