Aboriginal Healing,
Sharing Culture |
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My tour colleagues and I discussed the impact the trip was having on us. We all felt the same. How on earth are we going to explain to other people how we feel about our experiences? How do we explain to others emotions that we cannot explain properly to ourselves?
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After my invite to visit Nauiyu and letter from Miliwanga Wurrben, I knew it was time to visit the Northern Territory. I decided to sign up for a Cultural Tour to Nauiyu, organised by Pip Gordon and Nicole Kinnaird, and then stay on in the region for nearly two weeks more.
I headed for Darwin on Friday, 22nd May, where the various members of our Tour (12 adults and six children from around Australia) assembled ready for our adventure. Four vehicles headed for Nauiyu on the Monday, loaded up with excited people and masses of food! The Tour lasted until the Thursday, and we stayed on for the Nauiyu festival over the weekend. Pip and her family put me up - or put up with me - in Katherine from Sunday night until the following Saturday. We then headed off for a weekend at the Barunga music, culture, arts and sports festival. What great fun that was! I then travelled back to Darwin with a surprise driver, but more of that later. I cannot explain to you how special my experiences were. I felt a strong connection with the people of Nauiyu and the surrounding country. I had what I can only describe as a spiritual awakening. I loved my stay in Katherine and time at the Barunga festival. My tour colleagues and I discussed the impact the trip was having on us. We all felt the same. How on earth are we going to explain to other people how we feel about our experiences? How do we explain to others emotions that we cannot explain properly to ourselves? I still feel the same as I write this. As I think about Nauiyu, I well up inside. I cannot explain why this is happening. I guess it was just such a powerful personal experience. Maybe the only people who can appreciate this are the people who were there? |
Getting together In Darwin
It was strange meeting Pip, Jonathan, Caleb and Erin Gordon for the first time. It was like I had known them for ages!
Later that Friday night, I met two families from Brisbane - Andrew, Nicole, Rosie and Chloe, and the Freeky family - who were to become an important part of my life over the coming week. The rest of the ‘team’ assembled on Saturday. I think it’s fair to say that we all became close during the time we were together. I also met Miliwanga Wurbenn in Darwin, as she happened to be in the city. A number of us dashed down to see her at the bus station before she headed back to Katherine. It was a special meeting! We were welcomed to the Larrakia Nation - which includes the area in and around Darwin - by Bilawara Lee. Bilawara is a highly respected communicator, healer and teacher of the ancient wisdoms of Aboriginal spirituality and healing. After the smoking ceremony, we had a long discussion with Bilawara and then visited an art collection put together by her family. We later spent time with Bilawara at the Mendil markets, where we watched the sunset and gorged ourselves on good food. One of the major activities over the weekend was…. shopping! We needed to purchase all our food before leaving for Nauiyu, as there was only a small, expensive shop in the community. Thank goodness we had Andrew and Christabelle! Not only did they organise the shopping - which was like a military operation - but they also did all the cooking! THANK YOU! And thank you to my partner Linda (for making the trip possible), Pip and Nicole (for organising the Tour) and the Gordons (for their kind hospitality). >> The People of Nauiyu |