Reminding us that it always was, and always will be, Aboriginal land, hundreds of people claiming their right not to celebrate gathered as one mob in Apex Park on Byron Bay’s Main Beach yesterday, for Survival Day.
An annual event, Survival Day is an opportunity for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to mourn the tragic colonisation of the land commonly called Australia, and the terrible loss of life, land and culture enforced upon the first people of this country.
It’s stolen land
Local Arakwal woman and Byron Shire Councillor, Delta Kay, opened the event officially with both solemn and happy words, reminding the gathering that Byron Bay is built on stolen land and the local mob mourn for their people.
‘Bundjalung land has been raped and pillaged for her natural resources, of her timber. Our people have worked without a wage, our peoples have been left displaced and disillusioned with white man’s law, but I stand here today, shoulder to shoulder with all of us, to celebrate the survival of our culture.
‘Bundjalung people – we’re not going anywhere.’
Shoulder to shoulder
Ms Kay said Bundjalung people want to work with the community. ‘We don’t want a handout for anything. We want a hand up and you can be part of that. You can be a part of our people, standing shoulder and shoulder with all Australians. This is our day. Me and you.’
Ms Kay had members of her mob on stage to support her acknowledgement of the land. ‘Thank you for standing here with me, my family, the land we call “Jagun”.
‘Jagun! She’s our mother. She feeds us and waters us. Our stories are embedded in Jagun – and because we eat and drink from Jagun, we are Country. You eat and drink from country too, so you are part of Country, and you have that duty of care, of helping Bundjalung people look after this land.
Bugalbeh
‘We always say in our our acknowledgements of the land, bugalbeh. Bugalbeh – thank you to the ancestors that have walked this land before us.
‘Garimaa. It means “to look after” and “respect”. Garimaa ourselves, each other and this land.’
Ms Kay then spoke about Nguthungulli (Nguthun ‘father’, gulli ‘resting place’), the rock formation out in the waters of the Bay.
‘Nguthun is father of the world. He created all that you can see, the mountains, the rivers, the valleys and the streams.
‘Nguthun taught the birds and animals how to behave and what to eat. He gave the first laws of the land to the first peoples.
The ancestors and science
‘So that beautiful rock out there is Nguthungulli’s resting place. The old people tell us how our ancestors walked out there. It’s all backed up by science. Scientists tells us that thousands and thousands of years ago, the Earth started to warm and the ice caps melted and the sea levels rose to what they are now. “His” cave was inundated with water, but he still looks over us.
‘So it’s really important to always acknowledge our old people and that creator.
‘Jingi Walla – welcome everyone to this beautiful land that we all live work and play on, on behalf of our people.
‘Jingi Walla!’
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