Stories and Songs of the People Australia, a community group led by Indigenous Elders in Australia and North America, invites Bellingen to be part of a unique healing space.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
"We are in a climate emergency surrounded by immense suffering," said Lisa Brown, who is part of the group organising the event, which includes Gumbaynggirr Elder Uncle Barry Hoskins and the local Centre for Ecological Learning.
"The loss of pristine forest - more than a billion creatures dead - and so many facing extinction combined with human loss, homelessness and the ripple effects of ongoing trauma is changing our cultural landscape.
"Those threads of grief and loss are compounded for Indigenous People through more than 200 years of dispossession and genocide.
"There is an urgency to change and transform our relationship with each other and relationship with the earth.
"Ancient wisdom traditions know there are practices and processes to facilitate change through healing our hearts and minds. We have to make spaces where we can share difficult conversations and continue to find our common humanity to work together to address past injustices and help transform systems that perpetuate pain and suffering."
At a performance in Bellingen Memorial Hall on February 14, running from 7pm to 10:30pm, Native American guests will share conversation, stories and songs with the local Gumbaynggirr mob and community members.
This will be followed the next day from 9-4pm by experiential practices and processes that support finding ways to develop relationships with each other and relationship with the environment.
On February 12, the film Awake - A Dream from Standing Rock will be shown at the Sawtell Cinema at 7pm. Both the key filmmaker and the Wellbeing Director from the camp will be present.
More events will follow in Mullumbimby, Sydney, Albury and Melbourne during February.
"We ask for your help," Lisa said. "Come to an event, buy a ticket or tickets, share this information with someone else, make a financial donation, collaborate with us, consider offering time and skills, help with travel, or simply hold this work with intention in a good space. All money raised goes towards travel, venues and associated costs with running the events, and an ongoing intercultural exchange."
To purchase tickets, please go to https://events.humanitix.com.au/bellingen-climate-emergency-healing-relationships
For further information and offers of support, please contact Uncle Barry Hoskins and Lisa Brown - lisa@mindful-wellbeing.com or 0400 491 477.
