Winhangadurinya

Winhangadurinya is a Wiradyuri word meaning deep listening/reflecting/meditation. The Winhangadurinya space gives visitors the opportunity, upon completing their journey through the Unsettled exhibition, to spend some time in the cultural practice of deep listening and to reflect upon the effects of invasion and genocide. These events have historical and continuing impacts on all Australians.

In the Winhangadurinya space, Ancestors, Country and First Nations community provide inspiration and guidance towards a rebirthing of Australia. This rebirthing may emerge on individual or collective levels, by making an informed and conscious choice to come into Country the right way. We are able to genuinely work towards a new future, where we honour the rights and responsibilities of sovereign First Nations peoples to care for Country and people.

The Winhangadurinya deep listening and reflecting space was designed by Fleur and Laurance Magick Dennis from Milan Dhiiyaan and created with a team of Elders, cultural knowledge holders and community members.

Winhangadurinya is an experiential space, a complex arrangement of three-dimensional objects with deep meanings. The creators of Winhangadurinya have attempted to convey some of the holistic meanings of the space through sharing stories about meanings of each of the objects (written by Fleur Magick Dennis, with additional cultural input from Aunty Daniella Chedzey. Wiradyuri language from A New Wiradjuri Dictionary by Stan Grant Snr and Dr John Rudder).

The shields and spears represent all male and female warriors/guardians of First Nations peoples. The warriors’ spirits, past, present and future are protecting all the children and all future generations. There are four shield and spear sets to represent the four main kinship groupings of our peoples. On the shields are carved stories relating to our kinship.

All First Nations babies, past, present and future are represented by the four giant coolamons filled with flowers. The flowers represent the spirits of the children and the spirit of joy that birth and children bring. They also represent the joy of children being raised strong in our culture and protected by our Ancestors/guardians and our ancestral wisdom.

The rebirthing and healing of Australia can come about when people make an informed and conscious choice to come into Country the right way. This process begins by acknowledging First Nations where we live and work. Then, as citizens grow our understandings with First Nations, many may realise, that by honouring First Nations Peoples’ rights and responsibilities, that we may all experience a better Australia.

First Nations peoples’ responsibilities begin with taking care of and honouring ourselves. When we honour ourselves we also honour our Ancestors because each person is as one with his/her Ancestors. We honour our ancestral lineage, and we honour the gift of our own lives by taking responsibility for our own actions. Each person is boss of self.

The dillybag hanging in the centre above the coolamons represents the creation power of women. Women are bringers of life and custodians of birthing and rebirthing. Within their dillybags of knowledge, the women hold significant power, power that is used for healing people and Country, for maintaining the balance and well-being of all of creation.

First Nations peoples’ responsibilities also include that we honour our family and our community by taking care of one another. Community-care is as important as self-care. All available resources are used to ensure that everyone is safe, fed, protected (e.g. housing), healthy and has access to water and to a meaningful life in connection with others. Each person is one with all people.

Each person is one with Country. Everything in Country is in a kinship relationship with all people. Every tree, every plant, every animal, every insect, every mountain, every rock, every river, every waterhole, every place is family and is within and part of each person. If Country gets sick, the people get sick. When Country is well, everything and everyone is well.

The emu in the night sky is a culturally significant celestial shape, that is found in certain dark patches in the night sky. The mother emu in the sky represents the place where our babies’ spirits are created. She represents the birthing of new life. The four emu eggs also on display as part of Winhangadurinya further honour the new life she creates.

The shooting stars falling from the sky towards the coolamons represent the spirits falling to each baby on earth. Spirits come from the sky camp and each spirit lives multiple lives. Therefore, the shooting stars represent that each baby spirit is also an Ancestor spirit. Every person is both ancient and new in every moment. Both wise and learning.