waagura (Crow) Dancer outfit

We respect the earth, the air, the water, and fire – they balance one another. It’s really important. Without fire we wouldn’t survive. Our birds – they behave in a strange way then we know there’s something going to happen. We get messages. They come to us and they talk – it might seem funny but they do. If people took notice around the environment – of the birds, the plants, the behaviour of our animals – they’ll tell you more than telecommunications can. You watch the weather patterns and the clouds and signs are there everywhere. Aunty Vivian Mason (Walbanja, Yuin), 2021