Aunty Thelma Chilly, a respected elder from the multi-clan nation, continues to lead efforts in reclaiming the cultural heritage of her people. Each year, her family gathers on the shores of Victoria’s Murray River. They honor their roots and enthusiastically teach valued customs in the haven they happily adopted as their own. We’re all eager for this convening to take place at Punt Bend! Her family on her mother’s side had to relocate to the old Manatunga mission due to government policies.
Their annual cultural camp, usually hosted in Robinvale on Tati Tati Country, attracts families from all over east coast of Australia. This year’s theme, “Bridging Now to Next,” encapsulates the importance of connecting past, present, and future through shared cultural experiences. The camp is more than just a celebration – it’s a beautiful and powerful act of reclamation for First Nations people.
A Legacy of Resilience
Aunty Thelma candidly remembers the arduous fight her people went through. She explains that her family’s connections to the Murray River are strong and have lasted through centuries.
“This land here is where a lot of our people lived before mission days. So, their generations have come back here, every year, since then,” – Aunty Thelma.
Though the return home remains fraught with the challenges of displacement, many families make the journey back to their ancestral lands. The camp has become a deeply commemorative space where they are able to honor their heritage, their ancestors and reconnect to their roots. Aunty Thelma emphasizes the significance of this continuity:
“They actually return here to … commemorate the fact that this was where their people come from.” – Aunty Thelma.
In addition to teaching and preserving traditional techniques, the camp fosters cultural exchange and learning among participants. Aunty Thelma has always stressed the need to pass down knowledge to the next generation.
“We have turned this into a place of learning and passing on knowledge of our culture.” – Aunty Thelma.
Cultural Activities and Community Engagement
This year’s camp is focused on many different activities designed to incorporate Indigenous culture into the everyday practices of a community. From an emu feather workshop to the art of weaving, attendees jump into practical, hands-on workshops. These dynamic sessions are led by skilled artisans, including Matthew Chilly, Aunty Thelma’s nephew.
“Matt [Chilly] does his emu feathers and he’s weaving, and he’s telling his story with the importance of technique, and art and creativity,” – Aunty Thelma.
Matthew learned these traditional skills from elders who attended previous camps, highlighting the intergenerational transfer of knowledge vital to cultural preservation.
“Matthew was taught by elders who have come to this camp when he was younger, and that’s how he knows how to do it.” – Aunty Thelma.
The camp allows First Nations children to engage with their culture. These experiences contribute not only to cultivation of belonging but deep identity formation.
A Time for Reflection and Healing
Adding to the sense of positive momentum, the timing of the annual gathering coincides with National Reconciliation Week, which is observed from May 27 – June 3. It is an incredible time for participants to learn from their historical legacy while imagining and planning for a collective future. As Thelma Aunty recounts her appreciation for being able to keep this tradition going,
“I’m just so grateful to be able to continue this tradition of being in this place, and it does mean a lot to me. And passing that knowledge and culture on to our kids means even more.” – Aunty Thelma.
Through these sessions, Aunty Thelma hopes to dispel myths and misunderstandings that non-Aboriginal people have with Aboriginal people. She remembers a day when her people were judged and demonized because of the actions taken long ago.
“Non-Aboriginal people in town perceived us as a problem, a black problem, and they wanted to do something about that,” – Aunty Thelma.
By fostering understanding through cultural education, she hopes to cultivate respect and appreciation for Aboriginal traditions among all community members.
