
Words: Laura Brearley
Images: Terry Melvin
TWO whales were seen swimming towards the Cowes jetty on the opening morning of the Island Whale Festival on July 6-8.
At the Cowes Cultural Centre, Boon Wurrung artist and ceremony man Steve Parker honoured the four directions in ceremony and song. He was joined in a ceremonial blessing of the whales by elder and traditional custodian Aunty Fay Stewart-Muir and by whale song man Uncle Bunna Lawrie.
Images: Terry Melvin
TWO whales were seen swimming towards the Cowes jetty on the opening morning of the Island Whale Festival on July 6-8.
At the Cowes Cultural Centre, Boon Wurrung artist and ceremony man Steve Parker honoured the four directions in ceremony and song. He was joined in a ceremonial blessing of the whales by elder and traditional custodian Aunty Fay Stewart-Muir and by whale song man Uncle Bunna Lawrie.
Uncle Bunna is an elder, musician and artist who has devoted his life to celebrating and protecting the whales from his Mirning homelands on the Nullabor Plains overlooking the Great Australian Bight. He was taught about the whale dreaming by his grandfather, a Mirning medicine man, whose totem was also the whale. He plays didgeridoo and sings with whale sounds and was not surprised to hear that the whales were coming close to the shore during the opening ceremonies.
In the lead-up to the festival, Steve Parker and Uncle Bunna Lawrie had met for the first time. Steve welcomed him onto Boon Wurrung land. They shared stories and visited sites of significance on the Island together. Their affinity was clear when they made music together. The day before the festival, they participated in a gathering at our home of artists, friends and children associated with the festival’s intercultural arts program. We shared food and rehearsed songs from the newly composed whale song cycle. We prepared for the whale migration mural, a project suggested by Aunty Fay Stewart-Muir and led by community artist Camille Monet.
Both the mural and song cycle incorporated Boon Wurrung language gifted by Aunty Fay Stewart-Muir. At the festival, she guided us through the protocols of language use and helped us with the pronunciation of the Boon Wurrung language. Within the arts program, we ran a series of deep listening circles, drumming circles and song and story circles in which many families and children took part. Aunty Fay said this was the way knowledge had been passed on by her people for thousands of years, with children learning through songs and stories shared in a community setting.
In the lead-up to the festival, Steve Parker and Uncle Bunna Lawrie had met for the first time. Steve welcomed him onto Boon Wurrung land. They shared stories and visited sites of significance on the Island together. Their affinity was clear when they made music together. The day before the festival, they participated in a gathering at our home of artists, friends and children associated with the festival’s intercultural arts program. We shared food and rehearsed songs from the newly composed whale song cycle. We prepared for the whale migration mural, a project suggested by Aunty Fay Stewart-Muir and led by community artist Camille Monet.
Both the mural and song cycle incorporated Boon Wurrung language gifted by Aunty Fay Stewart-Muir. At the festival, she guided us through the protocols of language use and helped us with the pronunciation of the Boon Wurrung language. Within the arts program, we ran a series of deep listening circles, drumming circles and song and story circles in which many families and children took part. Aunty Fay said this was the way knowledge had been passed on by her people for thousands of years, with children learning through songs and stories shared in a community setting.
Steve Schulz and his 11-year-old young son Kai led us in drumming circles and the co-creation of collaborative sound sculptures into which we wove Boon Wurrung language and whale sounds. Lisa Kennedy, a Trawlwoolway artist and author, read her story Wurramatyenner and the Magic Canoe, showing the original artworks for the published book and describing her creative processes as an Aboriginal woman. Uncle Kutcha Edwards facilitated a circle in which he engaged people through conversation, story and song. He held the space lightly and with humour but it was profound work. He makes it look like a simple process but it takes great mastery to make it seem so. Uncle Kutcha sees his creative work as being like a pebble thrown into the water with ripples reaching out far and wide. It’s all about interconnectedness he says.
On the last afternoon of the festival, the whale migration mural was ready to be launched. Camille had been working with others for days, using recycled materials and marine waste to create an immersive art installation. With rope, twine and fishing line, members of the festival community had created an assortment of sea creatures which now hung from sheets of plastic suspended in rows. Boon Wurrung language and designs inspired by the ocean decorated the sheets of plastic. The backdrop of the mural was a series of large whales which had been painted beforehand by Aboriginal men from the Wulgunggo Ngalu Learning Place. These whale shapes and designs had also inspired the creation of a collection of whale hats made from recycled cardboard which were worn during the deep listening, drumming and song and story circles.
On the last afternoon of the festival, the whale migration mural was ready to be launched. Camille had been working with others for days, using recycled materials and marine waste to create an immersive art installation. With rope, twine and fishing line, members of the festival community had created an assortment of sea creatures which now hung from sheets of plastic suspended in rows. Boon Wurrung language and designs inspired by the ocean decorated the sheets of plastic. The backdrop of the mural was a series of large whales which had been painted beforehand by Aboriginal men from the Wulgunggo Ngalu Learning Place. These whale shapes and designs had also inspired the creation of a collection of whale hats made from recycled cardboard which were worn during the deep listening, drumming and song and story circles.
Led by children wearing whale hats, participants of the final song and story circle paraded from the Heritage Room, through the Cowes Cultural Centre and then through the suspended sheets of the whale migration mural, singing and playing percussion all the way. Ruth McKittrick, Vonnie Boreham, Peter Corser, Lisa Kennedy, Nick Stephens and sons Callum and Ben joined me in teaching the ‘Hail the Whale’ song which included the language translation that Aunty Fay had given us: Betayil (Whale), Yingha-dha (Sing) and Yawa-dha (Swim).
Love those whales waving their tails
Splishin’ and a-splash’n in the deep blue sea
Love those whales waving their tails
Splishin’ and a-splash’n in the deep blue sea
CHORUS
Hail the Whale! Hail Betayil!
Movin’ and a-groovin’ on night ‘n day
Hail the Whale! Hail Betayil!
Movin’ and a-groovin’ on all the way
Hear those whales singin’ their songs
Yingha-dha Betayil in the deep blue sea
Hear those whales singin’ their songs
Yingha-dha Betayil in the deep blue sea
See those whales swimmin’ along
Yawa-dha Betayil in the deep blue sea
See those whales swimmin’ along
Yawa-dha Betayil in the deep blue sea
Aunty Fay has taught us that when we sing in language, the Country can hear us and it comes alive. During the festival, the whales sang to us and we sang back. The whales continue to swim past the Island and along the coast in record numbers. We thank them for their company and for being part of our community song.
With thanks to the Bass Coast Shire Council and Destination Phillip Island for providing the funding for the Intercultural Arts Program of the Island Whale Festival. More information about intercultural arts programs is available at www.thelivingcircle21.com.au
Splishin’ and a-splash’n in the deep blue sea
Love those whales waving their tails
Splishin’ and a-splash’n in the deep blue sea
CHORUS
Hail the Whale! Hail Betayil!
Movin’ and a-groovin’ on night ‘n day
Hail the Whale! Hail Betayil!
Movin’ and a-groovin’ on all the way
Hear those whales singin’ their songs
Yingha-dha Betayil in the deep blue sea
Hear those whales singin’ their songs
Yingha-dha Betayil in the deep blue sea
See those whales swimmin’ along
Yawa-dha Betayil in the deep blue sea
See those whales swimmin’ along
Yawa-dha Betayil in the deep blue sea
Aunty Fay has taught us that when we sing in language, the Country can hear us and it comes alive. During the festival, the whales sang to us and we sang back. The whales continue to swim past the Island and along the coast in record numbers. We thank them for their company and for being part of our community song.
With thanks to the Bass Coast Shire Council and Destination Phillip Island for providing the funding for the Intercultural Arts Program of the Island Whale Festival. More information about intercultural arts programs is available at www.thelivingcircle21.com.au