UCRH team member Kerryn Harkin recently attended the third Lowitja Institute’s 3rd International Indigenous Health and Wellbeing Conference, held on the lands of the Gimuy-Walubara Yidinji and Yirrganydji peoples (Cairns). She shared some thoughts about the experience with us.
The conference brought together Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and international Indigenous leaders committed to upholding the rights and celebrating the strengths of Indigenous peoples.
The week was brimming with highlights and to name just a few: the community presenters – in particular Uncle Norm and Jimmy Jurpurrurla and their work on climate change at Warumungu, the Tiwi ladies’ dedication to maternal and child health, and Aunty Lyn Dimer from TKI for her work on Healing Country – who all travelled huge distances to be there; the launch of Talah Laurie’s film, ‘YaWaarra’; keynote talks by the incredible Prof. Marcia Langton AO, Prof. LindaTuhiwai Smith and Karen Diver (former Native American Affairs advisor to President Obama); Meretini Bennett-Huxtable’s work on Maramataka (the Māori lunar calendar and it influence on wellbeing); and the chance to network with many amazing researchers/health professionals/community reps. And to top it all off, performances by all-time faves Thelma Plum & Dan Sultan.
A shout out to all my friends and colleagues at STRIDE and UCRH as I marvelled at the important work they shared at the conference (and beyond) through presentations and posters – Healing Country, WOMB, Working It Out Together, Deadly Poets, VOICE, Arts-based Compassion Focused Therapy – and for allowing me to join them at this special week. I have come away truly inspired by everyone doing work in this space.
Lastly, many thanks to UCRH for supporting my attendance at the conference.
Photo by Lowitja Institute
