The beautiful connection between people and Country | Back To Nature

ABC iview

21 Sept 202105:44

Summary

TLDRIn 'About Our Own Country,' Laura shares the traditional customs of welcoming visitors to her land. The process involves a 'weary geary' messenger, a cleansing ceremony to purify spirit and body, and a respectful introduction to the land. Laura explains the significance of connecting with nature, using the earth and river as a means of introduction. The script emphasizes the importance of respecting the land and its wisdom, and suggests that a mindful connection with the environment can lead to a more enriching experience.

Takeaways

🌳 Traditional Welcome: In the past, visitors had to wait at the boundary of a country until a 'weary geary' messenger confirmed their intentions and the elders allowed them to enter.
🛁 Cleansing Ceremony: A ceremony was conducted to cleanse both spirit and body, ensuring visitors met elders without negativity or conflict.
🔥 Eternal Welcome: Once a visitor has gone through the ceremony, they are always welcome to sit by the fire, symbolizing ongoing acceptance.
🍃 Connection to Nature: The leaf is taken as a symbol of connection to the tree, the ground, and the land, which is considered the oldest living thing with vast knowledge and wisdom.
🎶 Respectful Behavior: The script emphasizes behaving respectfully towards the land and its inhabitants, including ancestors and elders.
🐻 Greeting the Land: Upon returning to one's country, it's customary to greet it with a phrase like 'jingle jingle bell' to acknowledge the Yukon bear country.
🤝 Self-Introduction: Introducing oneself to the land by mixing earth with sweat and sprinkling it into the river signifies a personal connection and respect for the land.
🌬️ Listening to Nature: The wind is not just blowing; it's communicating, and visitors are encouraged to listen and connect with the natural world.
🧘‍♂️ Regrounding: The smoke is an opportunity to reground oneself and connect with the land, suggesting a meditative or reflective practice.
👐 Physical Connection: Touching the rope and feeling its warmth is a way to let the land know of one's presence, symbolizing a physical and spiritual connection.
🗻 Land as Anchor: The rock serves as an anchor to the country, grounding individuals to the land and its traditions.

Q & A

What is the traditional process for welcoming visitors to the country mentioned in the script?
-The traditional process involves waiting at the boundary of the country until a messenger called a weary geary is sent to understand the visitors' intentions. After the elders' approval, a ceremony is conducted for cleansing the spirit and body, allowing the visitors to meet the elders without any negativity.
What is the significance of the ceremony described in the script?
-The ceremony is significant for cleaning the spirit and body of the visitors, ensuring that they meet the elders with a clear and positive mindset, free from any conflicts or negative emotions.
What does the term 'palingana' mean in the context of the script?
-In the script, 'palingana' refers to the act of behaving in a respectful manner towards the land, the ancestors, and the traditions of the country.
Why is the leaf considered important in the script?
-The leaf is important because it symbolizes the connection to the tree, the ground, and the land, which is considered the oldest living thing in the world, holding the knowledge and wisdom of everything.
What is the purpose of taking the earth and mixing it with sweat in the script?
-The act of taking the earth and mixing it with sweat is a way of introducing oneself to the land, signifying respect and establishing a connection with the country.
How does the script suggest one should introduce themselves to the country?
-The script suggests introducing oneself by taking some of the earth, mixing it with one's sweat, and sprinkling it into the river, which serves as a way to let the land and the river know of one's presence.
What is the role of the 'jingle jingle bell' phrase in the script?
-The 'jingle jingle bell' phrase is used as a metaphor for a greeting or a way of saying hello to the Yukon bear country, indicating a respectful and friendly approach.
Why is it important to introduce oneself to the country according to the script?
-Introducing oneself to the country is important because it helps to establish a connection with the land and ensures a better day by acknowledging and respecting the place one is visiting.
What does the script suggest about the wind in the context of connecting with the country?
-The script suggests that the wind is not just a natural phenomenon but also a form of communication, as it is said to be talking to the listener, providing a way to connect with the country.
What is the significance of the rope and the rock in the script?
-The rope and the rock are significant as they serve as anchors, connecting the visitors to the country and grounding them in the present moment, allowing them to listen and feel the presence of the land.
How does the script describe the experience of connecting with the land?
-The script describes the experience as one of emptying the mind, feeling the warmth of the rope, and listening to the wind, which is said to be communicating with the visitor.

Outlines

00:00

🌿 Welcoming Rituals and Cleansing Ceremonies

This paragraph discusses traditional welcoming ceremonies in the speaker's country. When visitors arrive, they must wait at the boundary until a 'weary geary' messenger is sent to determine their intentions. Once approved by the elders, they undergo a cleansing ritual to purify their spirit and body, ensuring they approach the elders with respect and without negative energy. The ceremony allows them to be always welcome at the communal fire. The speaker also emphasizes the importance of connecting with the land, using a leaf as a symbol of this connection and the wisdom it holds.

05:03

🤲 Grounding and Listening to the Land

In this paragraph, the focus is on the practice of grounding oneself and listening to the land. The speaker instructs to place hands on a rope, symbolizing the connection to the land, and to empty one's mind to truly listen to the messages carried by the wind. The act of touching the rope and feeling its warmth is meant to anchor the individual to the country and allow for a deeper understanding of the land's communication. The speaker encourages embracing the experience to have a better day by being receptive to the land's wisdom.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Rarundry Country

The term 'Rarundry Country' refers to the traditional land of the indigenous people being discussed in the video. It is central to the video's theme of respecting and connecting with the land and its people. The script mentions that when people arrived on this land, they had to wait at the boundary to be welcomed, highlighting the importance of protocol and respect in their culture.

💡Weary Geary

A 'Weary Geary' is a messenger in the indigenous culture depicted in the video. This role is significant as it represents the communication link between visitors and the elders of the community, emphasizing the structured and respectful approach to welcoming guests onto their land.

💡Ceremony

In the context of the video, 'ceremony' is a ritualistic process aimed at cleansing both the spirit and the body. It is a prerequisite for sitting with the elders, symbolizing the importance of coming to them free from negative emotions or conflicts. The ceremony is integral to the video's message of purification and readiness for respectful engagement.

💡Ancestors

The 'ancestors' are revered figures in the indigenous culture, representing the lineage and heritage of the people. The script mentions honoring the ancestors, which ties into the broader theme of respecting the past and the wisdom it brings to the present.

💡Palingana

The term 'Palingana' seems to refer to a form of respect or a respectful behavior towards the land and its inhabitants. It is used in the context of behaving in a way that is considerate and mindful of the cultural significance of the land.

💡Leaf

The 'leaf' is mentioned as a symbol of connection in the video. It represents the link between the individual, the tree, and the land, signifying the interconnectedness of all elements of nature. This concept is key to understanding the video's theme of unity with the natural world.

💡Jingle Jingle Bell

In the script, 'jingle jingle bell' is used as a metaphor for a greeting or a way of acknowledging the land. It is an example of the personalized and intimate relationship the indigenous people have with their environment, which is a central theme in the video.

💡Earth

The 'earth' is depicted as a sacred element in the video, where the act of mixing it with one's sweat and sprinkling it into the river serves as a ritual of introduction and respect to the land. This act symbolizes the merging of the individual with the environment, reinforcing the video's message of unity with nature.

💡Smoke

The 'smoke' in the video is described as an opportunity for regrounding and connecting with the land. It serves as a metaphor for purification and spiritual connection, which is a recurring theme in the video's narrative.

💡Rope

The 'rope' is used in the ceremony as a physical connection to the land. By placing hands on the rope, participants are symbolically anchoring themselves to the country, which is a key part of the video's message about establishing a deep and respectful bond with the land.

💡Wind

In the video, the 'wind' is personified as a communicator, suggesting that it carries messages or speaks to those who listen. This concept aligns with the video's overarching theme of the living, sentient nature of the land and the importance of listening to its voice.

Highlights

Traditional welcoming ceremony for visitors on the boundary of the country.

The role of a 'weary geary' messenger in the welcoming process.

Cleansing ceremony to purify visitors' spirits and bodies before meeting elders.

The importance of entering the community without negativity or conflict.

The concept of always being welcome to sit at the fire after the ceremony.

The symbolic connection of the leaf to the tree, the ground, and the land's wisdom.

Returning to one's country with a respectful and honoring mindset.

The practice of introducing oneself to the land through a 'jingle jingle bell' greeting.

Behaving respectfully towards ancestors and the land as a way of honoring them.

The ritual of mixing earth with sweat as a form of self-introduction to the land.

The significance of sprinkling the earth-sweat mixture into the river for introduction.

The idea that introducing oneself to the country can lead to a better day.

The use of smoke as a means to reground and connect with the land.

The act of touching a rope to feel the warmth and let the land know of one's presence.

The belief that the wind is communicating with those who listen.

The importance of emptying one's mind to truly listen to the land's messages.