Walk open

Originally published in The Nyngan Weekly

The Nyngan community has gathered to celebrate the start of NAIDOC week and the long-awaited opening of Winangali Walk.

The opening ceremony was led by Nyngan Local Aboriginal Land Council (LALC) deputy chair Marea Johnson.

It began with a dance performed by the Aunty Rea dance group followed by a rendition of the national anthem in Ngiyampaa Wangaaypuwan, Wongaibon language.

The 2021 NAIDOC theme is Heal Country! and Ms Jonson explained in her speech the importance of country to First Nations people, and what is meant by “heal”.

“The year’s theme is Heal Country! and calls for all of us to continue to see greater protection for our lands, our waters, our sacred sites, and cultural heritage from exploitation, desecration, and destruction.

“Country is more than a place; it is inherent to our identity. Country, we speak about like a person, sustaining our lives in every aspect, spiritual, physical, emotional, socially, and culturally. Being on Country for Nyngan’s NAIDOC week has allowed us to open the Winangali Walk, quite fitting for this year’s theme.”

Nyngan LALC CEO Veneta Dutton explained the significance of the parcel of land Winangali Walk has been made.

The ribbon was then cut to officially open the walk to the public.

The land was returned to the Nyngan LALC in 2018 as part of a title claim and contains three scarred trees as well as plenty of bush tucker.

“We investigated options of what we could do with the hand and how we could protect and preserve it.

“It was not suitable to build on and it had two scarred trees that we could see visible.

“These were in our discussions, and we noted that they had to be protected. A nature walk was decided and that would allow our people and our community to learn about and use and learn about Aboriginal culture and develop a better understanding.” The opening of Winangali Walk has been a long time coming, with the LALC facing many obstacles prior to it opening.

The lands proximity to the old Nyngan tip meant there was illegal dumping to contend with, and adverse weather continually delayed development of the walk path.

“We all thought it was cursed, fingers crossed it it’s not.”

In 2019, a cultural burn was conducted at the front of the park to help renew growth in the area. Once completed, the walk with feature signage alongside native species with information on its use. At the present, signs are still being finalised with Ngiyampaa language.

Winangali Walk means “to hear, and to listen” and highlights the ways in which Aboriginal people interact with Country. “It reflects on the moments of silence when we pay respects to our ancestors, who walked the land thousands of years before us. When we go on Country, we hear the noises and listen to the landscape.”

Aboriginal education officer Raelene Weldon said it is important to continue to celebrate NAIDOC, even though the event has been delayed since July.

“It’s to create diversity within Australia. Aboriginal people, they didn’t want them to exist, and they’re still alive and surviving, and alive and thriving in culture.

“It’s about respecting the culture and respecting the culture of the first people.

“It’s important to share this space that we call home, Australia.

“We’re all here living together.

“We need to make sure that it’s generated for the next generations to come.”

The opening of Winangali Walk kick starts Nyngan NAIDOC week, with events planned with local schools for the rest of the week.