All Our Relations

Wednesday, 07 July, 2004 by Cheryl W. Colan

My word of the day is relations.

Relations with our environment

After breakfast we had a meeting in the tent. We needed to decide what to do about our sleeping arrangements. The nights have been crystal clear and extremely cold. I’m doing okay because my sleeping bag has a hood I can pull around my head, but others are really suffering and miserable. Last night was probably the coldest yet, and I was cold enough at 5:00 a.m. that I needed to get up, bundle up, and go inside for coffee much more than I needed to try and go back to sleep. Condensation in the tent has been another problem. The first night, everyone close to a corner got wet because all the condensation ran toward their areas and it basically rained all over their sleeping bags. The community is going to provide a couple heaters for our tent. We decided to go out and buy thermal pads to go under our sleeping bags as well, because the circulating air under our cots is making us colder than we’d be if we were sleeping on the ground. The instructors aren’t making us buy the mats because they feel they didn’t adequately prepare us for the cold weather. They’re also buying hats for everyone to wear while sleeping so we lose less heat through our heads.

We also discussed groceries and cooking. It’s taking a lot of time to shop and cook, and the community has offered to prepare our meals and clean up for something like $7.00 Australian per person (and we provide the food). We decided to take them up on the offer for some lunches and most dinners. Our problem is that we are here along with another, larger group. They use the main mess hall to prepare their own meals, and we have to use a children’s daycare area in order to avoid having about thirty people trying to use the kitchen at the same time. We can make our own breakfast but we have to be out by 8:00 a.m. when the kids come in. There is nowhere for us to make our own lunch. And with a kitchen the size you normally find in a tiny studio efficiency apartment, and only one frying pan, no baking dishes, and not enough plates or utensils, it’s difficult to cook for and serve fourteen people at the same time. So meals have been a problem, and this should solve it.

Relations within our group

We were about to break up so the instructors could go purchase the cold weather supplies when two of the Native American students asked to air a grievance. They are sisters close in age, so they have very similar world views. The only way I can describe it is that they scolded us at length. They were offended by those who had tromped loudly through the bush yesterday. We had offended the spirits of the area by taking pictures and objects and that’s why we couldn’t find the sacred site. They didn’t want us to approach when we saw an Aboriginal elder talking to them, because if the elder was sharing certain information meant just for them, the subject would be changed when a white person walked over, and sometimes would never be picked up again. Susie was singled out because she runs in the morning, which is a good thing to do, but she’s running in the wrong direction. Roger, the only Native American instructor with us, was singled out for not teaching the whites how to behave. In fact many people felt singled out. There was much more, and then Maria, another Native American student, and older than the sisters, felt the need to step in and apologize for the manner these issues were presented, and ask that we not take offense. The sentiments expressed were heartfelt and needed saying, but came across harsh. As the meeting broke up, three people were crying and most of the non-Native students were feeling ambushed, confused, and a bit shaken.

What I take away from it is that the non-Native students need to more sensitive and observant. We all need to look to our Aboriginal hosts to inform us about appropriate behavior. I didn’t like the implication that I should have known and observed Native American customs of the sisters’ tribe, particularly since I am on Aboriginal land. I do think I should be trying to educate myself about Aboriginal customs, and observe them while here. And I want to be respectful of everyone here. We all have different backgrounds and world views. There is a special connection between the Aborigines and the Native students because their races share such common hardships at the hands of Anglo settlers, and because of similar customs and values and world views. I don’t want to get in the way of the development of that connection. But at the same time, this is my trip, too, and I want to participate in cultural exchange with the Aborigines and the Native students. I, too, have a culture to share, and my ancestry has a past that was wiped out by Romans and/or Catholics. The whole thing could have been handled more diplomatically. At the same time, I see that, given the people involved, it probably could not have happened any other way. I think some trust has been broken, and it will be difficult to recover.

Relations with nature

Shortly after the scolding and its aftershock, we all headed down to the Coroborree grounds, or dance arena. Butchulla dancers performed for a large crowd visiting the community as part of NAIDOC week events. Cheers and shouts of pride from the observing community members demonstrated joy and cohesiveness and pride in the revival of their traditions. Gari Gynda Narmi, the welcome and farewell song, was performed at the beginning and end of the dancing. I was so impressed by the dance group. One young man in particular was the most elegant dancer I’ve seen in a long time. The singer and storyteller was also very personable and did a great job of interpreting the dances. The most amazing thing of all was the response of nature to the performance. When the butterfly dance was performed, butterflies floated around the dance area and throughout the arena. I had not seen a single butterfly prior to this performance, even out in the bush. When the dance honoring the crane, who taught the Butchulla people the lore of dance, was performed, two cranes flew overhead, and we could hear them calling in the distance. The melodies were beautiful, some haunting, and the whole performance was a delight.

Relations on a global level

After the Aboriginal dance demonstration, Roger and the Native students spoke and introduced themselves to the crowd. Then Roger led anyone who wanted to participate in a Native American friendship dance which concludes with three shouts to scare away bad spirits. He requested all of our group join in, and all the Aboriginal dancers ran up to dance as well. I admit I would not have joined in unless asked, but as we danced and snaked around, the hurt feelings from the morning softened, and within me turned into acceptance and new understanding. We are all one community, though we are separated by many obstacles. We need more friendship dances. We need more leaders like Roger, who gently insisted that we all engage, hold hands, and dance together in joy and friendship.