Ant lives below the surface as part of a vast network. Ant is often unnoticed, but knows everything that’s happening on and under the ground. When something’s coming, they send the message ahead.
Ant builds deep into the soil, keeping it aerated so water can reach dormant seeds. Ant moves through chemical trails that no human eye can follow. Ant holds a community together through care, cooperation, and an infinite web of relationships.
That's the literal Ant. Now think metaphorically.
In your research, your classroom, your work: what’s happening at the grassroots? Who’s in your community, and how are you caring for them? What paths are you following that others can’t see yet?
Listen to Trawlwoolway and Pairrebenne man Lyndon O'Neil
Pattern thinking with Ant
Pattern thinking asks you to hold four perspectives at once, allowing you to see further than any single perspectives allows. These questions will help you find the connections – between perspectives, places, what you know and what you haven’t seen yet.
What value is placed on local knowledge and how can this translate across systems?
What changes when you think through the deep history of one place? What lessons does this generate for the future?
Who else is close to the ground here? What are they noticing?
What connections do you see to other entities and places – and where do they lead?
Kin pair
Ant and Eagle are a kin pair
The two perspectives teach us more together than they do alone. One holds the ground-level detail, the other holds the whole system. Neither is complete without the other.
In practice
See how others have brought Ant into their research and teaching.
Engaging men and boys in innovative interventions to end gender-based violence
McLachlan, F., & O’Leary, P. (2026)
An Australian Indigenous Knowledge System and Methodology
Raciti, M., Gilbey, K., Manathunga, C., Qi, J. (2026)
It’s Complicated: Roleplaying Development Scenarios with the Kin and Country Framework
Ey, M., & UoN Discipline of Geography and Environmental Studies. (2026)
The Neuroinclusion Project’s Introduction to Neurodiversity: A foundation module for creating inclusive environments for neurodivergent people.
Tan, D., Star, A., Woodington, T., Ezzy, T. (2026)
Waranara (library) Indigenous resource repository
Lumby, N., Vickery, S., Keys, L., Cleary, A., Milliss, E., Tynan, L., Bishop, M., Caldis, S., Mitchell, C. (2026)
Adapting Ant to your Kin and Country
Ant is just one name for this perspective. Each Country has its own. For example, on Dharug Country, Aunty Leanne King shares that the micro view might belong to Wallumai – the Black Snapper Fish – who moves through the mangroves protecting their young. As you bring the framework into your own context, listen to the knowledge holders of the Country you’re on. They’ll know who holds Ant’s perspective in their place.
Here are some resources to help you deepen your understanding of the Framework for teaching.
Learn more
How to Adapt the Entities for the Kin and Country Framework
Tynan, L., & Bishop, M. (2026)
How to Build a Scenario for the Kin and Country Framework
Tynan, L., & Bishop, M. (2026)
Teaching Guide for the Kin and Country Framework
Tynan, L., Bishop, M., Milliss, E., Lumby, N., & Rana, L. (2026).
Teaching the Kin and Country Framework with Neurodivergent Learners
Tan, D. W., Tynan, L., & Bishop, M. (2026)