Singing Saltwater CountryMonash Country Lines Archive has created digital animations of a number of Yanyuwa songs and stories to assist with the preservation of traditional knowledge, language and history. Click this link to see these extraordinary animated stories of the Yanyuwa families of Borroloola, including the Tiger Shark whom John mentioned sung back over the country he had travelled. For anyone with even a remote interest in songlines, here is a link to "Singing Saltwater Country", a definite must-read; and also a link to Volumes 1 and 2 of "Language for Us, The Yanyuwa Saltwater People - A Yanyuwa Encyclopaedia".    To meet some of the senior Yanyuwa song women, and for a greater insight into Yanyuwa (saltwater) country, have a look at this YouTube clip about the Gulf Country Songbook, a collection of Yanyuwa, Marra, Garrwa and Gudanji songs. At about 13:42 of the clip, Marlene Timothy shows a map of Yanyuwa songlines, pointing out the Sir Edward Pellew Group of Islands, part of the traditional home of the Yanyuwa people. Also, John refers to Deborah Bird Rose's work when he mentions wounded places. Here is a link to a very interesting video clip with Deborah Bird Rose talking about the extensive songline of the Black headed python who travels from the Indian Ocean across the entire continent to the Queensland coast, and beyond.
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Weaving in the New DreamingIn this podcast (episode 5), Garminungeena tells us about a concept and spiritual practice called dadirri (pronounced da-did-ee), a word from the Nauiyu (Daly River) area in the Northern Territory. Garmi is an authorised teacher of the healing practice of dadirri. Below is an extract from respected Aboriginal Elder, Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr about dadirri: It is our most unique gift. It is perhaps the greatest gift we can give to our fellow Australians. ... It is inner, deep listening and quiet, still awareness. Listen to Miriam-Rose's explanation of dadirri , and read more about dadirri and her work at the Miriam-Rose Foundation website.
Get on to your Dreaming TrackIn this podcast, Garmi mentions two very prominent Australian poets:
Women's Business, Family and Seven SistersIn this episode, Garmi talks about the role of Nungeena Aboriginal Corporation for Women's Business, and how six Aboriginal women got together and approached the then owner of the current Nungeena land who was operating a Thai restaurant from the property. Garmi also recounts the publicly-available Dreaming story of the mountains now known as the Glass House Mountains. Below are some photos of the Nungeena property, and Mount Beerwah (Mother Mountain), Mount Tibrogargan (Father) and Mount Coonowrin (or Crook Neck has he is known locally). I am told that, when coming to Nungeena from the west on sunset, Coonowrin does, indeed, look like a young boy with his head cocked to one side. From time to time Mounts Beerwah and Tibrogargan are opened to climbers by Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, however, it is culturally inappropriate to climb any of these sacred mountains. The road to Nungeena; part of the Nungeena property; Mt Beerwah, from Nungeena Mt Beerwah (far left), Mt Coonowrin (CrookedNeck); and Mt Tigrogargan
It's Time
In Part 1 of Garminungeena's (Jenny Thompson's) talk with me, we mentioned a couple of very enlightening books that you might like to look up:
Also, during our chat I mentioned the "Babakiueria" YouTube clip. I can no longer find the whole clip on YouTube, so I have included a link below to a Vimeo version. I hope you can access it - it's really very clever.
Babakiueria from Giacomo Barchiesi on Vimeo. |
About meMy work in town planning and environmental law gradually led me to wonder whether western society had lost a crucial connection with 'something'. In exploring what that 'something' might be, I looked to Indigenous knowledge and in doing so, became enthralled with the intriguing yet very complex concept of multi-dimensional songlines. Archives
October 2018
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