Waka Ŋurrkanhayngu-Regenerating the existence of life together to enable a future for humans, all creatures and earth

Humanity experiencing growing multiple existential crises including climate change, disasters, pandemics, physical and mental decline, poverty, wars, water and food shortages) is increasingly forcing us to identify the roots of the crises and how to restore the health and wellbeing of all creatures including humans and our planet. Several years ago, Yolŋu from diverse Clans living in the very remote community Galiwin’ku in Arnhem Land (NT) and Western allies from different organisations and countries started working together two-way to find answers to both questions. Our work suggests that both Indigenous and Western peoples need to regenerate the existence of life in two interconnected pathways. Firstly, we need to become aware of how the Western culture has and still is disconnecting us from having deep harmonious relations with nature, the invisible feminine spiritual world, our ancestors, and the ancient Indigenous LAW that creates a culture and society that ensures the health of all creatures. Secondly, we need to remember, reconnect with, revive and live according to our true primordial sacred nature, the invisible spiritual world, our ancestors, and ancient Indigenous LAW. In this panel, we are offering insights into the complex and interconnected ways both pathways play out for the 16 Yolŋu Clans living in Galiwin’ku. We hope us sharing will add to the growing recognition that Indigenous ways of being-knowing-doing are sophisticated and the key to our survival, and inspire other Indigenous and Western peoples to walk with us two-way and long-term to regenerate the existence of life.