First Nations

At the best of times, you need stamina and determination to make a trip from the Byron Shire to north-east Arnhem Land. There’s the drive to Brisbane: let’s say two hours. Then a plane ride to Cairns: between two and three hours. Don’t forget long waits at airports for flight delays, unsettled weather and all that. Then there’s another two-hour…

There are places within a short drive from Bangalow that you can visit to learn about local Bundjalung culture. Once you start looking, you will discover that Bundjalung is present all around us, just waiting to be noticed, admired, and respected.

In the September edition of the Herald, I asked the community if anyone wanted to share their reasons for voting No in the Voice referendum for potential publication. The conditions of publication were that the writer lived in 2479, would put their name to the piece, and would be able to verify the source of any information quoted in their…

Later this year, Australians will have their say in a referendum to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Constitution through a ‘First Nations Voice.’ A referendum is a mandatory vote required to make any changes to the Australian Constitution. A 1967 referendum allowed federal parliament to make laws regarding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders but they do…

Before La Nina turned our blue skies permanently grey we were able to see the stars at night and gaze at them in wonder. And for millennia before the dismal days of 2022, First Nations peoples also studied the heavens, developing an intimate familiarity with the stellar constellations and a profound understanding of the interconnection between sky and land. Their…