I did not understand, and can not understand. But I will listen, & learn.

When I think about it, the recent level of curiosity & interest I have in the incredible Indigenous culture we have here in Australia has been building for about 18 months.

I’d like to say I was interested before that, but how can it be the truth when I can’t see it reflected in an earlier need to find out more? Whereas, I clearly remember the fire of curiosity a young man called Josh lit in me in January of 2019.

Nick and I had had something of a whirlwind trip - Christmas in the Cotswolds in England, then on to Copenhagen for New Years. As is our way, we devoured the local food, culture and history of each, and went out of our way to find more inventive ways to experience them - as an example, the Mystery Makers in Copenhagen turned our average tour into a treasure hunt as we solved puzzles and searched for clues hidden in the most unlikely places throughout the Christiansborg Palace and ensured the Palace became a place of wonder and curiosity, rather than just another old building full of excessive wealth.

As we headed back home, rather than fly back via Singapore or one of the other main hubs, we decided to try out the direct flight from London to Perth, and take a week to enjoy the Margaret River … knowing we would likely need to defrost from the European weather we’d been immersed in ??

Thank goodness that wonder & curiosity from our overseas trip stayed with us during our stay in Yallingup, as when we were looking into doing a tour of the limestone caves in the area, we looked beyond the mainstream tours and discovered Koomal Dreaming Cultural Experiences. We loved the idea of experiencing the caves through the eyes of the traditional owners, but looking back couldn’t have imagined what we were in for.

The experience started from the first meeting point, well before we got to the caves, as Josh identified plants that are native foods, some that were bush medicine, and overall captured the deep and personal relationship the Wadindi people have with both the land, its plants & animals and the ocean. He was both knowledgeable and witty, and somehow managed to handle with grace what were probably some seriously inane questions from us as we headed down to the caves.

And it was there that time stopped. Deep down in the caves, Josh shared with us a didgeridoo performance that I will never forget. The acoustics of the caves, and the haunting sound of the instrument combined to deliver something that went deeper than music, it was like a resonance between this man, the earth, and his ancestors. I feel so privileged to have witnessed it.

And that was the spark. Now I’m not about to say I instantly dove into a rabid process of devouring knowledge of Indigenous culture, but as life continued on in 2019 I realised I wanted to build a better awareness of country, the Indigenous people, their society, their take on our environment and science and our collective history. They are the traditional owners of this place I call home, and I wanted to know more. And I was lucky enough to have multiple opportunities.

How could I not be moved by the Welcome to Country provided by Yvonne Weldon to the opening night of Sydney Dance Company’s 50th birthday production by Bonachela, Nankivell & Lane in March 2019? As the Chairperson of the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council it would be easy to dismiss what she did as merely part of her job. But the intensity and meaning she brought to the moment, felt like she channeled the collective voice of her ancestors. It was moving, and poignant.

Or how about witnessing a performance during TedX Sydney by Eric Avery on the violin with his father Graham King on the didgeridoo? The crowd was left speechless by the blending of contemporary and indigenous music that spoke perfectly to the conference’s Legacy theme.

Then later in 2019, I discovered the art of the Numina women, a talented family of artists who were taught to paint by their female relatives connected across the Central Desert region of the Northern Territory. The only thing stopping me from currently owning a piece of their work is my inability to pick just one. Being the problem solver that I am, I have decided to simply purchase 2 or 3, and would encourage you to check their work out.

And I would have merrily continued on my way, with my eyes a little more open, and my curiosity a little peaked, if it wasn’t for a chatterbox kid. An 11 year old boy to be precise, who we caught up with this weekend while away for my birthday. On a long walk enjoying the countryside in Foxground, we’d covered most of the basics - how we would survive a zombie apocalypse, if you had to live on one food what would it be … the usual ??

Then things took an interesting turn …

Milo: Aunty Peita, how do we know what we don’t know? 

Me: What do you mean?

Milo: Well, before, I said I knew everything and school was boring. And you said that none of us know everything.

Me: Yeah …

Milo: But how do we know we don’t know? If the point is that we don’t know everything, how do we KNOW we don’t know everything?

Me: [Thinking this got complex, fast] Hmm, well, all I can tell you is the more I decide to learn about things, and the more curious I am, then the better I understand how much MORE there is to know.

Milo: So there’s LOADS to know?

Me: Yup

Milo: That’s cooool.

No truer words were spoken. And this is what inspired my post today. There is so much more knowledge to be had, and insight to be gained about Indigenous culture and experience, that I am no longer going to allow it to be accidental. I want to KNOW what I don’t know. Now, I acknowledge I can’t ever fully understand their situation or experience, let alone the hardships the traditional owners of the land have faced, however I feel like listening is a place to begin learning.

So, what have you come across that I should read, listen to or watch? What experiences should I take part in? Who should I talk to? I would love to hear any suggestions you have in the comments, as this gal wants to fan that spark of curiosity lit by Josh over 18 months ago into a lasting flame.

I DID NOT UNDERSTAND, AND CAN NOT UNDERSTAND.

BUT I WILL LISTEN, AND LEARN.