Aboriginal Healing,
Sharing Culture |
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David's Journey, Part 3During the time I ran Wired In, I became aware of the high proportion of people with substance use problems who had been traumatised by adverse experiences in their childhood, e.g. physical or psychological abuse. After I moved to Australia, I learnt much more about trauma, including the facts that (1) childhood trauma can exert a long-lasting impact on a person’s life, and (2) trauma can be passed down through the generations.
Trauma Trails: Recreating Song Lines by Judy Atkinson not only taught me a great deal about historical (or intergenerational) trauma and its impact, but also introduced me to new ideas about the healing of trauma. Judy’s book inspired me to develop Sharing Culture, an educational initiative to help Indigenous peoples heal from historical trauma and its consequences. Whilst developing the website, I learnt a lot from Aboriginal people of Australia, as well as Indigenous people from other parts of the world. I was also able to bring together a strong international group of Advisors with many different forms of relevant expertise. Please check out the testimonials about Sharing Culture. I also discovered there is much that society can learn from Indigenous people. For example, their holistic view of social and emotional wellbeing is superior to the western view of mental health, and their spiritual connection to land means they are more protective of the environment. As we travel through life, the paths we take are shaped by the people we meet and the stories we hear. Three spiritually strong Aboriginal women I met in the Northern Territory in 2015 were to have a great impact on me. I met Miriam Rose Ungunmerr Baumann in the remote Aboriginal community of Nauiyu on the Daly River (see photo). There, I experienced for the first time a strong feeling of being connected to country. Soon after, I spent a few days with Judy Atkinson in Katherine and at the Barunga Festival. On that trip, I was 'adopted' by a beautiful Rembarrgna woman, Miliwanga Wurrben. I was deeply moved by this adoption. I feel honoured to have a beautiful Aboriginal sister and to be part of her family of traditional healers... and for her to be part of my family.
A few years ago, my close friend Michael Liu and I were shown some of the work of the Aboriginal artists who had lived at Carrolup by our lovely Noongar friend Karen Hume. We were stunned by the beauty of the art and beguiled by the stories we were told. As a result, we started researching a project on the Aboriginal artist Revel Cooper. We found a great deal of important material, experienced many strange coincidences, and met some very interesting people, many of whom were willing to help us. Eventually, however, I became so enchanted by the Carrolup Story, that I decided to set this up as a separate project. I met Noelene White, daughter of teacher Noel White, and a beautiful close friendship developed. Noelene was very keen that I write a book about Carrolup, and provided me with access to relevant material belonging to her family. She introduced me to my new inspirational collaborator and close friend, John Stanton. I visited Carrolup and was deeply moved by the experience. I know it sounds strange, but as I continued to read the materials we had found during our research (including letters from the boys), looked at the photographs, and wrote the book, I felt as if the children were touching my heart and soul. It was if they were reaching out. I had lived in Australia from the age of 9 to 14, but my parents had taken us back to the UK in 1968. Forty years later, I returned to live in Perth for personal reasons. Little did I know then that my decision to move here was the beginning of a new journey of exploration and a new period of advocacy.
Today, one thing stands out as I reflect on my 40-year journey: The Power of Story. The Carrolup Story is beautiful in that it gives hope, instils pride, and can teach us so much about improving the human condition. I believe that the Story can be a stepping stone to helping Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people heal from trauma and its consequences. It can enhance awareness in a way that can help reduce prejudice and racism. I am thrilled to be able to learn more about Aboriginal people and their culture, and pass on what I learn to the wider world. The world will be a better place if our different cultures were more accepting of each other, and learnt from each other... Sharing Culture. > Part 1 > Part 2 |
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