Carved emu eggs featured in 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 both historical and continuing impacts on all Australians.

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. Here we have attempted to convey some of the holistic meanings of the emu eggs within the space.

Stories about meanings of each of the objects are written by Fleur Magick Dennis. Additional cultural input from Aunty Daniella Chedzey.

Wiradyuri language from “A New Wiradjuri Dictionary” by Stan Grant Snr and Dr John Rudder.

dhurrirra ngiyanhigingu giyira (Birth/Rebirthing Our Future)

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.

yawandyilinya. yindyamalidya nganhayung balumbambal (Taking Care of and Honouring Ourselves and Our Ancestors)

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.

winhangagigiladha! ngunggiladha! (Care for Each Other! Share with Each Other!)

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.

walumarra ngiyanhigingu ngurambang (Protecting Our Country)

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.