Members of the Wathaurung /Wadawurrung and broader Aboriginal community in Geelong have come together with the Geelong One Fire Reconciliation Group to celebrate the local culture for Reconciliation Week.
This year 'Reconciliation in the Park' held a launch and viewing of a DVD of short videos titled Djillong: Our History, Our Story, Our Future.
Djillong is the traditional name for Geelong meaning 'tongue of land'.
Wathaurung /Wadawurrung traditional owner Corrina Eccles spoke in language to say hello and open up the interview.
She says this Reconciliation Week event is about 'from little things, big things grow.'
"I'm blessed to be part of the wider community and also to be standing here on behalf of my ancestors and people and continue to share the story line of Wathaurung /Wadawurrung people."
For nine years non-Indigenous and Aboriginal people have been walking together to celebrate 'Reconciliation in the Park.'
This year the community remembers respected Elder Tandop, who recently passed away.
He shares his stories in the Djillong: Our History, Our Story, Our Future dvd.
"This event was embraced by him as he brought his story telling and passion about walking in both worlds. 'Let's all walk together,' we continue to embrace that legacy today," says Corrina Eccles.
The community has also lost a non Indigenous Elder who walked alongside Tandop. He too is remembered.
Corrina says he had a really strong passion to be able to support Aboriginal people here and to embrace everybody here to be coming together.
"The Wathaurung /Wadawurrung occupied and cared for their land for thousands of generations but sadly by 1839, most of their land had been taken and their population decimated." -The Wathaurung /Wadawurrung people. Did you know?
To share her knowledge of country Corrina explains the truth of what happened to her people.
She says the Wathaurung /Wadawurrung people had a very rapid devastation of settlement that made an impact.
"Wathaurung /Wadawurrung people living off country land and cultural values and ways, that was taken from us. That's where our stories, our history, beliefs and laws have not been passed down through the generations. So this is really important to share these stories we do know.
"But also share our stories of what it's like for Aboriginal people to think about what our passed generations went through, our family members. For myself Stolen Generations impacted my family."
Historically many children of the 'Stolen Generations' were placed in one of Djillong's /Geelong's thirteen children's homes and orphanages.
Corrina says because of these removals from family and country that, people need culturally safe space to connect all those people here in Djillong.
When talking about the broader Aboriginal community in Djillong who aren't from the Wathaurung /Wadawurrung, Corrina says "They all have traditional countries but they've got a sense of belonging and a connection to the land and the beautiful country of Wathaurung /Wadawurrung country."
"I'm blessed to be part of the wider community and also to be standing here on behalf of my ancestors and people and continue to share the story line of Wathaurung /Wadawurrung people."
Bringing back country is one of the most important messages Corrina gives us, when it comes to reviving her people's culture.
"Fire is something that we are bringing back. We are doing a lot around fire, a lot of traditional burns. We need traditional burns to nurture the regrowth, to nurture the soil. For better regrowth," she says.
The sacred country is protected and restored. Grass seeds are harvested and used for food and research and traditional burning practices help protect and revive the land.
Some of the traditional ways of best practice and looking looking after country were done for thousands of years by the first people's of the land.
Today Wathaurung /Wadawurrung and the broader First Nations community in Geelong are able to do that now.
"If we don't care for country and waterways, our people aren't well. Country and water is the life blood of people, of all people." says Corrina.
"We continue to share stories and advocate so all the people can embrace this beautiful country and let's continue to care for country, like our ancestors, our old people have done this for many generations and still do as spirits connected to this land today."
"Our vision is moving forward, its about people honouring and respecting some of those cultural ways but the importance of those traditional ways is to nurture country, land and water."
Water plays a big part for the people of Djillong/Geelong. The city waterfront, Barwon River and spectacular ocean and coastline is very much a draw card to the region.
Corrina Eccles says the water life and it's spirit is celebrated and she feels blessed to have all of this on Wathaurung /Wadawurrung country.
"We are blessed if I talk about country I feel that it is five star, the best way to explain it. We do have amazing coast lines, we do have amazing river systems, water systems, creeks, mineral springs."
Corrina, her family and community have worked together to produce resources that can assist with people's journey in learning more about her people and country.
"We embrace what we can do today, and we continue to move forward but we do need more history shared about the stories of the first peoples of this land."
The resilience of the Wathaurung /Wadawurrung people is something Corrina is proud of.
The Deadly Dancer Girls. Reconciliation in the Park 2018. Johnstone Park Geelong. Source: Kiralee Hogema
"We are still here today. We may not be able to live our cultural ways of hunting and gathering. All those rights were taken from us.
"We continue to share stories and advocate so all the people can embrace this beautiful country and let's continue to care for country, like our ancestors, our old people have done this for many generations and still do as spirits connected to this land today."
