Eagle soars above it all. From up there, the whole system comes into view – how ideas connect, where the links are, what’s being missed by those of us closer to the ground.
The thermals rising off Country. The coastline stretching in both directions. Creeks becoming rivers. They ride the currents, conserve energy, and keep a keen eye on everything below.
That's the literal Eagle. Now think metaphorically.
In your research, your classroom, your work: what does the view look like from above? What systems are you part of? What connections can you see from up here that you couldn’t see before?
Listen to Boonwurrung Elder Professor N'arwee't Carolyn Briggs AM
Pattern thinking with Eagle
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 does Eagle see that Ant can't – and what does Ant know that Eagle misses?
What changes when you hold the big picture and the ground-level detail at the same time?
What stories does Grandmother hold about change at a macro scale? How does granddaughter feel about big picture change into the future?
What connections do you see to other entities and places – and where do they lead?
Kin pair
Eagle and Ant are a kin pair
The two perspectives teach us more together than they do alone. One holds the whole system, the other holds the ground-level detail. Neither is complete without the other.
In practice
See how others have brought Eagle into their research and teaching.
Engaging men and boys in innovative interventions to end gender-based violence
McLachlan, F., & O’Leary, P. (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)
An Australian Indigenous Knowledge System and Methodology
Raciti, M., Gilbey, K., Manathunga, C., Qi, J. (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 Eagle to your Country
Eagle is just one name for this perspective. Each Country has its own. On Dharug Country, for example, Aunty Leanne King shares that the macro view might belong to Barra – the eel – who migrates vast distances each year and sees the whole system from underwater, looking up. 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 Eagle’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)