I have been invited by Bill Neidjie’s son, Jonathan to go and visit them.  They live on the border of Kakaku National Park and Arnham Land in the Northern Territory, Australia.  Jonathan has told me that he has been waiting for someone to take his father’s message (the book Story About Feeling) forward and out to the world, and he is thrilled that I want to do this.  Bill Neidjie’s words have touched me so deeply.  I feel they are a gift from an elder who was called to reach out to us to help us to awaken - to get in touch with our feeling, and go about our lives in a different way - seeing outside the conditioning and limitations of our culture.  He is attempting to inspire us with the old spiritual laws - the universal Natural Lore that Aboriginal people have lived by all over the world for thousands of years.  He is calling us together - all nations, all cultures, all colours to remember these important principles.  He says:

“This law, country, people…

no-matter who you people,

red, yellow, black and white…

but blood is same.

Country, you in other place

but exactly blood, bone e same.

All my people all dead

but we got few that’s all…

Not much, not many…getting too old

and young fellas I don’t know they hang on this story.”

With all of my being I want to help him do this.  To get this message out.  It is a huge honor for me to be invited by these people.  They do not trust the “Balanda” (White-fella) lightly.  I don’t know what I will come back with.  I do know that I am going with an open mind and heart.  To really listen…and bring back what they want me to share.  I am particularly interested in what the Grandmothers have to say.

I need to raise £7,000 for this trip.  If you would like to donate please send a cheque payable to Joanna Lathan (Story About Feeling) and send to:  13 Huxham’s Cross, Dartington, Devon, TQ9 6NT

Thank you.

Friday 1 - Sunday 3 October 2010

Walking Journeys will be held regularly throughout the year, so for future dates please contact Joanna via phone or email joanna@wyldheart.co.uk to register interest

Thursday 18 March Totnes Methodist Church Hall 7.30pm

On Wed 13 Feb, Australia’s new Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd made the long awaited apology in Parliament.

Here is a link to the apology (there is an advert at the beginning). As you can see Uncle Bob was there to see it.

Click here to watch the video…

For information about current indigenous issues in Australia see ENIAR

To deepen my connection to the land, and to understand the Aboriginal teachings more fully, in 2008 I undertook a one year Wilderness Survival Training course with Thomas Schorr-kon of Trackways. I highly recommend any of Thomas’s courses.