Synopsis

 

In a time of increasing environmental pressure and cultural change, Indigenous elders from across the world are stepping forward to share knowledge grounded in thousands of years of relationship with land, water, and community.

​

In Australia, this leadership was expressed through the work of Uncle Pat Lock, whose PhD research with the University of Newcastle focused on Aboriginal leadership. As part of this work, Awabakal elders—led by Wirrigan—gathered with community members for a traditional “yarn up” at Macquarie Life Church in Cardiff, NSW, in March 2019.

​

The gathering created a space for the sharing of cultural knowledge and lived experience, with discussions focusing on critical issues including the health of water systems, the impact of seismic blasting on marine life in the search for oil and gas, and the skilled, cultural use of fire in caring for Country.