The Dunggiirr Brothers and the Caring Song of the Whale

About the Author

Aunty Shaa Smith is a Gumbaynggirr woman and story holder for her Country. Her mother is Gumbaynggirr and her father Bundjalung. Aunty Shaa is an artist, cultural facilitator and Aunty to many. Led by the Old Fellas and Country itself, Aunty Shaa's work shares the deep relevance of Gumbaynggirr Dreaming for today. She is the co-founder of Gumbaynggirr Jagun, sits on the Board of Directors as Chairperson and is lead cultural facilitator. Aunty Shaa also leads Yandaarra, a research collaboration with the University of Newcastle on Gumbaynggirr Country.

In Gumbaynggirr language, Yandaarra means 'to shift camp together'. Yandaarra is a collaboration led by Aunty Shaa Smith under the guidance of the Old Fellas and Gumbaynggirr Country, with Uncle Bud Marshall and Aunty Shaa's daughter Neeyan Smith. Yandaarra includes non-Gumbaynggirr academics Sarah Wright, Lara Daley and Paul Hodge from the University of Newcastle, sitting on Awabakal and Worimi Countries. As Yandaarra, they walk together, shift camp together, and live and work in, with and as Country. Yandaarra, the research project, is a re-creation story. It's about remembering what was (what is) as part of this re-creating. This work is about honouring Elders and custodians past, present and future. Yandaarra have held workshops, yarned together, planted trees, gathered food, laughed and shared. When they look to how to shift camp - or shift their practices, relationships and ways of thinking about the land - using Gumbaynggirr Dreaming and Protocols is key. www.gumbaynggirrjagun.org