Walking the Land- for Our Ancient Right
For Peace and Healing
Camped with the Sacred Fire for Peace,
Botany Bay National Park, Kurnell, Sydney
13 SEPTEMBER, 2000
In this bulletin:
1. Brief update on Sacred Fire for Peace, situated at "The Foot":
- healing ceremonies to continue
- peace camp to remain at "The Foot"- come visit.
2. Open letter to the Prime Minister of Australia, John Howard
- invitation to come to Peace Fire to begin the Peace Talks
3. Walk update:
- from Canberra to outer suburbs of Sydney
4. For more information and to contact Walking the Land
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1. Brief update on Sacred Peace Fire, situated at "The Foot".
- healing ceremonies to continue
- peace camp to remain at "The Foot"- come visit.
THE PEACE WALK CONTINUES AT "THE FOOT"
COME AND SHARE OUR PEACE MESSAGE
Walking the Land- for Our Ancient Right, for Peace and Healing arrived at
"The Foot", otherwise known as Kurnell, and Botany Bay National Park, in
the southern suburbs of Sydney, on Saturday September 2.
The Sacred Fire for Peace has been burning here since then, with healing
ceremonies and many visitors who have added their sticks to the fire.
The Peace camp will remain here for the time being (at least till 25
September- probably longer) with further ceremonies and events planned
(keep posted). All welcome to come with respect to visit or stay.
The Kupa Piti Kunga Tjutas (Coober Pedy Elder Women) are with us and bring
their stories of their lives and culture- including their experiences with
nuclear bomb tests, uranium mining and now plans to dump nuclear waste in
their country. The Kungas will be carrying out their own ceremonies to
heal this place and tell their story.
***The Sacred Fire for Peace is an offering to all Australians, for
Peace. You are all invited to come and sit at the Fire and to begin the
Peace Talks. This gift is here now and is being offered while the whole
world is watching.
Our resources are very limited so please, if you can offer assistance and
funding, please contact us (see details below)
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2. Open letter to the Prime Minister of Australia, John Howard
- invitation to come to Peace Fire to begin the Peace Talks
- there has been no response from the PM to this invitation, nor
has there
been to several past invitations to him and his government
PEACE OFFERING
for the healing of the land and its peoples
We invite the Prime Minister of Australia to attend a ceremony for peace at
the sacred peace fire which has been burning since the arrival of the
'Walking our land for our ancient right' at Captain Cook Memorial ,
Kurnell. The walkers arrived in Sydney after walking for 85 days over
3000 km from Lake Eyre in the north of South Australia.
The Aboriginal peoples of Australia have never ceded our sovereignty or
signed away our ancient laws in the form of a Treaty or any other agreement.
Our lands have been unlawfully settled. Our countries are being threatened
and destroyed by the colonising states, who violate our ancient laws.
We are subjected to acts of genocide by your government, and other
violations of human rights which began with the arrival of Captain
Cook. This genocide has continued unabated since 1788.
In the spirit of this country we offer you the special gift that we bring
to all Australians and the greater humanity : this is a peace offering. We
have already begun the peace process and we now call you to the peace fire,
and offer to you the gift of peace. Lets begin, we invite you to sit at the
peace fire on Wednesday 13th September 11.00 am at the Walking the Land For
Our Ancient Rights Camp, Captain Cook Drive, Kurnell.
For further information contact:
Kevin Buzzacott Peace Maker
0417838906.
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3. Walk update:
- from Canberra to outer suburbs of Sydney
From Walking the Land
Tuesday 5th September 2000
Botany Bay National Park, Kurnell
It's a windy sunny morning here on the Southern shore of Botany Bay. The
red yellow and black land rights flag is flying and a colourful tent
village has sprung up on the grass behind the beach just 100 yards from the
rocky promontory where Captain Cook first stepped ashore to confront two
Dharawa warriors, the traditional owners of this country.
Here at Kurnell the Peace Fire has reached its final destination. This is
'the Foot', the very place where two cultures met 230 years with gunshots
and antagonism. Kevin Buzzacott, in the company of the Peace Walk, has
brought the Peace Fire to this crucial place where the healing of our
nation can begin. Uncle Kevin and the Walkers have come in the right way
with a deep desire for true peace, justice and reconciliation for all
Australians. We await the coming of Elders from many Aboriginal nations in
order to perform healing ceremonies.
Here is an account of how we came from Canberra to Sydney, the final stage
of our journey.
The Peace Walk arrived in Canberra on Sunday August 20 and made camp at the
Aboriginal Tent Embassy which has stood on the lawn in front of old
parliament house for 27 years. We travelled with representatives of the
Ngunawal people who had met us at Yass, at the border of Wiradjuri country.
After months on the road it was incredible to be camped in the heart of the
capital, right along the line of power that runs from Parliament House down
to the War Memorial and Mount Ainslie behind. And in what other capital
could we collect firewood an easy ten minutes drive from camp to keep the
Peace Fire burning?
On Monday the humpy behind the Justice Fire which faces the parliament
buildings was covered in fresh gum branches in preparation for our welcome
ceremony. As we circled around the fire the constituents of the Tent
Embassy gave us an official welcome; "you've seen our beautiful land and
the destruction also" they said. An elder woman from Cape York then gave a
moving speech: "You're a real inspiration to all of us" she said, "great
spirit has brought you and is with us. We are against a great evil which
started in 1788 with illegal boat people. The wave is getting bigger but
we're not going to let it swallow us. "
The circle then placed fresh leaves on the fire after which Kevin thanked
the embassy. "We carry a big message-we carry special wood and ashes from
all around the country. We've seen a lot of things on the journey; 2700 km
and 72 days. I think we'll do it again if we have to. We've seen a lot of
healing out there and a lot of things to be done. I've got the Peace Fire
here, I gotta set it up and join it up here [with the Justice Fire]."
Uncle Kevin also revealed for the first time his wish for "the Olympic
torch to meet the old ancient fire, to bless the games while the world is
watching." The Tent Embassy then offered the Walk sanctuary for as long as
we stayed in Canberra.
After the welcome the walk assembled at Cooyong Road and walked into Civic.
(The section from Hall to Cooyong Rd had been walked previously.) We met a
big reception of locals and media. Kevin was in good form and, as he was
interviewed by the press, the walkers gathered round with flags and banners
and costumes. We sang the Dog Fence song written by Madeline about the
Dingo Fence which we followed along the bottom of Frome Downs Station back
in South Australia. We were all very happy that our message of peace got
through loud and clear in Civic, especially to Reuters who are news
providers for the SOCOG website.
On Tuesday we accompanied Kevin up to Parliament House to officially invite
the parliamentarians to join the Walk. He took the Peace Fire in the
coolamon and we were met by Bob McMullin, Labor MP for Frazer. On behalf of
Kim Beazley he accepted the invitation to join the walk and placed a stick
on the Peace Fire. A member of The Greens from ACT parliament had also
greeted the Walk at the Tent Embassy. Kevin joked about how different the
reception was this year, having experienced baton wielding riot police in
years gone by.
On Wednesday we experienced a hail storm, the green lawns almost completely
covered by white ice. 'Aren't you all freezing' we were asked. 'No, this is
mild compared to Bathurst' we replied. Our youngest Walker Tallula' aged
five' ran around delightedly until caught and warmly dressed. We went on a
'wood mission' and collected white gum branches from Mount Ainslie in
preparation for the arrival of the Sacred Runners. This remarkable group of
runners were completing a 14,000 km run around Australia, stopping at the
Tent Embassy before their final leg to Sydney.
We placed our biggest land rights flags at the top of the lawn and lined up
to cheer and wave as the runners jogged in. We then circled around the
peace fire with the runners; about 20 Native American, American and
Japanese runners, and couple of Australians too. They received a Ngunnawal
welcome and Kevin welcomed them also.
We took part in a traditional Native American Indian ceremony and Kevin
also blessed the Runners and Walkers with water collected on our journey.
Aurelio, the run leader, spoke eloquently in the circle emphasising the
international significance of our actions. The sacred colours of the world,
symbolising the four races, were present around the fire; the black, the
white, the yellow and the red. The four generations were present, from a
six month old child to a remarkable 'Turtle Island' elder who had run the
length and breadth of Australia. We stood around the fire as a tribe united
in our guardianship of the earth. The sacred runners carry a universal
message: 'all life is sacred'.
Aurelia continued; "We run for sobriety, against drugs and alcohol. Your
people will be remembered around the world. When the Runners go to Japan
and the Turtle Islands (America) you will be remembered in our ceremonies.
Long ago before caucasian people came, one of our elders came to this land.
We are not unfamiliar with your lands, we are relatives." The runners then
sang a song accompanied by drums. Fresh leaves were placed on the flames;
"we put leaves on the fire to let the old spirits know we're doing
something" said Kevin. With the help of the runners we then carried sticks
from the Peace Fire to the Justice Fire and linked the two fires. The
Justice Fire had been lit by Kevin three years previously and has been
burning ever since.
It was a big night of drums and music. A smaller group drove out to the
Governer General's residence at Yarralumla the next morning. Sir William
Deane did not receive his invitation in person, it was accepted on his
behalf by a security officer. Back at camp we socialised with the Sacred
Runners who made some of us Walkers feel a little lame. While we respected
sobriety and maintained a dry camp we had found it essential for public
relations purposes to visit many pubs on our journey. The marathon
distances run by the runners made our 10 km relay legs seem like a stroll
in the park. Hey, I'm only joking, I should mention it was 42 year old
engineer Steve who emerged as walk champ, having covered just over 1000 km,
a third of the 3060 km walk. Go Steve. He also bought a van to carry the
food at Coonabarrabran. Honey Nelson purchased a trailer for our swags.
Another award goes to Ruben who was the only walker who did not succumb to
a motel bed, or crashed at a friend's house or visited a relative. Sixteen
year old Ruben stayed at camp every single night of the walk. Ruben and
Michael must also be honoured for geeting up in the mornings and making
porridge.
On Friday we circled aroung the Justice Fire to farewell the Sacred
Runners. They were running up to Sydney to complete their amazing journey
at Redfern and the Victoria Park Tent Embassy. Many promised to come back
to join the Walk. We ran off with them, those amazingly fit spiritual
people, for a few hundred yards, until they outpaced as and we knocked off
for a cuppa. Aunty Fay from Bunjulung country joined the walk that day.
On Friday afternoon I headed up to Sydney for my sister's wedding breaking
my perfect attendance record. When I was checking who had stayed on the
Walk the whole way Captain Starlight admonished me for creating a heirarchy
and refused to take part. Starlight has been a stalwart member of the Walk
and would kill me for introducing him as the keeper of the magic money tin.
He is primarily a superhero and does not fear radioactive waste being from
another planet. He missed a couple of days around Broken Hill.
I rejoined the Walk at Bundanoon on Monday 28th August and a transformation
had taken place. We had come in to Canberra with about 50 people and left
with over 100; lots of new arrivals and old faces returned. Saturday the
Walk camped at Lake George, Sunday outside of Bungonia. I caught up to them
parked at the turnoff to the Sunnataram Forest Monastery, a Thai Buddhist
centre that had accommodated the Sacred Runners some weeks previously. The
monastery grounds offered a breathtaking view all the way to Jervis Bay and
the Walkers sat on the lawn soaking up the sun and the peaceful atmosphere
while dinner was made for us.
We sat in meditation with the guidance of the delightful head monk who then
showed slides of his leader and other monks who walked the land with much
the same motivation as we did. In the morning we meditated at 5am then
visited a cave down in a green mossy gorge. We walked back up to view the
cliffs. The head monk explained; "the forest is our mother. We come to feel
the simplicity of the nature. A perfect garden, where rock and tree grow
just so. We also see impermanence; a tree grows and dies, some live and
some die."
The relay on Tuesday 29th August headed out early to reach Mittagong where
our colourful convoy of vans, buses and cars arrived to meet the
Wingercarribee Reconciliation Society in the park. This kindly group bought
us hot chips and recounted how they were the group who started the 'sorry
books' that have since started all around Australia. It was a reminder how
deeply most Australians seek reconciliation. The Wingecarribee group was
doing so in many ways, not least of which was a re-examination of their
settlement history along the Great South Road. This is a hidden history of
genocide.
An afternoon push got the Walk to Tharawal Aboriginal Land Council at
Thirlmere near Picton. We were warmly welcomed by Robyn, the Chairperson,
and her twin sister Wendy. The Land Council was a vibrant and friendly
place and we were well looked after. Thanks to all at Tharawal. We circled
around the amphitheatre to discuss our approach to Sydney. It was from here
that Kevin had to negotiate with the four Sydney Land Councils. Herb Simms
from La Perouse acted as a facilitator. We had 'come the right way' from
Lake Eyre and now we paused at the edge of Sydney, which confronted us with
its politics and Olympic hype. It was shaping up to be our biggest challenge.
By Nick Szentkuti
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4. For more information and to contact Walking the Land:
Website: www.come.to/lakeeyre
Email:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Telephone Walking the Land direct:
0417 838 906 / 0419 812 788
Walking the Land/Keepers of Lake Eyre, in Adelaide:
(08) 8340 4401
Financial donations much needed and welcome:
Keepers of Lake Eyre,
Commonwealth Bank Account Number:
5112 1008 2328
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THIS MESSAGE BROUGHT TO YOU BY:
________________________________________________________
Keepers of Lake Eyre, in South Australia:
Web: www.come.to/lakeeyre Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Tel: (08) 8340 4401 / Mobile: 0419 812 788
Post: C/- Conservation Council, 120 Wakefield St, Adelaide, S.A. 5000
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