NAIDOC 2024: Celebrating Indigenous Stories and Heritage with Aunty Jill West

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In honour of NAIDOC week 2024, the theme:  Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud & Proud honours the enduring strength and vitality of First Nations culture – with fire a symbol of connection to Country, to each other, and to the rich tapestry of traditions that define Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
 
Also, because I simply love what this wonderful woman has to share, we explore the experience and philosophies of Aunty Jill West, a Bunurong and Palawa woman, who generously shares her fascinating life story and the lessons she's learned from dealing with death.

In our chat, Aunty Jill talks about her dual heritage, her father's untimely death at 53, and how it made her reflect on her own mortality. She highlights the importance of understanding and accepting where we come from, and how it shapes our identity. Her father, a man of 'supreme intelligence', had a profound impact on her, and she continues his work, walking next to his footsteps.

Aunty Jill discusses the impact of the 1967 referendum on her family and the Aboriginal community at large. She gets candid about her father's journey to become a teacher, a university lecturer, and a doctor of Indigenous philosophy, despite facing numerous obstacles and systemic discrimination. It's an eye-opening conversation that gives us a glimpse into the resilience and determination of the Aboriginal community.

In today’s episode:

• Aunty Jill discusses the importance of understanding and accepting one’s heritage, highlighting how this acceptance can help alleviate the burden of historical guilt and contribute to personal and community healing.

• We delve into Aunty Jill’s personal journey through grief following the sudden death of her father, exploring how her Aboriginal heritage and customs provided her with the frameworks to cope and find strength.

• The significance of cultural rituals in mourning and remembrance is touched upon, giving us a poignant view of how Indigenous practices can deeply influence the healing process.

Key Points from Our Conversation:

• Heritage and Healing: Aunty Jill emphasises the strength found in accepting and knowing one's heritage, which for her, was key in navigating life’s challenges, particularly in dealing with the death of loved ones.

• Grief as a Path to Healing: She shares her intimate experiences with grief, illustrating how the Aborig

MY LOVED ONE HAS DIED, WHAT DO I DO NOW?

Our guide, ‘My Loved One Has Died, What Do I Do Now?’ provides practical steps for the hours and days after a loved one's death. Download it here.

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Music composer: Ania Reynolds - https://www.aniareynolds.com/