The People

We are the Yolngu people of Ramingining, in the northern part of Central Arnhem Land in Australia's Northern Territory.

Ramingining is a town of about 800 of our people. More of our people live on outstations different distances from town. Also about 50 Balanda live here.

The nearest other town is Maningrida, more than two hours drive away except in the rainy season, when we can only fly there.

In Ramingining we have a store, a clinic, a school, a new police station, an arts centre, a resource centre, houses and not much else.

But we have history and culture here, that our ancestors have been growing for more than forty thousand years.

They passed that culture on from generation to generation. Now it's our turn to pass it on, not just to the next generation, but to people everywhere, all over the world.

That's because our way of life is changing fast now, and what you can see on this website is for every generation to remember and keep our culture alive.



Taken from http://www.12canoes.com.au/

Sunday, February 27, 2011

day twenty four - the local kids

27th February 2011 - 1:15pm


I'm finding the local kids fascinating, although I haven't seen that much of them yet. Ben told me last week that a few kids had come up to the front door to ask if they could pick some flowers from our garden to give to their families, and he had said it would be fine. So when I was hanging the washing out and saw three kids looking at the trees in our backyard from the bush behind our house, with some orange things in their hands that looked like flowers, I assumed they were looking for more. So I went up to them and asked if they wanted some. Whoops. When I looked closer, the kids had slingshots. They said, 'nah, we shootin' birds'. Then the smallest of the three boys proceeded to show me the blue, black and white bird that they'd managed to shoot out of a tree. I asked if they were going to eat it. One said yes, and one said no. That means no, but they thought the answer I wanted to hear was yes.

I've realised being here, that there are going to be things that I am shocked by. But the way of life for the people here is different, and although it's not what I'd do, it's the way these kids have been brought up - hunting and gathering I guess - so I have to respect that, and learn from it.

And the kids here are so excited to see a new face around here. Those three were riding their bikes the next day, and asked me what my name was. Most of the younger ones (they were about 8 I'd say) wave and say hi.

I guess I'll get to know a bit more about them when I'm in the school.
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