Yandaarra Resources
Teacher notes
The Dunggirr Brothers and the Caring Song of the Whale
A collaboration between the Yandaarra Collective and the University of Newcastle (UoN) has resulted in the March 2022 publication of a stunning children’s picture book with strong messages about caring for country and each other.
Recommended for primary school students, The Dunggiirr Brothers and the Caring Song of the Whale, connects children to the landscape of the mid-north NSW coast, as well as to the unique stories of the Gumbaynggirr people.
“For all of us Gumbaynggirr stories help give a different reference point and one that isn’t about me, me, me,” Aunty Shaa says. She stresses the importance of her Gumbaynggirr mob becoming part of a global community. “Sharing stories is such an important part of that,” she says. “It is about finding our way together now and living the new Dreaming.”
The book comes with links to a recording of Gumbaynggirr words used in the book and Teacher’s Notes designed by Aunty Shaa to guide and support teachers on other Countries to work respectfully with the teachings and stories of these places.
The Yandaarra website also hosts a 34-minute video that tells the bigger story about The Dunggiirr Brothers and the Caring Song of the Whale.
Yildaan: Our Dreaming Track
In Yildaan, Uncle Bud's story of being on Country mingles with ancestor's stories and shows how these two parts of life are inherently connected. Using a mix of Gumbaynggirr and English language, and combining photography and illustration, Yildaan includes artwork from Aunty Shaa's nieces and Uncle Bud's great nieces, Hannah Smith and Elaine Carmady, as well as a special story from Aunty Shaa who holds stories from the region
The book also comes with Teacher’s Notes to help support teachers in other places and Countries to work respectfully with the stories of those places.
Past Workshops
Two Sisters Workshop: (2016)
Held in 2016, Yandaarras first initial start-up began as a Pilot Project. Three day, two night workshops were held in Bellingen and Mylestom NSW, where participants initiated in ceremony. This ceremony involved, sitting in circle around fire, walking, swimming, gathering food on country, song, story and talking-up what a Gumbaynggirr-led caring for country practice might look like. Building relationship with country and each other is necessary during these workshops and participating in ceremony, that Auny Shaa Facilitates, provides an opportunity to connect with the earth and each other through the gateway of Gumbaynggirr Dreaming.
The Wijiirrjagi Workshop: (2016)
The Wijiirrjagi Workshop took place at Thora, NSW and acted as a follow up from the Two Sisters Workshop held at Mylestom, NSW. Through Aunty Shaas facilitation she guided the participants through a healing process around Trauma of colonisation. This was a necessary process to begin participants on their journey of self growth in order to begin building relationship with each other and country. Ceremony was held in the form of sitting in circle around the fire and deep, personal conversations were carried out.
The Gaarrawaygam Workshop: (2017)
The Gaarrawaygam Workshop took place at The Golden Hole, NSW. The Golden Hole is the largest Midden site in the Southern Hemisphere and is located at Stuarts Point, NSW. This workshop was a time for the Local people of Stuarts Point - Ngambaa, Gumbaynggirr people, to share their way of being on country and to play a part in the discussion around the importance of using and sharing Gumbaynggirr protocols/processes in the way we care for country and each other. Ceremony was held around the fire where participants gathered bush tucker and ate together, and through a yarning circle.
The Dunggirr Dreaming Workshop: (2018)
Dunggiidu ngiyaanya ganggaadi (Heed the Call of Dunggirr, Koala) planting ceremony was a gathering and yarn, and a tree planting, that took place in November and December, 2018 connecting three places on Gumbaynggirr Country: North Farm, Scotts Head and Yarriabini. Heeding the call, Yandaarra, the Jaliigirr Biodiversity Alliance of NRM practitioners, Bellingen Landcare and local landholders came together at North Farm, a property just outside of Bellingen on the mid-north coast of NSW. Calling in ceremony and the Old Fellas, connecting the eucalyptus tree planting for improved Dunggirr habitat to the Dunggirr creation story, Aunty Shaa invited those present to connect and belong in place, in and on Gumbaynggirr Country, in new ways.
The Dunggirr kids day (2019)
Yandaarra held a kids day that brought together Gumbaynggirr and non- Gumbaynggir families, ancestors, sea and sky Country and multiple non-human beings such as the Koala and Whale. The aim of the day was to hold an intercultural and intergenerational storytelling and ceremony day. The day involved 13 people, including Gumbaynggirr custodians who led the day’s planning, preparation and activities. The ages of the group were from 6 to 60 years old. The day included children’s sand play and creative expression to ‘say hello to Country’ (Scott’s Head); yarning led by Aunty Shaa Smith (Scott’s Head); cooking around the fire and sharing food as ceremony (Yarriabini); creating a gateway connecting dreaming times out of bamboo for ceremony (Yarriabini); and ‘Dunggirr, Koala, Brothers and the Caring Song of the Whale’ Storytelling and ceremony (Yarriabini).
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