Waka Ŋurrkanhayngu -Regenerating the Existence of Life Working Together Two-way

Abstract

Humanity-including Indigenous and Western peoples-is experiencing growing multiple existential crises (e.g., climate change, disasters, pandemics, physical and mental decline and disease, poverty, wars, water and food shortages, broken systems). These crises threatening our very existence increasingly force us to critically reflect on the roots of the crises and what needs to happen to restore the health and wellbeing of all creatures including humans and our planet. In our initiative Yolŋu from diverse Clans living in the very remote community Galiwin'ku in Arnhem Land (NT) and Western allies from different organisations and countries work together two-way to find answers to both questions. We suggest that both Indigenous and Western peoples need to transform and regenerate their existence in ways that restore humans living again in harmony with nature. Two interconnected pathways emerged. The first pathway consists of us becoming conscious of the multitude of ways in which the Western culture and society have and still are disconnecting us from us having deep relations with and understanding of our interconnectedness with nature, the invisible feminine spiritual world, our ancestors, and the ancient Indigenous LAW that creates a culture and society that ensures the health of all creatures. The second pathway involves remembering, reconnecting with, reviving and living according to our true primordial sacred nature, the invisible spiritual world, our ancestors, and ancient Indigenous LAW. Several years ago, we started walking both pathways together long-term and two-way to identify and facilitate ways in which Yolŋu can best regenerate and strengthen living according to their Yolŋu Rom or LAW to restore living in harmony, cease 'natural' and social disasters and address the multiple existential crises. In this presentation we are offering insights into how we are working together two-way and the holistic knowledges we co-created thus far regarding the many interconnected aspects that strengthen and Yolŋu how they could be regenerated, and the many interconnected aspects that weakens Yolŋu and how they could be stopped. It is our hope that us sharing will add to the growing recognition that Indigenous ways of being-knowing-doing are sophisticated and the key to our survival, and inspire other Indigenous and Western peoples to walk with us two-way and long-term to regenerate the existence of life.

Full text

Waka Ŋurrkanhayngu - Regenerating the Existence of Life Working Together Two-way
Petra T. Buergelt1, Ḻäwurrpa Elaine Maypilama1,2,3, Yuŋgirrŋa Dorothy Bukulatjpi3, Rosemary
Gundjarranbuy3, James Bayon3, James Gunitjawuy Gondurra3, Evelyn Djotja3, Douglas Paton1,2, Alice
McCarthy3, & Duncan Poulson5
1. University of Canberra, Canberra, Australia
2. Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Australia
3. YALU Aboriginal Corporation, Galiwin’ku, Australia
4. Flinders University, Darwin, Australia
5. Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), Darwin, Australia
Humanity – including Indigenous and Western peoples – is experiencing growing multiple
existential crises (e.g., climate change, disasters, pandemics, physical and mental decline
and disease, poverty, wars, water and food shortages, broken systems). These crises
threatening our very existence increasingly force us to critically reflect on the roots of the
crises and what needs to happen to restore the health and wellbeing of all creatures
including humans and our planet. In our initiative Yolŋu from diverse Clans living in the very
remote community Galiwin’ku in Arnhem Land (NT) and Western allies from different
organisations and countries work together two-way to find answers to both questions. We
suggest that both Indigenous and Western peoples need to transform and regenerate their
existence in ways that restore humans living again in harmony with nature. Two
interconnected pathways emerged. The first pathway consists of us becoming conscious of
the multitude of ways in which the Western culture and society have and still are
disconnecting us from us having deep relations with and understanding of our
interconnectedness with nature, the invisible feminine spiritual world, our ancestors, and
the ancient Indigenous LAW that creates a culture and society that ensures the health of all
creatures. The second pathway involves remembering, reconnecting with, reviving and
living according to our true primordial sacred nature, the invisible spiritual world, our
ancestors, and ancient Indigenous LAW. Several years ago, we started walking both
pathways together long-term and two-way to identify and facilitate ways in which Yolŋu can
best regenerate and strengthen living according to their Yolŋu Rom or LAW to restore living
in harmony, cease ‘natural’ and social disasters and address the multiple existential crises.
In this presentation we are offering insights into how we are working together two-way and
the holistic knowledges we co-created thus far regarding the many interconnected aspects
that strengthen and Yolŋu how they could be regenerated, and the many interconnected
aspects that weakens Yolŋu and how they could be stopped. It is our hope that us sharing
will add to the growing recognition that Indigenous ways of being-knowing-doing are
sophisticated and the key to our survival, and inspire other Indigenous and Western peoples
to walk with us two-way and long-term to regenerate the existence of life.