Danjoo Koorliny Walking Together Towards 2029: Voice, Treaty, Truth Summit
These images are from the 2019 Social Impact Festival Summit, hosted by the University of Western Australia, designed and led by Nyoongar/ Aboriginal leaders Dr. Noel Nannup, Dr. Richard Walley, Prof. Colleen Hayward and Carol Innes. The aspiration was to “explore positive change already under way in a number of social areas, co-discover the most important steps for moving forward, and co-create a 10-year plan with actions and outcomes for how we will walk together towards 2029 (the 200 year mark of colonization in Perth) and beyond.”
I was honored to be joined by Zoe Street and Brook Hill, two scribes just starting out, already making marks well beyond their years, evidence of their deep wisdom.
My main takeaway from the week: I have no doubt, none at all, that to rebalance planetary harmony—for species and nature that has existed thousands and thousands of years before human abuse of industry and capitalism—we need to bring forward and truly comprehend Aboriginal knowing. From my current, shallow exposure, i experience an unfathomable dimensionality that spans great stretches of time, considers sprit as governing law, and honors parts but never as separate from an inextricably, relationally connected whole. I thank organizers Katie Stubley and John Stubley, and the whole team at the Center for Social Impact for leading me to these insights and opening a door that i know will never close. It will ONLY be TOGETHER that we can heal.
Kelvy, of all your work this really resonates for me. I love that just looking at the prints evokes raw Australia – the colors you chose to use are so in tune with the land. The “letting go” figure is brilliant. I don’t know what all the words mean, but there is a strong connection to where I am right now, some of what’s here feels like you crafted it for me. Thank you for sharing my friend! ( )
Thank you for your beautiful words, and for your absolutely gorgeous work, Kelvy. I too was deeply honoured to be present, and feel especially privileged, having grown up in North America, to have had this experience be my introduction to Aboriginal people and culture. The levels of listening and receiving we inhabited over those two days were, for me, beyond extraordinary. Indeed, only together can we heal, and come into harmony with our planet and one another again. And what a unique togetherness is possible.