Elder Aunty Ali Golding performing Welcome to Country Del Monte ( SSC primary school) on 24/10/2007 |
Dennis Golding addressing SSC Golding Reconciliation Assembly in 2005 accompanied by his Nan Aunty Ali Golding and cousins Katrina Golding and Monica Stewart |
Maku Dance- "Learning the MAKU dance" Our Anangu Elders and Hosts teach us how to hunt for Maku ( www.deserttracks.com.au)
31/10/2007
|
Aunty Ali Golding and Becky Harcourt at the Dreaming Festival June 2007 |
| |
|
Aunty Ali Golding
Aunty Ali (Ms.Ali Golding) is a Biripi woman from the Biripi Nation. She lived in Redfern, Sydney for over 22 years and now resides in Little Bay, Sydney.
In June 2004 Aunty Ali graduated from Nungaliya College, Darwin, in the Northern Territory with the Diploma of Theology having achieved the Certificate III Theology 1st the previous year. As an Elder, Aunty Ali is an Ambassador of her People. She is regularly invited to officially address through traditional Welcome To Country and Smoking Ceremonies and preside at international, national and local conferences, cultural events, spiritual and ceremonial gatherings, retreats, church, school and other organisation's events. Aunty Ali has welcomed and convened with overseas dignitaries such as Princess Margaret, Nelson Mandela, as well as our own Australian Parliamentarians, such as Gough Whitlam and John Howard. In the early 1990's represented her People at the World Spirit Healing Conference in Canada.
Aunty Ali is an experienced Educator and spokeswoman.
Examples include:
* Aunty Ali has represented her People, particularly from the Block in Redfern, Spiritually, Culturally and Politically, supporting key spokeswoman, and Elder, Aunty Joyce.
* For many years Aunty Ali held a Tuesday gathering in the Block for carers of family members with alcohol, drug, and/or mental health problems. Her Excellency, Professor Marie Bashir, was a weekly visitor to these gatherings being an important mentor for all participants.
* Aunty Ali worked as an Aboriginal Education Assistant at Cleveland High School, in the early 1980's. This school is now known as Alexandria Park Community College.
* In February 2005 Aunty Ali provided a workshop for Catholic teachers from the Litcombe Catholic Diocese.
* Aunty Ali has much experience of speaking at schools, colleges and universities throughout NSW, regularly sharing her own personal stories and experiences of her People. Students engage through listening, questioning and sharing to deepen their understanding.
Aunty Ali has a long- standing history of being involved in Reconciliation. Examples include:
* In 2000, Aunty Ali Welcomed everybody for the Bridge Walk for Reconciliation that was internationally televised.
* In 2000, Aunty Ali opened the NSW Elder Women Reconciliation Gathering.
* Aunty Ali is a longstanding leader of the Women's Reconciliation Network (WRN) and Redfern Residents for Reconciliation. Students and staff of Santa Sabina College have participated in WRN annual Spirit Events.
* Aunty Ali has longstanding involvement with NSW Reconciliation Council and recently launched the 2005 Freedom Ride NSW Youth ReconciliACTION.
Aunty Ali's faith as a committed Catholic has been evident much of her life, examples include:
* In her early days as a Sunday school teacher, she would share the word of God through the parables in the Bible, her teachings are still remembered by the now grown children in her community today.
* Longstanding church-goer during the last 26 years including churches in Newtown, Redfern, La Perouse in NSW and Martin De Porres Church in Darwin.
* As a Spiritual Leader, she is often requested to run workshops and offer Spiritual guidance for both Aboriginal and non- Aboriginal people and groups.
* In 2004 Aunty Ali was interviewed as part of the panel on ABC's Interfaith programme.
Rebecca Harcourt
Since returning to Australia in 2003, after living abroad for 20 years, I have spent much time listening, being and working with Indigenous Communities in NSW, Central Australia, and Queensland, in particular bringing together young people from Indigenous and non-Indigenous backgrounds. As an educator, with experience in theatre, facilitating cross cultural groups and working with government in Europe, I am passionate about building bridges across our Communities within Australia, believing shared opportunities not only increase awareness and understanding but bring much joy to all our lives. I am an advocate and involved with the Women's Reconciliation Network and Indigenous Community Volunteers.
I have been incredibly fortunate with the learning and friendships I have formed in a number of Indigenous Communities, in particular with Aunty Ali Golding and her family. This has taught me that listening to Elders and members of each Community is crucial, as only they know their truth, the impact of government intervention and the frustration when countless bureaucracies impact detrimentally on their lives for over 200 years. I have met the most incredible Indigenous Elders, women and men who have not only tirelessly fought for their communities but have shown such strength, humbleness, openness and created loving, sophisticated and working Community solutions to help heal and return the strengths of their People, Lore and Culture. What I have observed is the exhaustive accountability that Indigenous People, organizations have to meet way beyond the expectations of the equivalent for non Indigenous Australians. And yet a Federal Minister is able to dictate terms, without consultation, being part of a Government that for 10 years has ignored the calls from Community for better infrastructures, basic Amenities and Human Rights for their People. No one is denying there are problems, as in all sectors of Australia, but to address unilaterally the needs of diverse Communities, having ignored the calls and reports and recommendations from the last decade and beyond, taking away permit systems which are one of the few means Communities have of protecting their children seems to me to be preposterous. In schools we are trying to ensure students learn from our History, acknowledging the suffering Indigenous Australians have and continue to suffer as result of oppressive Government policy and intervention, lets stop this repeating of History through working together, listening to each other, resource the individually tailored Community programmes that support both short and long term needs, share the models that work, recruit for long-term stay, culturally informed Medical practitioners, Educators, Police, including funding training for these roles from within Communities. Lets embrace the strength of traditional Lore and its role in serving the whole Community well, let non Indigenous Australians listen and learn and support, sharing all our skills in support of nurturing Indigenous children, young people, adults and Elders returning their vital status and roles within this Land. For this to be, I believe would be for the enrichment of all Australians who live in this land.
Click here for KOORIKUTO Flyer
Click here for background briefing on Bridging Our Communities:
Opening the Door of Reconciliation in our Schools ©
Friday 21 September 2007
For Leah with Love©
SistER………..!!!!!
Embraced
How fortunate am I
To be here again
In a Land
That feels so like Home
As we trace each step of the first Songline
I feel Pauline, my Mum, Carol, Tania, Sally and Alex’s presence with me
Echoing my thoughts
Familiarity and
Belonging
Three years our students have walked this Wati Nintucka Songline
Learnt Songs and Dances
Made Waru
Searched for Maku
It feels as though these Sisters of Dominic
Our young generation of Santa Kunga
Are learning and becoming part of this too:
Anangu Ancient Lore
We Are One
Learning and walking on behalf of our Ancestors
Finding a more harmonious way of being
With this Land
With The Traditional Owners
Our Anangu Elders treat us well
Such patience
The connection between our Clans is magical
Growing with each year
Our Spirits grow re-accustomed
To this Land we visit
Lee invites us back so warmly
We all register his teachings
And with each passing day
Its meaning reaches further into our beings
Our Souls reacquainted
With a shared universal knowledge
Pete’s family appear
One by one
Trust is built
I am recognising the signs of acknowledgment
Anangu way
So much more
Cultural Nuances
Shared
With such dignity
Make so much sense
And I feel myself
Slip in again
To a way
That feels
So natural
And true
No pretensions
Just honesty
And trust
Connecting us all together
Not as one person
But US
This Immersion experience
Infiltrates
On so many levels
Across many realms
Simultaneously
Letting
Our paths fuse together
To create a deeper learning
Reconnecting for us all
I am humbled by the growing friendships
Such acknowledgements and respect is given
Forgiveness of our mistakes
Respect for our learning
With much generosity and patience
I am humbled by our Saint Dominic Elders
Sr Judy and Pauline
Whom entrusted me with this trip
I feel the Spiritual Honour
In every moment
And honour it fully
Alongside the responsibility of
Leading Our Clan
I feel truly Sister
With my Sydney Sisters
Kunga Daughters
Dutch Sister too
How blessed and treasured
Our Clan’s shared moments are
Ever-growing our connections
Returning in our third year
I am honoured by the trust of our parents
I am honoured by our Santa Kungas openness
How they share and embrace their experiences
Supporting each other
Being together
Appreciating every turn
Responsibility
Independence
Story
Dance
Song
I am so proud of ALL
Who came on this trip
It is much deeper than any one of us
We will share forever
Our experiences
Whether difficult
Large or small
This is a calling
From our Ancestral Spirits
Who know our paths so well
This is an Ancestral Healing
© Becky Harcourt 2007
Copyright 2007. Rebecca Harcourt. Written permission must be sought before any material from this publication, either in whole or in part, is published, Broadcast, recorded, photocopied or otherwise reproduced in any way for any purpose whatsoever
|
|
