creative-i 5: The First Nations Issue

Womin jeka mirambeek beek. Boon wurrung Nairm derp bordupren uther willam.

As a descendent of Melbourne’s first people, I am pleased to be able to welcome you to my country and to also share our pride in our heritage.

Before Europeans arrived, this part of Australia, was the traditional country and homeland of the Kulin Nation. The Kulin Nation consisted of 5 major language groups – the Boon wurrang, the Woi wurrung, the Wudda wurrung, the Dja Dja wurrung and the Tugg wurrung.

My great grandmother was from the Boon wurrang clan. She was born in the 1830s, at the same time as Europeans were establishing their settlement here in Melbourne.

As is our custom, I would like to share a short story with you in the way that we do when welcoming you to this beautiful city that today we call Melbourne.

When my great grandmother was a young girl, with the arrival of the Europeans, a time of great change began for our people.

When Europeans first arrived in Melbourne, they were treated as guests, as was the custom of our people. But these guests, unlike other visitors, did not leave.

Not only did these visitors not leave, but they broke the law. They killed animals and did not eat their flesh, they killed fish during their breeding season, their animals trampled across our yam gardens and they blocked the rivers and the creeks.

The people became frightened and sought advice from their old wise men and women.

The old people retreated and considered their fears. Then they returned and called the people together.

The old wise men and women explained that they had seen a vision. In this vision they had seen a period where there would be much upheaval and despair.

But the old wise men and women said that they also had a second vision. In this vision they saw a new world, were the strength and power of the Boon wurrung people and the Kulin Nation would again be strong.

They saw a time when the rivers would again run clear, atime when the animals would again be protected according to the laws of Bunjil– and they saw a time when the heritage and culture of the Boon wurrung would again be celebrated.

Today our traditional country now consists of a great multicultural city, called Melbourne, where people, arts, culture and sports are celebrated.

Melbourne also hosts one of the most vibrant expressions of modern Indigenous culture and heritage through music, art and drama. You will see our art in the galleries, our sports people and our performers.

Today we can still feel the spirit of our country and its Indigenous history as we travel through the landscapes.

For our people there have been many times when we have almost given up hope, but our belief and our spirit has kept us going. This importance of this land and this place lies within our history and our culture.

According to our tradition, our land has always been protected by our creator Bunjil who travels as an eagle and by Waarn who protects the waterways and travels as a crow.

Bunjil taught the Boon wurrung to always welcome guests, but he always required the Boon wurrung to ask all visitors to make two promises; to obey the laws of Bunjil and not to harm the children or the land of Bunjil.

This commitment was made through the exchange of a small bough, dipped in the water.

I welcome you to read the articles in the First Nations issue of the creative-i magazine and to share the lives and stories of Australia’s first peoples and we visit Canada and the spectacular traditions of the powwow and its regalia through the extraordinary work and dedication of Roland Lorente and Aline Saffore.

Carolyn Briggs: Elder, Boon wurrung, Melbourne 2013

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