anglican focus

The news site of the Anglican Church Southern Queensland: nourishing and connecting our faith community

Traditional Owners

St Hilda’s School Pre-Prep children sharing their arms painted with ochre – lines for animals in the sky, on the land and in the ocean during a visit by Kombumerri Traditional Owner Justine Dillon in 2021
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"Animals in the sky, animals on the land and animals in the ocean”

“We are grateful for regular visits by Kombumerri Traditional Owners and Yugambeh Elders, which help to build our relationships with and knowledge of our local First Nations peoples and their cultures, thus contributing to the vision of Reconciliation,” says St Hilda’s School Pre-Prep Director, Lisa Cleverly

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NAIDOC Week: what ‘Heal Country’ means to me

“My traditional ‘Country’ is nestled in the tropical rainforest of Far North Queensland on Kuku Yalanji land that will always be a part of me. When we speak of ‘Country’, this not only includes the land, but the sea, reef beds, riverways, sky, mountain ranges, animals, plants and people, and so on,” says Kuku Yalanji Traditional Owner and Anglicare Cultural Support Worker, Lalania Tusa

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Traditional Custodians: educators

“I am often asked to yarn with young school students – facilitating yarning is an important role of a First Nations educator…Everything I know is from yarning, listening and learning from my family and Elders,” says Aunty Sandra King OAM

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Traditional Owners: leaders

“One of the things that I do remember from my childhood and schooling was that there was no separation of the non-Indigenous and First Nations students at school. What that meant is that I was used to being a leader and spokesperson for all the school students,” says priest and Wakka Wakka man The Rev’d Canon Bruce Boase

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Traditional Owners: knowledge keepers

“My people’s knowledge is not taught through sitting in a classroom, researching on Google or going to a university to study, as it is the type of knowledge that can only be taught and passed down through hours upon hours of walking, sitting, speaking and most importantly listening to Elders, family members, community and spirit,” says Kuku Yalanji Traditional Owner Lalania Tusa in the new anglican focus series, ‘What is a Traditional Owner?’