Mujaay Ganma

Communication Across Cultures

As we tend to know, the lens through which we take in our world is coloured by our culture and the experiences in life that inform us about our world.

In the Mujaay Ganma space we have many yarns about such things. More recently the feeling that one fundamental difference might well be in the way we grow up learning to listen.

Gumbaynggirr for example was an oral culture and as such listening was a critical, one might say even a survival, skill.

Without written documentation the accuracy with which we listened (and remembered) was so important. Even today the old ones can remember multiple generations of lineage. A feat that few these days can master. Today the world of devices that carry information are less likely to carry the feeling associated with listening and learning within the context of a relationship, relationship with Country, with various life forms and of course with the many people who make up community. 

Listening, within a listening culture, involves listening with the whole body. So less words are needed to get a message or a story across. For this to work the person listening needs to be open and not just open to hearing words but open in body mind and spirit, to whatever is being shared. Mutual trust that comes through generations of relationships enables this level of communication to work.

Sharing silences and sharing stories and sharing a lot of feeling through subtle body movements are gentle, yet deeply connecting ways of letting somebody get to know us.

Let me offer a small example of how it can feel to be asked questions when your communication style is more as described above. So in this cultural way experiences are stored as stories with lots of feeling (palpable in the body) not just words which are in fact symbols to communicate a thought or feeling. In this story structure, as stored in the mind and body and spirit, everything is related. To draw out a piece of it can feel disturbing, as it upsets the equilibrium of the whole story. Since this story is attached to the body and the spirit the whole of us can feel disrupted and upset.

We have heard people experience a question, that is asking us to isolate and disconnect a small item from the whole story, as painful. The questions feel like darts, sharp and threatening when they do not allow us to share, as it is being held inside of us. If you have ever seen someone glaze over when asked a question, this could be why.

And this is just one tiny but central element to be considered in intercultural communication.

There is so much to learn from each other across cultures. Maybe listening in as many ways as possible may enable us to continue to learn and grow wiser, as we grow older?

‘Julumbawambi – Along the generations’ will be an event where Gumbaynggirr stories old and new will be told and insights shared.

Jaanymili Bawrrungga – 16 days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence

For 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence Jaanymili Bawrrungga has hosted numerous event across the Valley. On The 26th November they hosted an Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Women’s High Tea at the Macksville Ex-Services Club. The Nambucca Valley Gumbaynggirr women participated in a smoking ceremony before entering the Macksville Ex Services Club for a delicious Morning Tea.

The Morning Tea was started with a welcome to country by Aunty Cheryl and guest speakers talked through the morning.

 Talented local musical artist Alicia Parry performed throughout the morning. It was wonderful to see the local women of the Valley connecting with each other supporting this great cause.

On 28th November Jaanymili Bawrrungga For 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence Jaanymili Bawrrungga  hosted a Pamper Day Event at the Stuart’s Point Convention Centre . The Valley Hub was invited to share in the morning that was filled with flower arranging, making soaps, body scrubs, massages, nails and waxing and much much more !

There was laughter and yarns amongst so many wonderful and inspirational Gumbaynggirr Women 🧡💛♥️🖤🧡

For 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence -Cuppa Jaanymili Bawrrungga also hosted A Cuppa with a Cop at Yamstick Cafe.

JB would like to thank Scotty and the NSW local Senior Constable Domestic Violence Officer Police Heloisa De Castro Cardoso – and Domestic Violence Officer Heloisa DeCastro and Acting Commander Grant Erickson for attending this even in Bowraville. It was fabulous to the students from year 7 & 8 from the Bowraville Central School to sit and have a yarn with the officers.

The Yamstick cafe team provided delicious coffee, milkshakes, fruits and quiches for the students.