Kimberley wandering, Culture exploring, and White-Settler views...

In honour of NAIDOC week, and the past thirty days that I’ve just spent in Dambimangari, Wunambal Gaambera, and Balanggarra Country - I am dedicating this post to the Wandjina-Wuggurr and Gwion Gwion Dreamtime images (aka. aboriginal rock art) of these regions (Kimberley, NW Aus).

Briefly emerging from Kimberley mode (it's a real thing, trust me) to check-in with the outside world (hey you, it's been a while 😉) for a real-talk moment. Instead of writing poetic words and love notes, I'm instead going to talk about something that has occupied my mind wanderings more recently since being on my short 10 day break.

The Wandjina-Wunggurr and Gwion Gwion images found in the Kimberley are about 5000 and 17000 years old, respectively. And they are images (and dreamtime) unique to the Kimberley. The Wandjina (creator spirits who bring the rain every year), were present this dry season for my last voyage before I went on break. Rain, wind, cool temps, a stormy last week. It was wild, and incredible to see the Kimberley in a different light…usually it’s blue skies and hot air 😅 I could see the Wandjina swirling in the clouds, and while we were leaving one of the Wandjina sites we spotted a rainbow (said to be the way that the Wandjina move from waterhole to waterhole). If you want to see what a 'Wandjina' looks like - go here (you might remember this from the 2000 Australian Olympics!).

Probably to your disappointment, I have no images of Wandjina-Wunggurr or Gwion Gwion to share here - out of respect for the spirits, ancestors and custodians of this incredible work. Instead, I have shared images from the places that we went to see it - Njula (Jar Island), Warrabii (Swift Bay) and Wuuyuru (Bigge Island).

Above: Wuuyuru / Bigge Island. You can see crevices in the sandstone on the left - these are the caves to the images and a burial site. 

Above: Warrabii / Swift Bay - behind these trees is a sandstone overhang with images painted underneath.

As a Naturalist Guide, I provide interpretation of this art work at each site. I found this hard to grasp in the beginning - how can a white settler woman, ‘interpret’ the incredible intricate and powerful images in these places that have been created and honoured by indigenous folk for 1000s years. It felt incongruent. There should be an indigenous guide here to teach us instead, not a white person. But there are no longer indigenous here in these places. In fact, the indigenous have given us permission specifically to visit and explore these sites. There is much detail on the artwork existing there, and also the location of burial sites 🤯 - they want to share this, they want us to see and experience their incredible culture. They want us to see the amazing history and abilities of their people and ancestors. And I felt a huge responsibility of helping them to do that, in the only way I could in those moments.

Many hours of research into Wandjina-Wunggurr and Gwion Gwion later…and there I was, interpreting the rock art, sharing thoughts on how we can honour culture and respect what we are seeing and how we interact with the world. I am always careful to remind guests that I have read countless books and discussed ideas with my colleagues, but ultimately I am a white settler woman - I have not been passed down this information…I am merely ‘interpreting’ it to the best of my knowledge. But also to be wary of many of the books themselves - written by white people (although, not all of them, shout out to ‘We are coming to see you’ by the Wunambal Gaambera and Dambimangari people). Even though white authors interviewed and spent time with indigenous folks to create their books, they too would have been interpreting the indigenous folks’ answers and information in their own way of understanding. We really don’t know how much or how little we know. 

I could really go on here…but I won’t. More later perhaps. 

If the topic of cultural sensitivity, connection and awareness intrigues you - I invite you to check out myself & Elise' yoga & hiking glamping retreat on Adnyamathanha Country (final retreat for 2023 in October)...it's all things yoga, breathwork/meditation, culture, connection to country and other like minded women, hiking and nature immersion, delicious meals every day and glamping ensuite heated tents (single or shared!). There's so much more to it, but if this piques your interest and your soul feels a yearning for 4 whole days of you time...go check it out (ASAP, because bookings for 2023 close midnight July 16th!).

Until next time,
NAIDOC Week, Every Week ❤️ 

Yours' in yoga, breath and all things rest,

Sez xx