AURUKUN
Traditional Knowledge Revival Pathways - Aurukun Traditional Knowledge – Wik Media The Aurukun Traditional Knowledge Revival Pathways now has established its own entity within Aurukun. Now known as Wik Media, this program led by Dan Bracegirdle and ably assisted by Stan Kalkeeyorta, Herbert Yunkaporta, Robert Wolmby and Joel Ngallametta has been focussing on recording oral histories from Elders and recording stories in Wik Ngathan, an endangered language from Cape Keerweer, with one of the last fluent speakers, Silas Wolmby. The film is a product of the grass roots Traditional Knowledge Revival Pathways project and is a bid to educate the broader public nationally and ... tkrp.com.au/index.php?option=com 'Keerweer' | Welcome to Aurukun "Aurukun is situated in the Western Region of Cape York. It is one of the larger communities in the Cape with approximately 1200 people. Aurukun was established as as a Presbyterian mission in 1904. Much earlier the coastal people played a role in preventing the Dutch explorers of the seventeenth century from landing at Cape Keerweer. The Cape takes its name from a Dutch word meaning to "turn back". This was because hundreds of armed warriors engaged in skirmishes that forced the Dutch to retreat...." Provides council overview, a history of the area, traditional knowledge, community information and youth action plan. from: www.aurukun.qld.gov.au/ 3:25 Livin' on Blackfella Money(Aurukun Style) This music clip was created by Aurukun musicians as a response to the Australian and Queensland Governments reforms in their community of Aurukun.The clip was recorded and filmed by Wik Media a locally owned enterprise which was a establish to help local people express their aspirations and dreams to the outside world. wikmediaptyltd | 5 november 2008 |
Dear People,
when on october 19 of this year the Aurukun people of Cape York reconciled with the Dutch, I looked for more background information and came out with the following story. Which, I think, is a very exciting one. For yous in Oz, and for us here in the Netherlands. fond regards, Cor van Keuk. On the Reconciliation Process; In-between the Netherlands and the Aboriginal Nations of Aurukun and Yolngu By Cor van Keuk; Wititj custodian Amsterdam, december 2007. (Writer identifies himself with the Galpu clan of the Yolngu people of East Arnhemland, the Arakwal clan of the Bundjalung nation, and the Durrumbul people, of N.S.W.) Australian Rainbow Serpent; on Aboriginal-Dutch relations This story is of that Rainbow Serpent that I call Wititj, whose story was given to me by the custodians of the Galpu clan, with senior custodian Djalu Gurruwiwi. This happened at Andersons Hill in N.S.W. in november 2001 and started what I now call the story of Dancing Snakes. A year later this story traveled with me, as a bridge from Australia to Amsterdam. It tells of a meeting between two civilisations at loggerheads. And it opens a chapter on what happened to the first blue-eyed babies in Australia. First it tells the 400 year old 'turn-back' story of the Wik nation of Aurukun in Northern Queensland and of first contact with the European culture. There was betrayal and stealing women, war and cannibalism. And worse In the end comes talk of friendship, reconciliation and peace. New 'turn-back' report from Aurukun The idea that Dutch-Australian reconiliation originated seven years before an Aurukun delegation went to Holland on october 19th 2007 and officially presented a gift of twelve Wik Law Poles to the Dutch Government -not only in a spirit of peace and friendship, but also of anger and hate- is slowly sinking in. The mysterious 'turn-back' story that came with the ceremonial Law Poles -about first contact with Europeans in 1606- meant also an important correction in my understanding of Australian culture and our common history. After Dutch newspapers wrote about the Law Poles as a gift of reconciliation I did some research that showed the steps towards good relationships of both parties. They offer a counterbalance to the popular belief that Aboriginal Australians came out with only one old story. The Duyfken's landing of 1606 It is known historically ......(see below for complete report) .....I have taken much heart from this experience. May I suggest that the Dutch and the other aboriginal nations will learn from Aurukun history and also travel this road to a friendlier and peaceful relationship between the world's oldest ancestral civilisations and modern European culture.
It is very worthwhile, and every possible support must be given to such an enterprise. As for the beginning -in november of 2001- of the Australian-Dutch story of Wititj, about the Dancing Snakes, it first originated with the Galpu clan of the Yolngu nation, a neighbour of Aurukun. One eye-witness account can be found on internet and is also attached with this report. As an 'autochtone' (aboriginal) Dutchman, I feel honoured and proud to have been able to add to this the Rainbow Serpent Law, as told by the first non-Yolngu Wititj custodian Ajhan Wititj Vajiromano and Buddhist Dharma Teacher, John Allan. I sent this 'Wititj Law' to the mayor of Amsterdam, Job Cohen, in early 2006, as a sign of Dutch-Australian reconciliation. 'The Rainbow Serpent Law Wititj ~ that Rainbow Serpent bringing water and healing the land. Wititj travelling the country from water hole to water hole. Each waterhole a place of renewal, a place of new life, a place of healing. That water hole springs up everywhere people come together for healing and new vision . That water hole rises up in every heart that listens to the whispering of the Heart Tears of sorrow and tears of joy heal the heart and clear our vision. We see our ourselves, each other and the Land as Sacred, Alive and Beautiful. Like people crying in ceremony ~ people reminding each other of each other. Listen ~ understand what we mean to each other. Walking together we untie the knots of the past and slip through the clear space that rises up each moment, like fresh water bubbling out of the Land. Moving on in freedom we build right relationship among all people and all beings on this sacred earth. We walk a rainbow bridge of healing. We are that rainbow body of light. It starts in the open heart of sharing and friendship. It ends in the open heart of sharing and friendship.' With mutual respect for our laws, our cultures, our ways of life and our common history. Cor van Keuk; Wititj custodian, Representative of Aboriginal Australia. Ps; 'In 2001 John was named Wititj and made the first non-Yolngu custodian of the Rainbow Serpent or Wititj Law, by Elders of the Galpu Clan of Eastern Arnhem Land. This Law is the most ancient continuous teaching on compassion, healing and peace on the planet. He is also a local organiser for Rural Australians for Refugees. 'Feel free to print or e-mail this information and put it out to friends who might be interested'
(from www.peacebus.com/WakingUp/040806Flyer.pdf Pps; any comments are cordially invited. Sources: www.joelnews.nl; National Geographic Netherlands; DasArts//Weblog; Governments of the Netherlands and Queensland; http://www.dufken.com/captainsjournal; Aboriginal Art Museum Utrecht; www.peacebus.com/WakingUp/040806Flyer.pdf , newspapers, othes. Gratefully yours, Cor.
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...'It is with great joy that on behalf of the Dutch people I accept these law poles as a sign of peace and reconciliation. The Aurukun Wik Law Poles will remain a lasting remembrance of the first contact between Dutch sailors and the Aboriginal population of Australia in 1606 and of the very special year of commemoration that Australia and the Netherlands celebrated in 2006.' 'We got to know the beautiful 'law poles' (wetpalen) in Aurukun [as head of the Dutch delegation]. The symbolics of these Law Poles made a big impression. It concerns works of art that are only produced on special occasions. Therefore the making of special Law Poles to commemorate the events concerning the Dutch landing on Aboriginal territory in the 17th century is a remarkable gesture. The Netherlands can be thankful for these wetpalen, because they symbolise peace and reconciliation. In Aurukun we were told about the custom of ceremonial initiation -the so called 'singing-in'- of Law Poles, which is also aimed at protection against spiritual powers…' Mrs. Timmerman-Buck mentions how the indigenous people of Cape York came eye to eye with Europeans with the Duyfken landing in 1606; which marked for the Dutch the start of the 400 year relationship, of which the anniversary was commemorated in 2006. She says she feels moved to see works of art, like the ones she saw a year ago in Aurukun, now here in Holland… The speech continues: 'In the Aurukun and Weipa area we heard emotional stories of the descendants of the indigenous inhabitants about the battle their ancestors had fought with the first European visitors of the Cape.' This 'turn-back' story is a living part of the rich oral historical tradition of the Wik people…. And with the Duyfken captain's information, it gives us an idea of what the impact of this first encounter of cultures must have been like; as well for the Dutch sailors as for the traditional Wik custodians. 'Full of grief the storytellers told us during our visit of the 'murder' by their ancestors on blue-eyed babies, that were born at the beginning of the 17th century.' -because they were regarded as spirits, and a danger to the community. 'We must establish, that in those days the collision of cultures … went from both sides accompanied by violence. Although it is completely understandable that the Dutch explorers, with the more powerful weaponry at their disposal, were not regarded as peaceful visitors. This makes it even more special, that descendants of the indigenous inhabitants of the area have made these law poles as a gift of reconciliation for the people of the Netherlands.' Mrs. Timmerman-Buck says the Wik Law Poles are symbols of peace and reconciliation. And that the brilliance (schittering) of the artwork has a certain attractiveness, a certain pulling power. Then she says that the Dutch parliament has decided to erect a small monument at Cape Keerweer to commemorate Aurukun Dutch history. The speech ends as follows: 'Dear Mrs. Casey [representative of the Australian Government], dear Mr. Pootchemunka, Let me turn to you again. I had the privilege of meeting you, Mr Pootchemunka, during our trip to Australia. I am very pleased that you are now here and hopefully you will enjoy your stay in the Netherlands as much as we enjoyed our trip to Australia. You are very welcome in our country. I have just briefly tried to explain what you have taught me about the history of your land and about the law poles. It is an absolute honour that special law poles have been made for the Netherlands and I am even more honoured to accept the poles today on behalf of the Dutch citizens. Thank you again.' 'Let me finish with saying that the gift of the Law Poles to the Netherlands is a crown on the celebration of 400 years friendship between Australia and the Netherlands.' So the orally transmitted story -together with the new story of reconciliation- has through many generations of expert custodians now become modern historical fact.
Exhibition of artwork from Aurukun involving Wik, Kugu and associated peoples.
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