In 1982 I made the best decision of my life and moved 3,000 kilmeters away from Sydney to Darwin, into the remote Northern Territory, and began teaching in the Aboriginal Community of Belyuen. After the initial month or so of culture shock I realized that I had found my niche and discovered a new world view. Belyuen is a small community of about 300 people on the Cox Peninsula near Darwin. They are "saltwater" people who maintain strong ties with their land and traditional culture. I was taken under the wing of the women and immersed. We went hunting and fishing; I learned to make dilly bags and baskets and attended ceremony. I began to see the environment differently and realized that we all live in distinct, culturally constructed universes. My experience at Belyuen has influenced everything I have done since and I am forever indebted to these Indigenous knowledge custodians.
展开▼
