It was January 26, 2023 and Bulagahn was walking on country.
‘I was watching as some people celebrated, some people mourned and some people felt guilt and shame, and it really affected me,’ the local Bundjalung/Minjungbal man said.
‘I got together with a few elders later, and we were talking about this day and it just made me think, “How is it possible to celebrate a day like this? I don’t want to hate. I don’t want to be traumatised…”.’
That conversation gave rise to an idea: that January 26 could be reclaimed by both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians as a Celebration of Country.
That idea will be brought to life on January 26 this year at an event in Brunswick Heads.
What we love about country
As the high tide flows beneath Aboriginal flags flying above the Brunswick River, Indigenous and non-Indigenous people will gather to share what they love about country.
There will be a welcoming ceremony at around 8am, dancing, music from different cultures, artworks, and a barbeque.
A key element of the day will be an open mic session, in which all people are invited to share and reflect in whatever way feels meaningful for them about their love of this land.
‘It’s not about celebrating what happened 200-plus years ago like we did in the past, it’s about celebrating this land and what it means to each of us,’ Bulagahn said.
‘It’s about sharing the oneness of spirit that comes from living on this land. We want to invite people to come together – black, white, red, yellow – to celebrate Australia for the things that we love, not the things that we hate’.
Addressing trauma
‘We understand that there’s trauma on this day for many people, and that there’s shame on this day for many people. But the thing about trauma is that eventually you have to dance with it. If you don’t it just sits there.
‘We don’t want to be stuck in the trauma, and we don’t want people to be stuck in guilt and the shame. We want to bring people together to celebrate the things which we all love about this country.’
Bruns event
The gathering will take place in the park on South Beach Lane from around 8am.
Everyone who wants to respectfully celebrate a mutual love of country is welcome to attend.
Bulagahn works as a local artist, and it also the co-founder of the Merriging Foundation, an outreach group that works with young men who are at risk.
‘Merriging is an Aboriginal word that means turning one whole being around, and that’s what we’re trying to do.
‘We’re trying to turn these young fellas around,’ he says.
‘We get them involved with art, with culture, we go camping, we connect with the land.’
There’s healing in the land, in being on country – it doesn’t matter whether you’re black or white.’
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