Yingadi Aboriginal Corporation

Weeks of thinking and waiting in anticipation of the Lake Mungo Immersion, when the day finally arrived there was so much to learn and many new understandings ahead of us.
After a long bus journey, we finally arrived at Lake Mungo and stepped off the bus into a steamy but dry foreign environment to commence our immersion journey. We began with a Smoking Ceremony, to cleanse our souls of spirits we may have picked up on the way. We walked around the smoke from the special campfire and cleansed ourselves. Next, the Message Sticks were put together, united as one. After dinner we were able to gaze at the abundance stars and then sleep peacefully in our cabins.
The next morning was an early start to get to the ‘Walls of China’ before the heat of the day. Our time there on the sand dunes was very informative and provided us all with an insight into the lives of the Aboriginal people many thousands of years ago. But it also allowed us to reflect and connect to the land.
Even though we had to deal with insufferable heat, we were able to spend pretty calm days journaling. We made our own digging sticks and decorated them using burning rods and we quietly sat together painting, drawing and reminiscing about our time up on the ancient sands of the ‘Walls of Chinas’ and other Yingadi experiences.
As the day came to an end and before the next could begin we were up waiting for the sun to rise, with the sound of clap sticks at the Mungo ‘Lookout’. Colour flooded the sky awakening the world with its beauty. We used our digging sticks to write the names of a loved one on the ground, then we watched the sunrise. We wrote these names in the sand again at the ‘Walls of China’, before we departed from Lake Mungo.
After beginning the day with such a beautiful sight, we relaxed a little again before checking out two different woolsheds. The Woolshed and Shearer’s Quarters were built with no nails and we got to learn a little about their history. At ‘Zanci’, we learned about the propaganda enforced in Australia’s history that hid the horrible treatment and conditions the Aboriginals were subjected to.
At night being able to have the opportunity to witness so many shooting stars was truly something to remember. Sleeping out on the land, under the night sky was the pinnacle of the trip. We all slept out under the stars on our final night at Lake Mungo. We woke up when the Moon was setting in the west and the Sun was rising in the east. The breeze off the dry lake welcomes us into our final day. We packed our mattresses into our cabins and filed onto the bus to say our final farewell to Lake Mungo at the ‘Walls of China’.
Our bus ride to Swan Hill was interesting. Each experience touching. We went to the Aboriginal Cemetery in Balranald and met Auntie Patsy. She blessed us with water. It was a beautiful experience! We then visited The Gallery, where our lunch was amazing and most of the artwork was out of our price range!
We visited Vicki again and shared our experiences from Lake Mungo with her. We were all blessed with red ochre powder at Vicki’s, while the dogs’ barks echoed into the evening.
On our final day of the Yingadi Immersion, we spent the morning with Imparja; a Bora Bora man, who taught us more about Aboriginal Culture. Beginning and ending with the beautiful warm sound of the didgeridoo.
Life for us before Mungo, was life without an appreciation of the land and our heritage. Life after Mungo provides us with a new knowledge and leaves us thinking and wanting more love and forgiveness in this world. Mungo helps to open eyes! Our experience together, allowed us to shape and develop our understandings and knowledge of Australia’s Aboriginal Culture. It allowed us to appreciate and respect the land and to work with Aboriginal people in the future, to reach justice and reconciliation for all.

THE EXPERIENCES DURING THE YINGADI IMMERSION WEEK

VICKI’S STORY – ‘KNOWING HOME’
Connection to the land
For we are one and the same!
Equality for All
Inspirational
Country
Identity
Tradition
Love of Country
Respect
Empathy
Eath is Mother
Family
We are all Equal
Warmth

WALLS OF CHINA
Ancestors live through the land. Their spirits remain
Worth while
Serene
Amazing
Young
Faces
Discovery
Quiet
Past, Present and Future
Elders
Sand Dunes
Valued
Beautiful
Elephants and Chinese Soldiers
Truth uncovered
Unearthing Ancient History
Fascinating

LANCES STORY
Moving
Educational
The reality of the country lives in a tragic reality
Heart Breaking and insightful
Eye Opening
Heart felt
Amazing
Emotional
Inspirational
Living reality
Important
Sad
Painful and very moving
Painful. A man who has overcome great obstacles

ZANCI
The propaganda use to deceive a nation that chose to remain blind and ignorant
Hardship for all involved
Why!
Heartbreaking
Dual Citizenship – Was it?
Don’t believe everything you see!
Not Real
Hidden Truth
A hard living reality
Empathy, understanding of perspectives and bias’
Lies V Reality
Different
Connection through relationships between Zanci and Mungo

COSMIC REFLECTION
Interesting, Astonishing and Unreal
Wonderful and Beautiful
Small does not mean weak!
Moving perspective on life
We are small in comparison to the Universe
Small
Beautiful
Stunning
Realisation of how small I am
Mystical
Shined a light on the creation of everything. So wonderful and Beautiful.
Hypnotic

FAREWELL TO LAKE MUNGO
Connectedness
Beautiful way to connect to the land and say Goodbye
Moving
Nice
Sad
Bittersweet
Remembering – Memories
Hard
Return – Soon!
Connection to peace and quiet
Meaningful
Opened my mind and changed some perspectives of my life
Felt a connection to the land that I didn’t have at the beginning

CEMETERY
Beautiful and sad
At peace
Sad
Political
Different – Powerful
Separation
The governments (white man’s) pathetic attempt at being seen as a person who cares for the Aboriginals (and someone who isn’t like his ancestors). When really, the respect and understanding hasn’t been displayed through the (his) actions,
when organising the cemetery.
Moving but Sad
Untold Stories
Powerful
Different to our normal and also unfair

LAKE MUNGO EXPERIENCE
Informing
Respect
Inspiring and Beautiful. Able to build a respect for the land
A true understating of the Aboriginal’s bond and connection with the land, as it breeds life.
Deeper Respect
Land of Spirit

VICKI’S PLACE
Heartfelt
Lovely
A beautiful way to reflect and put it all into perspective.
Welcoming
Loved Vicki’s talking about her mum, her experiences and her beliefs, and I loved the dogs too.
Vicki is a very influential person
Moving story about Vicki’s Mum and a beautiful way to finish the trip

IMPARJA
Fantastic!
New Learning
He made me feel happy that his story is being told. A great learning experience.
Engaging and interesting knowledge
Informative and super interesting. One of the highlights of the Immersion!
Amazing
A warm fountain of knowledge
Engaging and knowledgeable.