This week, as part of the Caring for Country Aboriginal community engagement work that Lyrebird Dreaming is leading in collaboration with the NSW Department of Planning, Housing, and Infrastructure, I had the privilege of spending a day at Muru Mittigar with Dharug Elders and Youth. We yarned about their perspectives on caring for Country on the Cumberland Plain. The day began with a deeply meaningful smoking ceremony led by Uncle Colin Locke, who smoked us soon after our arrival and in preparation of the meeting. Aunty Ros Fogg followed with a warm and generous Welcome to Country.
The sight of my friend Lee Willis-Ardler, a Wodi Wodi man and an Associate of Lyrebird Dreaming, standing in the cleansing smoke symbolised more than just a ritual. It embodied the connection between people and Country, a recognition of history and enduring culture, and a sacred moment of welcome. In that instant, it was clear: when you’re smoked, you know you’re welcome.
The Significance of Smoking Ceremonies
For Aboriginal peoples, smoking ceremonies are far more than symbolic gestures. They are spiritual practices that cleanse people, places, and objects, preparing them to be on Country, including for important events. Smoke, drawn usually from Eucalyptus leaves, carries protective and healing properties, ensuring participants are spiritually grounded and connected to Country. Being smoked signifies welcome, respect, and a commitment to being accepted on the land.
Uncle Colin’s smoking ceremony was not just a welcome but a reminder of the resilience and generosity of Dharug culture. It set the tone for a day of truth-telling. For honest but collaborative conversations about the challenges of protecting what remains of the Cumberland Plain, a landscape scarred by development but still rich in cultural and environmental value.
Truth-Telling on the Cumberland Plain
Dharug and other Traditional Custodians who have shared their stories during this engagement process so far have been honest about the hardships and impacts of colonisation and recolonisation they face. The Cumberland Plain is being increasingly fragmented by urban sprawl and infrastructure, leaving patches of Country disconnected and struggling to survive. It is fair to say that for the Dharug, like other Aborignial peoples we've listened to, the land is not just a resource; it is an integral part of identity, spirituality, and well-being.
Truth-telling means acknowledging these realities, not just as environmental concerns but as matters of cultural survival. Caring for Country on the Cumberland Plain requires more than technical solutions - it demands listening to and working with the voices of Traditional Custodians who carry millennia of wisdom about how to live in harmony with the land.
A Path Forward
The NSW Government's Caring for Country Strategy on the Cumberland Plain is an attempt to achieve this. While acknowledging the inevitable development that is occuing as Sydney growns and needs to find more homes, roads and infrastructure for its people, the plan is also about recognising and respecting Traditional Custodianship. And it is an opportunity to heal - not just the land but also relationships within and between Aboriginal communities, government, and the broader public. Smoking ceremonies, Welcomes to Country, and other cultural practices are not just traditions; they are vital acts of sovereignty and resilience. They remind us of the enduring connection between people and Country.
If you’re an Aboriginal person with a connection to the Cumberland Plain, or if you know someone who is, I encourage you to reach out. This work is not about trying to change the wrongs of the past. Rather, it's about creating a future where Country is cared for in a way that honours Aboriginal culture and knowledge. Healthy country creates healthy people, and that's important for all of us.
Connect with me at gregory.andrews@lyrebirddreaming.com.
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