something that you might not realize about Aboriginal Australia they have the
about Aboriginal Australia they have the
about Aboriginal Australia they have the holdest longest-running culture on earth
60,000 years it’s a really sad history
60,000 years it’s a really sad history it’s a litany of dispossession maybe my
it’s a litany of dispossession maybe my
it’s a litany of dispossession maybe my job here as a storyteller wasn’t to just
job here as a storyteller wasn’t to just
job here as a storyteller wasn’t to just document a disappearing culture in this
document a disappearing culture in this
document a disappearing culture in this modern world maybe it was to look at
modern world maybe it was to look at
modern world maybe it was to look at this living breathing thriving part of
this living breathing thriving part of
this living breathing thriving part of their culture and how important it is to
their culture and how important it is to
their culture and how important it is to the future health of their communities I
am gonna talk to you tonight about my
am gonna talk to you tonight about my journey through Aboriginal Australia
journey through Aboriginal Australia
journey through Aboriginal Australia which began in a cave in Western
which began in a cave in Western
which began in a cave in Western Australia and I was wedged between rocks
Australia and I was wedged between rocks
Australia and I was wedged between rocks trying to get the best angle on a piece
trying to get the best angle on a piece
trying to get the best angle on a piece of rock art I was working on a story for
of rock art I was working on a story for
of rock art I was working on a story for National Geographic magazine about a
National Geographic magazine about a
National Geographic magazine about a group of animals that had gone extinct
group of animals that had gone extinct
group of animals that had gone extinct all at the same time 50,000 years ago
all at the same time 50,000 years ago
all at the same time 50,000 years ago and there was a raging debate as to
and there was a raging debate as to
and there was a raging debate as to whether or not humans specifically
whether or not humans specifically
whether or not humans specifically Aboriginal Australians had something to
Aboriginal Australians had something to
Aboriginal Australians had something to do with it
do with it
do with it the critter that you see in the end of
the critter that you see in the end of
the critter that you see in the end of this hunters spear was maybe one of
this hunters spear was maybe one of
this hunters spear was maybe one of those animals
those animals
those animals there is also a 10-foot kangaroo
there is also a 10-foot kangaroo
there is also a 10-foot kangaroo there was an 18-foot constrictor snake
there was an 18-foot constrictor snake
there was an 18-foot constrictor snake and there was an animal that I don’t
and there was an animal that I don’t
and there was an animal that I don’t know how best to describe except ask you
know how best to describe except ask you
know how best to describe except ask you to imagine a hairless marsupial chipmunk
to imagine a hairless marsupial chipmunk
to imagine a hairless marsupial chipmunk and then make it the size of a
and then make it the size of a
and then make it the size of a rhinoceros
rhinoceros
rhinoceros and then you have a Diprotodon that
and then you have a Diprotodon that
and then you have a Diprotodon that walked here 80,000 years ago my husband
walked here 80,000 years ago my husband
walked here 80,000 years ago my husband Matt Moyer who’s in the audience and
Matt Moyer who’s in the audience and
Matt Moyer who’s in the audience and also a photojournalist
also a photojournalist
also a photojournalist came on this assignment with me and here
came on this assignment with me and here
came on this assignment with me and here we are in his assignment in the Sinai
we are in his assignment in the Sinai
we are in his assignment in the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt for National
Peninsula of Egypt for National
Peninsula of Egypt for National Geographic magazine and we try to do
Geographic magazine and we try to do
Geographic magazine and we try to do that as much as possible because
that as much as possible because
that as much as possible because otherwise we wouldn’t see each other
otherwise we wouldn’t see each other
otherwise we wouldn’t see each other very much so our journey to get to this
very much so our journey to get to this
very much so our journey to get to this rock art began with the chartered flight
rock art began with the chartered flight
rock art began with the chartered flight to a remote community and then a good
to a remote community and then a good
to a remote community and then a good part of a day on a dirt track and a
part of a day on a dirt track and a
part of a day on a dirt track and a four-wheel drive vehicle not really out
four-wheel drive vehicle not really out
four-wheel drive vehicle not really out of the ordinary for trying to get to
of the ordinary for trying to get to
of the ordinary for trying to get to anywhere in the world remote it’s a lot
anywhere in the world remote it’s a lot
anywhere in the world remote it’s a lot of logistics and just trying to get to
of logistics and just trying to get to
of logistics and just trying to get to where you’re supposed to go and so in
where you’re supposed to go and so in
where you’re supposed to go and so in the midst of that it’s really important
the midst of that it’s really important
the midst of that it’s really important to remember what’s important what’s the
to remember what’s important what’s the
to remember what’s important what’s the big picture and so I had one of these
big picture and so I had one of these
big picture and so I had one of these moments when I finally got to my rock
moments when I finally got to my rock
moments when I finally got to my rock heart and I was like okay I’m gonna make
heart and I was like okay I’m gonna make
heart and I was like okay I’m gonna make my picture and I thought who is this
my picture and I thought who is this
my picture and I thought who is this person
person
person but drew this hunting scene and I
but drew this hunting scene and I
but drew this hunting scene and I assumed it was a man because of
assumed it was a man because of
assumed it was a man because of traditional hunter roles and and I
traditional hunter roles and and I
traditional hunter roles and and I thought who is this guy he’s documenting
thought who is this guy he’s documenting
thought who is this guy he’s documenting his day
his day
his day it’s documenting the world around him
it’s documenting the world around him
it’s documenting the world around him and I started to feel connected to this
and I started to feel connected to this
and I started to feel connected to this fellow storyteller this person that was
fellow storyteller this person that was
fellow storyteller this person that was communicating to me from tens of
communicating to me from tens of
communicating to me from tens of thousands of years ago something into
thousands of years ago something into
thousands of years ago something into the future about his people and his
the future about his people and his
the future about his people and his people’s relationship to these animals
people’s relationship to these animals
people’s relationship to these animals so something that you might not realize
so something that you might not realize
so something that you might not realize about Aboriginal Australia they have the
about Aboriginal Australia they have the
about Aboriginal Australia they have the oldest longest-running culture on earth
60,000 years they’ve been around so a
60,000 years they’ve been around so a few days later I found myself sitting
few days later I found myself sitting
few days later I found myself sitting across from Jack and Lily Chordata
across from Jack and Lily Chordata
across from Jack and Lily Chordata in the aboriginal community of Columbia
in the aboriginal community of Columbia
in the aboriginal community of Columbia it’s the gateway to and from this rock
it’s the gateway to and from this rock
it’s the gateway to and from this rock art so
art so
art so Matt and I decided to stop for one night
Matt and I decided to stop for one night
Matt and I decided to stop for one night we’re gonna see if we could find some
we’re gonna see if we could find some
we’re gonna see if we could find some Aboriginal art and we are led to Lily
Aboriginal art and we are led to Lily
Aboriginal art and we are led to Lily because she’s known globally for her
because she’s known globally for her
because she’s known globally for her paintings so when Jack found out that we
paintings so when Jack found out that we
paintings so when Jack found out that we were from the United States his eyes lit
were from the United States his eyes lit
were from the United States his eyes lit up and he told me how he worked side by
up and he told me how he worked side by
up and he told me how he worked side by side with the Americans during World War
side with the Americans during World War
side with the Americans during World War two and how with his bare hands he
two and how with his bare hands he
two and how with his bare hands he helped build a strategic airstrip that
helped build a strategic airstrip that
helped build a strategic airstrip that helped fight the Japanese who had
helped fight the Japanese who had
helped fight the Japanese who had invaded Timor just a couple hundred
invaded Timor just a couple hundred
invaded Timor just a couple hundred miles to the north of where we are
miles to the north of where we are
miles to the north of where we are sitting and then Lily started to talk to
sitting and then Lily started to talk to
sitting and then Lily started to talk to me about their childhood and how they
me about their childhood and how they
me about their childhood and how they both grew up naked and in the bush a
both grew up naked and in the bush a
both grew up naked and in the bush a hunter-gatherer lifestyle and then Lily
hunter-gatherer lifestyle and then Lily
hunter-gatherer lifestyle and then Lily started to talk about her country and
started to talk about her country and
started to talk about her country and when Aboriginal Australians talk about
when Aboriginal Australians talk about
when Aboriginal Australians talk about their country what they’re talking about
their country what they’re talking about
their country what they’re talking about is the land that’s theirs by birthright
is the land that’s theirs by birthright
is the land that’s theirs by birthright where they’re from the land that they’re
where they’re from the land that they’re
where they’re from the land that they’re of their ancestral lineage and so then
of their ancestral lineage and so then
of their ancestral lineage and so then Lily started to tell me how everything
Lily started to tell me how everything
Lily started to tell me how everything in her country the rocks the trees the
in her country the rocks the trees the
in her country the rocks the trees the water the fish the birds even the sand
water the fish the birds even the sand
water the fish the birds even the sand flies that bite really horribly and hard
flies that bite really horribly and hard
flies that bite really horribly and hard were her family that she was connected
were her family that she was connected
were her family that she was connected to all of them and they were connected
to all of them and they were connected
to all of them and they were connected to her so these are things as Americans
to her so these are things as Americans
to her so these are things as Americans we read a lot about New Age magazines
we read a lot about New Age magazines
we read a lot about New Age magazines and we’re like oh yeah let’s get
and we’re like oh yeah let’s get
and we’re like oh yeah let’s get connected but in average in Australia it
connected but in average in Australia it
connected but in average in Australia it really it is the structure of their
really it is the structure of their
really it is the structure of their society it dictates who you marry how
society it dictates who you marry how
society it dictates who you marry how you address somebody and even what you
you address somebody and even what you
you address somebody and even what you eat so let’s go back to that thing of
eat so let’s go back to that thing of
eat so let’s go back to that thing of how long Aboriginal Australians have
how long Aboriginal Australians have
how long Aboriginal Australians have been around so if the indigenous
been around so if the indigenous
been around so if the indigenous population of Australia today that’s
population of Australia today that’s
population of Australia today that’s Lily and her ancestors have been around
Lily and her ancestors have been around
Lily and her ancestors have been around for 60,000 years the last 250 years of
for 60,000 years the last 250 years of
for 60,000 years the last 250 years of colonization have brought around the
colonization have brought around the
colonization have brought around the more most change than ever
more most change than ever
more most change than ever albeit kind of slow in some areas
albeit kind of slow in some areas
albeit kind of slow in some areas because it’s this really
because it’s this really
because it’s this really huge vast remote country the last
huge vast remote country the last
huge vast remote country the last hunter-gatherer group walked out of the
hunter-gatherer group walked out of the
hunter-gatherer group walked out of the Gibson desert desert in 1984 into the
Gibson desert desert in 1984 into the
Gibson desert desert in 1984 into the town of Alice Springs still if you think
town of Alice Springs still if you think
town of Alice Springs still if you think about it then Aboriginal culture went
about it then Aboriginal culture went
about it then Aboriginal culture went along pretty much uninterrupted at least
along pretty much uninterrupted at least
along pretty much uninterrupted at least nothing like colonisation for fifty nine
nothing like colonisation for fifty nine
nothing like colonisation for fifty nine thousand seven hundred and fifty years
thousand seven hundred and fifty years
thousand seven hundred and fifty years Jack and Lily were able to walk in both
Jack and Lily were able to walk in both
Jack and Lily were able to walk in both of these worlds because they remained in
of these worlds because they remained in
of these worlds because they remained in pre colonized Australia until World War
pre colonized Australia until World War
pre colonized Australia until World War two pulled them out and I fought back to
two pulled them out and I fought back to
two pulled them out and I fought back to that ancient storyteller in the cave who
that ancient storyteller in the cave who
that ancient storyteller in the cave who made that hunting scene and I thought
made that hunting scene and I thought
made that hunting scene and I thought wow Jack’s life as a kid was probably
wow Jack’s life as a kid was probably
wow Jack’s life as a kid was probably pretty similar to that ancient
pretty similar to that ancient
pretty similar to that ancient storytellers hunting on the same
storytellers hunting on the same
storytellers hunting on the same landscape Jack and Lily were bridges
landscape Jack and Lily were bridges
landscape Jack and Lily were bridges between two alien worlds and when Lily
between two alien worlds and when Lily
between two alien worlds and when Lily talked about her childhood and that
talked about her childhood and that
talked about her childhood and that connectedness to her country her eyes
connectedness to her country her eyes
connectedness to her country her eyes just lit up
just lit up
just lit up she had a glimmer in them and it made me
she had a glimmer in them and it made me
she had a glimmer in them and it made me wonder where could I find that
wonder where could I find that
wonder where could I find that connection in a bridge in Australia
connection in a bridge in Australia
connection in a bridge in Australia today because it was so contrary to the
today because it was so contrary to the
today because it was so contrary to the prevalent story that I was hearing
prevalent story that I was hearing
prevalent story that I was hearing everywhere about the downtrodden
everywhere about the downtrodden
everywhere about the downtrodden indigenous group of Australia don’t get
indigenous group of Australia don’t get
indigenous group of Australia don’t get me wrong it’s a really sad history
me wrong it’s a really sad history
me wrong it’s a really sad history National Geographic staff writer Kathy
National Geographic staff writer Kathy
National Geographic staff writer Kathy Newman wrote it’s a litany of
Newman wrote it’s a litany of
Newman wrote it’s a litany of dispossession their stolen land there’s
dispossession their stolen land there’s
dispossession their stolen land there’s government policies that controlled
government policies that controlled
government policies that controlled their movement who they married where
their movement who they married where
their movement who they married where they worked they even took their
they worked they even took their
they worked they even took their children away from 1909 to 1969
children away from 1909 to 1969
children away from 1909 to 1969 government agencies went into the home
government agencies went into the home
government agencies went into the home of Aboriginal Australian families and
of Aboriginal Australian families and
of Aboriginal Australian families and removed their children without any proof
removed their children without any proof
removed their children without any proof of neglect and today they’re known as
of neglect and today they’re known as
of neglect and today they’re known as The Stolen Generation so after meeting
The Stolen Generation so after meeting
The Stolen Generation so after meeting Jack and Lily and the rock
Jack and Lily and the rock
Jack and Lily and the rock art I was hooked and so I proposed a
art I was hooked and so I proposed a
art I was hooked and so I proposed a story to National Geographic and they
story to National Geographic and they
story to National Geographic and they accepted and I learned that after 250
accepted and I learned that after 250
accepted and I learned that after 250 years of dispossession the Aboriginal
years of dispossession the Aboriginal
years of dispossession the Aboriginal Australian population had the highest
Australian population had the highest
Australian population had the highest rate of heart disease kidney disease
rate of heart disease kidney disease
rate of heart disease kidney disease cancer diabetes and they died on average
cancer diabetes and they died on average
cancer diabetes and they died on average 10 years earlier than their white
10 years earlier than their white
10 years earlier than their white Australian counterparts 16 percent
Australian counterparts 16 percent
Australian counterparts 16 percent unemployment as opposed to 5 percent for
unemployment as opposed to 5 percent for
unemployment as opposed to 5 percent for the rest of Australia and they make up
the rest of Australia and they make up
the rest of Australia and they make up 1/3 of the prison population trying to
1/3 of the prison population trying to
1/3 of the prison population trying to impose a European style of education and
impose a European style of education and
impose a European style of education and an indigenous group does not always work
an indigenous group does not always work
an indigenous group does not always work very well so only 37% of Aboriginal
very well so only 37% of Aboriginal
very well so only 37% of Aboriginal students graduate from high school I was
students graduate from high school I was
students graduate from high school I was in a community where the principal had
in a community where the principal had
in a community where the principal had to go around every morning door to door
to go around every morning door to door
to go around every morning door to door and round the kids up otherwise she said
and round the kids up otherwise she said
and round the kids up otherwise she said no one would attend and the teacher
no one would attend and the teacher
no one would attend and the teacher cried herself to sleep almost every
cried herself to sleep almost every
cried herself to sleep almost every night because she was so frustrated
night because she was so frustrated
night because she was so frustrated about not getting through to the kids so
about not getting through to the kids so
about not getting through to the kids so you see little Maddy down there in the
you see little Maddy down there in the
you see little Maddy down there in the left-hand corner it’s 4 years old
left-hand corner it’s 4 years old
left-hand corner it’s 4 years old completely disconnected in this
completely disconnected in this
completely disconnected in this classroom and here he is again
classroom and here he is again
classroom and here he is again completely connected learning about his
completely connected learning about his
completely connected learning about his culture and how to manage his land with
culture and how to manage his land with
culture and how to manage his land with fire just as his ancestors have for tens
fire just as his ancestors have for tens
fire just as his ancestors have for tens of thousands of years so this moment
of thousands of years so this moment
of thousands of years so this moment from disconnect to connect really
from disconnect to connect really
from disconnect to connect really connected something for me and I thought
connected something for me and I thought
connected something for me and I thought maybe my job here as a storyteller
maybe my job here as a storyteller
maybe my job here as a storyteller wasn’t to just document a disappearing
wasn’t to just document a disappearing
wasn’t to just document a disappearing culture in this modern world maybe it
culture in this modern world maybe it
culture in this modern world maybe it was to look at this living breathing
was to look at this living breathing
was to look at this living breathing thriving part of their culture and how
thriving part of their culture and how
thriving part of their culture and how important it is to the future health of
important it is to the future health of
important it is to the future health of their communities
most non-indigenous Australians have
most non-indigenous Australians have never met an Aboriginal person and most
never met an Aboriginal person and most
never met an Aboriginal person and most Australian news stories about
Australian news stories about
Australian news stories about aboriginals are negative I felt like
aboriginals are negative I felt like
aboriginals are negative I felt like there was some piece of this story
there was some piece of this story
there was some piece of this story missing and the aboriginal population is
missing and the aboriginal population is
missing and the aboriginal population is sort of faceless they don’t have
sort of faceless they don’t have
sort of faceless they don’t have education they don’t have jobs all the
education they don’t have jobs all the
education they don’t have jobs all the things that we value in Western hyped-up
things that we value in Western hyped-up
things that we value in Western hyped-up Society is not what they have and so I
Society is not what they have and so I
Society is not what they have and so I thought maybe if I could find that
thought maybe if I could find that
thought maybe if I could find that connectedness that I saw with Maddie it
connectedness that I saw with Maddie it
connectedness that I saw with Maddie it would they would see something different
would they would see something different
would they would see something different so I started to look to the remote
so I started to look to the remote
so I started to look to the remote communities and I learned about the
communities and I learned about the
communities and I learned about the homelands movement from the 1970s when a
homelands movement from the 1970s when a
homelands movement from the 1970s when a more liberal Australian government gave
more liberal Australian government gave
more liberal Australian government gave incentives for people to go back to
incentives for people to go back to
incentives for people to go back to their homeland and utilize their land
their homeland and utilize their land
their homeland and utilize their land and live their homeland for the
and live their homeland for the
and live their homeland for the aboriginal person is your bean it’s
aboriginal person is your bean it’s
aboriginal person is your bean it’s where you have been for thousands of
where you have been for thousands of
where you have been for thousands of years dispossessed the person from that
years dispossessed the person from that
years dispossessed the person from that and they become nothing maybe this was
and they become nothing maybe this was
and they become nothing maybe this was where I could find that glimmer I saw in
where I could find that glimmer I saw in
where I could find that glimmer I saw in Lily’s eyes the homelands extensive
Lily’s eyes the homelands extensive
Lily’s eyes the homelands extensive studies have shown that Aboriginal
studies have shown that Aboriginal
studies have shown that Aboriginal families that are utilizing their
families that are utilizing their
families that are utilizing their homelands are healthier they live longer
homelands are healthier they live longer
homelands are healthier they live longer they hold on to their language and
they hold on to their language and
they hold on to their language and culture they pass on their language and
culture they pass on their language and
culture they pass on their language and culture to younger generations and they
culture to younger generations and they
culture to younger generations and they utilize their homelands for food and
utilize their homelands for food and
utilize their homelands for food and cultural practices they spend more time
cultural practices they spend more time
cultural practices they spend more time with their family
an Aboriginal youth that spend more time
an Aboriginal youth that spend more time on their homelands are less likely to
on their homelands are less likely to
on their homelands are less likely to get involved with drugs and alcohol so
my first night on a homeland went
my first night on a homeland went something like this it’s always a crazy
something like this it’s always a crazy
something like this it’s always a crazy road to get there you’re gonna get stuck
road to get there you’re gonna get stuck
road to get there you’re gonna get stuck you’re gonna get bogged down really deep
you’re gonna get bogged down really deep
you’re gonna get bogged down really deep sand so it was a really long day and we
sand so it was a really long day and we
sand so it was a really long day and we got there really late at night and I had
got there really late at night and I had
got there really late at night and I had this big truck and some young Aboriginal
this big truck and some young Aboriginal
this big truck and some young Aboriginal boys were helping me because they knew
boys were helping me because they knew
boys were helping me because they knew the roads they drove it we got in really
the roads they drove it we got in really
the roads they drove it we got in really late at night set up my tent went
late at night set up my tent went
late at night set up my tent went straight to sleep next morning I woke up
straight to sleep next morning I woke up
straight to sleep next morning I woke up go to my truck to go find something and
go to my truck to go find something and
go to my truck to go find something and I heard this crashing and banging and
I heard this crashing and banging and
I heard this crashing and banging and sand flying everywhere I couldn’t figure
sand flying everywhere I couldn’t figure
sand flying everywhere I couldn’t figure out what it was I was looking up and
out what it was I was looking up and
out what it was I was looking up and down and I look in the back and there
down and I look in the back and there
down and I look in the back and there was a 400-pound sea turtle in the back
was a 400-pound sea turtle in the back
was a 400-pound sea turtle in the back of my truck on its back upside down what
of my truck on its back upside down what
of my truck on its back upside down what these are the moments that challenge you
these are the moments that challenge you
these are the moments that challenge you on assignment they’re kind of random you
on assignment they’re kind of random you
on assignment they’re kind of random you wouldn’t be able to predict it but it’s
wouldn’t be able to predict it but it’s
wouldn’t be able to predict it but it’s like yeah that would be challenging so
like yeah that would be challenging so
like yeah that would be challenging so it turns out boys will be boys and they
it turns out boys will be boys and they
it turns out boys will be boys and they went out hunting after I went to sleep
went out hunting after I went to sleep
went out hunting after I went to sleep and they found themselves a sea turtle
and they found themselves a sea turtle
and they found themselves a sea turtle and they figured that because they had
and they figured that because they had
and they figured that because they had the keys to my truck you know that was
the keys to my truck you know that was
the keys to my truck you know that was where it should go for the night this is
where it should go for the night this is
where it should go for the night this is the back of my truck up on its back and
the back of my truck up on its back and
the back of my truck up on its back and so they were waiting for to keep it
so they were waiting for to keep it
so they were waiting for to keep it alive until the rest of the family came
alive until the rest of the family came
alive until the rest of the family came so they could butcher it and I have to
so they could butcher it and I have to
so they could butcher it and I have to admit it really wasn’t easy for me to
admit it really wasn’t easy for me to
admit it really wasn’t easy for me to watch it get killed because I’ve swam
watch it get killed because I’ve swam
watch it get killed because I’ve swam with these but but I’m also not a
with these but but I’m also not a
with these but but I’m also not a vegetarian so um and then I saw how they
vegetarian so um and then I saw how they
vegetarian so um and then I saw how they utilized every part of this animal for
utilized every part of this animal for
utilized every part of this animal for food and here they’re washing the guts
food and here they’re washing the guts
food and here they’re washing the guts for a soup it was it was amazing and
for a soup it was it was amazing and
for a soup it was it was amazing and somehow I got talked into eating these
somehow I got talked into eating these
somehow I got talked into eating these these are these are the eggs straight
these are these are the eggs straight
these are these are the eggs straight from the belly of the turtle and there
from the belly of the turtle and there
from the belly of the turtle and there was a number of other foods that got me
was a number of other foods that got me
was a number of other foods that got me like pushed me to my limit on this um I
like pushed me to my limit on this um I
like pushed me to my limit on this um I wasn’t brave enough to eat these
wasn’t brave enough to eat these
wasn’t brave enough to eat these witchetty grubs raw but cooked they
witchetty grubs raw but cooked they
witchetty grubs raw but cooked they taste like cheesy eggs
this these are cycad nuts and you they
this these are cycad nuts and you they get turned into a flower and then a
get turned into a flower and then a
get turned into a flower and then a bread but if it’s not prepared correctly
bread but if it’s not prepared correctly
bread but if it’s not prepared correctly you die um and and this is wallaby which
you die um and and this is wallaby which
you die um and and this is wallaby which is really delicious actually but this is
is really delicious actually but this is
is really delicious actually but this is really what my diet looked like most of
really what my diet looked like most of
really what my diet looked like most of the time so by the time I got to the end
the time so by the time I got to the end
the time so by the time I got to the end of this assignment I had cast quite a
of this assignment I had cast quite a
of this assignment I had cast quite a web of connections throughout Australia
web of connections throughout Australia
web of connections throughout Australia you can see all those red dots or places
you can see all those red dots or places
you can see all those red dots or places where I actually spent some time but one
where I actually spent some time but one
where I actually spent some time but one of these connections spun me back up to
of these connections spun me back up to
of these connections spun me back up to the the top there called Arnhem Land
the the top there called Arnhem Land
the the top there called Arnhem Land which is right up there in that clump of
which is right up there in that clump of
which is right up there in that clump of red flags that you see and it also spun
red flags that you see and it also spun
red flags that you see and it also spun me back to National Geographic so it
me back to National Geographic so it
me back to National Geographic so it turns out almost 70 years ago in 1948
turns out almost 70 years ago in 1948
turns out almost 70 years ago in 1948 National Geographic ran a joint
National Geographic ran a joint
National Geographic ran a joint expedition with Smithsonian Institute
expedition with Smithsonian Institute
expedition with Smithsonian Institute and then Arnhem Land was really really
and then Arnhem Land was really really
and then Arnhem Land was really really remote you couldn’t even drive there you
remote you couldn’t even drive there you
remote you couldn’t even drive there you had to go by boat and it was months and
had to go by boat and it was months and
had to go by boat and it was months and months they spent almost a year there
months they spent almost a year there
months they spent almost a year there and they collected all the things that
and they collected all the things that
and they collected all the things that they do in a 1948 expedition they took
they do in a 1948 expedition they took
they do in a 1948 expedition they took like birds and flora and fauna and all
like birds and flora and fauna and all
like birds and flora and fauna and all sorts of data but they also took human
sorts of data but they also took human
sorts of data but they also took human skulls and a couple years ago as part of
skulls and a couple years ago as part of
skulls and a couple years ago as part of a global trend to return human remains
a global trend to return human remains
a global trend to return human remains to the rightful owners the Smithsonian
to the rightful owners the Smithsonian
to the rightful owners the Smithsonian decided that they would return these
decided that they would return these
decided that they would return these human skulls to Australia to Arnhem Land
human skulls to Australia to Arnhem Land
human skulls to Australia to Arnhem Land and to the community to which they
and to the community to which they
and to the community to which they belong this is actually this is the
belong this is actually this is the
belong this is actually this is the photographer the National Geographic
photographer the National Geographic
photographer the National Geographic photographer on the assignment Howell
photographer on the assignment Howell
photographer on the assignment Howell Walker photographing some kids in the
Walker photographing some kids in the
Walker photographing some kids in the same area that I was in so you might
same area that I was in so you might
same area that I was in so you might wonder okay how did they figure out how
wonder okay how did they figure out how
wonder okay how did they figure out how where those skulls belonged well it
where those skulls belonged well it
where those skulls belonged well it turned out those skulls had paintings on
turned out those skulls had paintings on
turned out those skulls had paintings on them and those paintings had the story
them and those paintings had the story
them and those paintings had the story of that person’s country on them and so
of that person’s country on them and so
of that person’s country on them and so when they showed the skulls to some
when they showed the skulls to some
when they showed the skulls to some elders in
elders in
elders in the area they knew exactly what land
the area they knew exactly what land
the area they knew exactly what land they went to and to who they belonged
they went to and to who they belonged
they went to and to who they belonged so the descendants of these skulls
so the descendants of these skulls
so the descendants of these skulls decided that they wanted to honor them
decided that they wanted to honor them
decided that they wanted to honor them by bringing them back and burying them
by bringing them back and burying them
by bringing them back and burying them with a traditional log coffin ceremony
with a traditional log coffin ceremony
with a traditional log coffin ceremony and a log coffin ceremony had not been
and a log coffin ceremony had not been
and a log coffin ceremony had not been done in this community for over 40 years
done in this community for over 40 years
done in this community for over 40 years so anybody here who knew who had seen it
so anybody here who knew who had seen it
so anybody here who knew who had seen it were just little kids when it happened
were just little kids when it happened
were just little kids when it happened so this whole community was coming
so this whole community was coming
so this whole community was coming together trying to piece together how to
together trying to piece together how to
together trying to piece together how to do this ceremony and it goes something
do this ceremony and it goes something
do this ceremony and it goes something like this so you you bury the deceased
like this so you you bury the deceased
like this so you you bury the deceased and you leave their body in the ground
and you leave their body in the ground
and you leave their body in the ground until just bones remain you exhumed the
until just bones remain you exhumed the
until just bones remain you exhumed the bones and then you find a log hollowed
bones and then you find a log hollowed
bones and then you find a log hollowed out by termites and you paint the story
out by termites and you paint the story
out by termites and you paint the story of that person on the log like they are
of that person on the log like they are
of that person on the log like they are here so all these critters that you see
here so all these critters that you see
here so all these critters that you see on this log are the story of that person
on this log are the story of that person
on this log are the story of that person who died in their country and then you
who died in their country and then you
who died in their country and then you put the remains back in the hallowed log
put the remains back in the hallowed log
put the remains back in the hallowed log and you let them go back to their
and you let them go back to their
and you let them go back to their country you just leave it out there
one of the ceremonies that day or part
one of the ceremonies that day or part of the ceremony was private and it was
of the ceremony was private and it was
of the ceremony was private and it was for men only and it was for only the men
for men only and it was for only the men
for men only and it was for only the men of the deceased but they asked me to
of the deceased but they asked me to
of the deceased but they asked me to document it and I said sure
document it and I said sure
document it and I said sure of course I’ll document and they said no
of course I’ll document and they said no
of course I’ll document and they said no this is not for your magazine nobody
this is not for your magazine nobody
this is not for your magazine nobody else can see this this is only for us we
else can see this this is only for us we
else can see this this is only for us we want a visual record of this ceremony so
want a visual record of this ceremony so
want a visual record of this ceremony so that if it doesn’t happen again for 40
that if it doesn’t happen again for 40
that if it doesn’t happen again for 40 years or more we our future generations
years or more we our future generations
years or more we our future generations will know what happened and they can do
will know what happened and they can do
will know what happened and they can do it themselves because they can learn
it themselves because they can learn
it themselves because they can learn from it and so I documented the ceremony
from it and so I documented the ceremony
from it and so I documented the ceremony and I can’t show it to you today but
and I can’t show it to you today but
and I can’t show it to you today but maybe that visual record will be a
maybe that visual record will be a
maybe that visual record will be a bridge across time just like that story
bridge across time just like that story
bridge across time just like that story in the cave by the ancient storyteller
in the cave by the ancient storyteller
in the cave by the ancient storyteller with the hunting scene and it’ll offer a
with the hunting scene and it’ll offer a
with the hunting scene and it’ll offer a pathway for this community to speak to
pathway for this community to speak to
pathway for this community to speak to their future generations about their
their future generations about their
their future generations about their culture and maybe somebody’s grandson or
culture and maybe somebody’s grandson or
culture and maybe somebody’s grandson or better yet great-great great-great
better yet great-great great-great
better yet great-great great-great granddaughter will watch this visual
granddaughter will watch this visual
granddaughter will watch this visual record and she’ll learn something about
record and she’ll learn something about
record and she’ll learn something about herself and her people and her homeland
herself and her people and her homeland
herself and her people and her homeland thank you very much
”
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