The History of Australia is an abiding past. So, organisations like Red Earth find a crucial role in connecting people with remote Indigenous homelands in a safe and meaningful way, as we all learn to take accountability and actively reconcile.

Over the Easter break, 26 senior students were led by Red Earth as we crossed a bridge between our occidental world and the precious communities, culture, and land of Pannamuunji and Maramakka Country (in Cape York). 

To be so cordially welcome onto private property by Elders and Traditional Owners, our hearts and minds were opened. Tim and Jerry were storytellers at heart, and both shared their profound knowledge of the bush and its natural resources/remedies – nature’s clothes pegs, dental bark, natural cancer fighters and aerogard etc.

The maternal Elaine taught us Guuguyimithirn, the language of the Thubbi people that cannot be preserved by any non-spoken mode. We all listened. Just as we all became mesmerised by the vibrancy of hues that coloured all the landscapes, engulfed in beaming rich greens. And though we entered these communities amidst their sacred easter festivities, we felt accepted into intimate traditions; meeting and helping families tidy the grave sites of loved ones, learning traditional dances with the nephews of our hosts.

Notably, using a portion of the $8,876 raised from a 7.00pm-7.00am All Night Awake Relay school-based fundraiser, we launched a practical community project in Pannamuunji, building fencing for cattle on Tim and Elaine’s estate. In those 12 enduring hours of the Relay, the group collectively covered 1652km (running/cycling/walking), comparable to two round trips from Cairns to each homeland.

I was reminded on this tiresome day of the challenges in providing certain materials/ services to remote and rural areas. Weeding, digging, and cementing in the stifling humidity was taxing, but local creek swims distracted us with cool splashes and charming scenery.

Most poignantly from this uniquely emotional experience, we take home the personal anecdotes of our hospitable hosts, their lives, love stories, and opinions on reconciliation. Our memories of Panamuunji and Maaramaka are fleeting, but the sentiment repeatedly divulged to us across the homelands by First Nations People echoes still. 

We, as future voices for the tyrannised, hold the responsibility in our communities/government to listen, empower the coexistence of cultures, and always value the humanity of Indigenous Australians.

Mietta
Year 12
Captain of Drama