Mulan Women's Healing Camp

In Makurra (cold time, June), Marnin Studio were fortunate enough to attend the KALACC Women’s Healing Camp near Mulan Community in Western Australia. Many teams from Marninwarntikura Women’s Resource Centre came together to convoy to the camp; Bigiswun Kid Team, Family Support and Legal Team as well as the studio. Together we packed up the vehicles and began the long drive toward the Tanami. We pitched our tents by the incredible Paruku, also known as Lake Gregory, a place held dear by many people as a significant spiritual place. We camped at the Handover Site, where the high court of Australia formally recognised the Walmajarri People’s Native Title in a 2001 ceremony- though we know this relationship between people and Country goes back many thousands of years. 

 

 

We could feel the importance of this place in the cool air, in the broad dancing sky, in the loose red dirt underfoot and the warm, smiling faces of the women returning here.

We were welcomed by local Elders, who sang and generously invited us into their shared history with this place and each other. Pintupi and Wangkajangka woman and studio artist, Julie Wallaby, explained a little about the importance of the welcome…

‘Sing for the snake spirit makes him happy, he knows all these people came back to visit him, and letting other people come here from other tribe’

We were invited to apply healing mud to our skin from the edges of the lake, and Julie explains that ‘People put the mud all over them so the snake can smell them and don’t get mad, the old people talk to the snake’

This lake brings back a lot of memories for the women, many whose family and ancestors walked from the desert here when kardiya people arrived. There is deep history here that requires deep listening, and coming back is special for all. 

The sunrise over the lake was the perfect backdrop to brolgas, ducks and black swans, who sang their wake up song for us as we started our day with a hot cuppa. Marnin studio supported the MWRC Legal Unit in delivering a legal education workshop and art activity. We wove wool over and under in our fingers and talked about the ways communities work together to protect children, and where they can go to for support. Other workshops ran across the week, too, like the Bilindi Productions Bush Medicine workshop, Bush Dying by Rukaji, and visits from service providers like Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services and AARNJA. 

 

We walked beside salt water shrubs and lumpi lumpi toward the lake, which feels somehow like a vast ocean in the desert. Soon we found a spot to sit as a small group to search for junda (bush onions). We ran our fingers over the loose top soil of Country, and collected these little gems to take back to camp and cook up for eating. 

 

We sat laughing and yarning as we dropped one after another into our little cups, the ants moved in undulating lines toward the roots of snappy gums, three brolgas fly over head on their way to bed, and the endless grasses blanket the horizon line. The setting sun and its soft pink sky tell us it’s time to head back to camp. 

There we cooked up a lamb stew and shared in more giggles, women here of all different ages and from all different places circle around the fire and share stories. There are happy feelings here, being in the fresh air in the company of so many strong and kind women. We were accompanied by the most immaculate display of the Milky Way over head, so transfixed we sometimes forget to look down. Eyes moving from fire, to sky and back to fire, before we eventually head to bed on the last night and say goodbye to this beautiful experience, this beautiful place.

 

There’s something in the journey here, for some it is a little break from home while for others it is a returning home to family and friends. Together at camp, we have the spaciousness to move slowly, to notice and appreciate what’s here; intricate spider webs, abundant junda plants, bright skies, the company of women and a tasty feed. We have all we need, and we leave with our cups full.

Thank you to KALACC for supporting us to attend, to the Walmajarri Elders and knowledge holders who welcomed us to the amazing Paruku and shared their stories so generously, and to all the ladies who attended, connected, remembered and shared in this experience. We made memories together that won’t soon be forgotten!