"Welcome to Country"-- A Day in The Australian Bush (Part 1)
He said,"no videos. Use your eyes, and ears. Keep what you see in your head"
I entered the Australian bush in Sidney a week ago. I got to a five-way intersection at the beginning of the trails. But I almost not enter right.
Some school children between what seemed to ages 7-11 came by and gathered with their teachers in the clearing. They were boys and girls dressed in shorts and t-shirts. A few adults seemingly teachers, and two teenager.
“They will do Welcome to Country,” my friend said to me.
Welcome to Country is a way the Aboriginal people honor their land and ancestors and make it clear it is THEIR land. They were there before the colonizers came.
I had heard it at the beginning of the Opera in the Sidney Opera House. And I would continue to hear it over my 10-day vacation.
At that moment, as I connected the dots, I forgot to enter the bush.
I was at the right place at the right time. “Can I film”, I asked if I could film. A caucasion woman said, I could. So I got on Facebook Live.
As soon as I started filming, I noticed a man in dread-locks squatting among 4 boys— He is Matt Simms. He stopped me. “No video. Learn with your eyes and ears. Keep it in your head, “ he instructed. I respected that and stopped filming.
Nothing could prepare me for the next part of the experience I will never forget. Suffice it to say, I was introduced to the ancestors of the aborignal people in a most intriguing way!
Thanks for reading!