Country Remembers Everything

When I was in the central desert last year, I was lucky enough to drive through the APY Lands, and go into community to pick up some of the senior Lore women for a womens camp at Uluṟu.

Together, we went and collected some very special tools that are used for womens ceremony, from the womens ceremonial site just outside of the Pukatja community in SA. 

Not many words can truly express the gravity and sensations felt of being on land, and a cultural site that women have held ceremony on for eons. 

Alas, I will try.

My whole body was activated — shivers pulsated through my skin and entire being, I could feel the ancestors everywhere, it was nothing short of one of the most powerful soul remembrances that I have experienced in this lifetime. A deep knowing and acknowledgment of the connections to these women, and the very special work we were doing together.

However, what was felt in the community was a stark contrast to the ceremonial site. 

Pukatja community was formally Ernabella Community for many decades, but in recent times changed the name back to its original by mob, as it was dubbed Ernabella Mission by the colonialists. 

Ernabella Mission was the first mission in the central desert area, and was where many indigenous people from communities all around the APY lands were taken, and culturally cleansed to conform to the ways of the white settlers. 

There was an undeniable field of extreme trauma. I’ve never felt something so viscerally in a place before — it was incredibly intense, unnerving and grief inducing. 

What I learnt through this experience was that country certainly holds memory. It holds the stories of what has been experienced there — it does not forget, and it is not shy to express to those who will listen.

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I feel very lucky to now own this very special piece of art that now sits on my altar, reminding me of these profound connections, and this very special time spent feeling this country. 

‘Country Tracks’ Yankuntjatjara Country by Ngangkari + Artist Panjati Lewis from Pukatja Community, South Australia.