Listening to the land

By Alexis Yancey Jaami
New Thought News Service

A Parliament participant thanks Miriam-Rose 

Ungunmerr-Baumann after her talk.

"We still wait for the white man to understand our ways. We certainly spent a lot of time learning theirs," said Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr-Baumann, quietly but firmly, in discussing injustices experienced by her people, the Aboriginals of Australia.

Ungunmarr-Baumann's people find strength in Dadirri meditation; her face shows that the strength sustaining the community is alive and well.

"I was born under a tree ... and that place has very special meaning for me. We have not lost our spirit of Dadirri. It's the way we strengthen ourselves."

During a Sunday workshop at the Parliament, Ungunmerr-Baumann demonstrated the practice, which involves listening deeply to the land and connecting to the Earth, which the Aborigines consider their mother.
"There are deep springs within each of us," she explained. "These springs are the Spirit of God, the sound of deep calling to deep. This is the sound of Jesus. Faith is in the feet. We have connection to the land. If you visit my community, we mostly sit on the ground and that's our connection."

The workshop, "Maori Custom Law and Listening to the Land – Australian Aboriginal Meditation," also featured Merekaraka Caesar, a Wahine Moria of Queensland, who echoed Ungunmerr-Baumann's observations. 
"I am sitting here with my shoes removed. That's my connection to Mother Earth," Caesar said.
She told attendees about Tikanga, or Maori custom law. Handed down from her Tipuna, or ancestors, the law is a practical, vibrant, living part of Maori culture.
"Tikanga is from our God and our ancestors and gives spiritual guidelines from the beginning of time when we stood as eternal brothers and sisters," Caesar said.

It has only been 10 years, she said, that the government has allowed her native language to be taught in schools. 
"In six months, the government will give back to us land we tended for Mother Earth and they are only charging us 2 percent," she said. "Some of my people are angry about that, but I say be grateful it's only 2 percent."

A gay man from Los Angeles asked Ungunmerr-Baumann what he could do to stand up for himself when facing discrimination in America.  
"The first thing is finding out about yourself," she advised. "Find out who you are. I feel confident in who I am and where I come from. I just keep walking."

"Unite with those who think the same and then build up the numbers of those who think the same," Caesar said. "This is the right season in the world for change. It's the people's turn.  Put up your hand if you agree with me."  
The visibly moved participants raised their hands.

Maori Merekaraka Caesar meets 
with workshop attendees.