A City of Good Ancestors: Urban Governance and Design from a Relationist Ethos

This chapter explores the future of more-than-human cities from a long-term perspective. Amid pressing issues such as climate change, social justice, and technological advancements, we consider how one might contemplate the development of cities and human settlements over the next 10,000 years. Drawing inspiration from Australian Aboriginal societies, known for their stable and spiritually rich governance systems, the chapter delves into foundational principles like the Relationist Ethos and Custodial Ethic. Part 1 introduces these pan-Aboriginal principles, emphasising the need for a relationist city focused on regenerative habitats and social justice. In Part 2, we explore how the Relationist Ethos can transform urban praxis by looking at the Greenprints framework, which facilitates the harmonious coexistence of cities and nature. Our exploration challenges urban governance professionals to build cities that serve as good ancestors for future generations of humans and more-than-humans.