Listening To Country
On December 19, 2017 we met with a number of Djukun, Yawuru and Nyikina traditional custodians of the Kimberley region both in Broome, Western Australia and north of Broome at the Goolarabooloo Community, Coconut Well.
As was apparent in conversation with Rafael Boro who is native to Argentina, recent developments in this part of the world mirror the genocidal actions of others experiencing similar in places as far afield as Mexico and Argentina, as Rafael Boro attested in his Youtube recording.
The key term here is apparent - genocide.
Photographer: Alexander Hayes
In our discussion with Goolarabooloo Elders, Djukun Elders and Yawuru descendant’s we were encouraged to question;
What welcome to country you might ask? What does it mean to be welcome on Country when the overlords of one family exclude, pillage and assume the ownership of country that has since time immemorial been and always will be the country of another mob?
So it is we must #listentocountry - in Nyikina we are informed this is stated as ‘Ngikalikarra’.
Rafael recounted the many experiences he has had the privilege of being engaged with and the enduring focus of discussions which is similar to his experience of Argentina - that of what INDIVIDUAL responsibilities we must not simply assume are for others to fullfil.
Magali and I both understand this as acknowledging ALL traditional and RIGHTFUL custodians of Country, not those awarded native title recognition through the common law statutory body who often ‘negotiate’ royalties with no freedom of prior of informed consent, no the right of veto.
We understood during this week long project introduction to these communities and to Rafael’s project that central to the premise of promise is the protection of the fragile ecosystems, especially the water table and aquifers which criss cross this continent.
Photographer: Alexander Hayes - on our way to meet with the Roe Family, Goolarabooloo Community, Coconut Well.
At this point in time Magali has been working extensively and in a far reaching capacity as Media Development and Community Trainer with PAKAM - Pilbara & Kimberley Aboriginal Media
In her role as Trainer, and in the consultative role as Principal Partner at Oethica Group Productions, Magali has been engaged with Rafael’s 'Listening To Country' initiative complete with reciprocal exchanges of cultural knowledge, education and related events. The project focus is on a union between like minded professional people willing to make a difference where possible in listening to and disseminating stories of culture - ‘Listening to Country’.
Photographer: Alexander Hayes - Rafael Boro (L) & Dr. Magali McDuffie (R) - PAKAM Media editing suite, Broome Western Australia.
