“On Monday 21 July, we were invited by Bec from the WYUT team to meet Professor Juli Coffin, who has deep ancestral ties to the Pilbara region, specifically Nyangumarta country. She is the driving force and founder of the impactful Yawardani Jan-ga ‘Horses Healing’ program and Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL) initiative based in Broome.

We were fortunate to experience a glimpse of the work Juli does with youth in the area and learn about the transformative impact of the program. Even just taking the beautiful horses, Narlyu and Elvis, for a dip in the ocean was powerful. There truly is therapeutic magic in witnessing and experiencing this firsthand, even for just half an hour. I can only imagine the profound healing that regular practice and contact can bring. Simply incredible!

I felt so calm, it was the perfect way to prepare for our journey to beautiful Bunuba country. It truly reset my mind and spirit, healing my heart and soul.

We were blessed to receive a beautiful ‘Welcome to Country’ from Aunty Di Appleby at Nyamba Buru Yawuru (NBY), providing us safe passage on our journey to the lands of the Bunuba people, where we would meet Aunty June Oscar.

Our journey took four and a half hours with two stops: first at Willare Bridge Roadhouse on the Great Northern Highway, then Ellendale, before meeting the rest of the convoy at the unsealed ‘June’s Road.’ Aunty June’s block is 48 km from the highway turnoff, near one of the Studio Schools – ‘Manjali.’

We were again blessed with a ‘Welcome to Country’ for continued safe passage at her Bunuba country waterhole known as ‘Deep Spring.’ We gathered there for lunch and introductions, and spoke about what the next few days of the Design Camp would involve. The waterhole is a natural spring, it never runs dry!

We learned and participated in a sacred ‘visitor practice’ passed down and shared with those who enter Bunuba country. This was very special and carried out each day.

A select group of 40 women were invited from TAS, Victoria, NSW, NT, WA, QLD, ACT, and SA, with most coming from WA.

Each day, we gathered by a waterhole on Country, and Aunty June shared history and stories of the places we visited. We even visited the cave where her grandmother and mother would rest, grounding themselves and finding peace and comfort from colonial hardships and suffering. The stories were raw and powerful, yet also comforting. They offered healing through knowing, being, doing, and working together toward solutions.

On the final day, we visited sacred grounds and were blessed to witness a beautiful waterhole, a hidden gem and sacred place where we were asked not to photograph or film.

The weather throughout our journey was perfect, not too cold, with warm sunshine. Our camp was set up right beside Aunty’s home, with 40 tents, each equipped with a mattress, sleeping bag, pillow, and doormat. No hot water, but the weather made it just right!

On the final day, we were asked to reflect on the question: “What does peacebuilding mean to you?” We shared our thoughts collectively in small groups or through visual art.

A short documentary capturing this journey will be released soon, and we are proud to have represented Yanalangami. I’m happy to share that four of our Yanalangami Changemakers attended the Camp, it was very special to share this experience with them.

After each visit to Country, we were smoked, and the catering was five-star. We were truly well looked after.

The landscapes, the environment, the waters, the lands, the silence, the beauty, and the yarns around the campfire were amazing. The sunrises were magical.

My heart is healing. My cup is full. This was truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity at the inaugural gathering, which I believe will become an annual event. Stay tuned!”

— Aunty Bernice Hookey