Re-examining the Cultural Competency Continuum
Examining and reflecting on the First Nations cultural competence continuum at first was scary and, to some degree, the unknown. When I first read through it, I felt frustrated and felt like I was not in control of understanding the content; I felt vulnerable. I was scared of failing. I chose the questions that made sense to answer first. I knew through this uncomfortable feeling of not knowing and my experience in learning at university, there would be rewards with education, and this was exciting. This part of the unit got me thinking about our world’s social and political constructs and how many Westerners do not understand how Indigenous peoples connect to country and their culture. How often do we blame others about not knowing? It got me thinking about the community around me and my unconscious bias to not showing interest in learning. There may even have been worry about judgment, to be honest. I came to the conclusion I need to learn as much as possible; there is no shame in not knowing. At the heart of my anxiety was respect. I know that to have regard is what matters and to have compassion in moving forward, doing better, and learning more. That is my truth.
Comfort and Challenge in Cultural Understanding
What felt uncomfortable was my unconscious bias about what land meant to the Indigenous Peoples. The true essence and beauty of spirit, self-determination, knowing, being, doing, humans and non-human entities. I did not have empathy for the deeper symbolic meaning, even though the more profound sense subconsciously aligns with who I am. I was transported back to vivid memories on the Gibb River Road, where I was privileged to explore authentic aboriginal art in Kimberley’s Windjana region. The remarkable history of Outlaw Jandamarra and I, I did not appreciate it for what it is and the power and spirit it holds. I can still hear the vivid sounds of my feet walking through the pindan dirt and the tour operator talking. This is an uncomfortable reflection, realising I lived in a place that gifted me so much soul and spirit and feeling like I took it for granted. It feels selfish.
It was a comfortable feeling once I acknowledged the discomfort and realised my values align with Indigenous worldviews and their connection to Mother Earth. This unit has reminded me of the deep work and importance I put into recovering from trauma. With all this knowing about what is sacred and the interrelatedness of the earth and the law of the land taking me back to Yawuru country. An unwavering calmness and stillness. It unearthed and helped unleash my voice, which sometimes can become shy, highlighting the innate and effortless essence of flow in my spirit as I slow down and listen. There is power in having a voice in society, a privilege that should never be underestimated or disrespected. This unit helps me feel more comfortable with my voice and my body’s wisdom when it talks to me..
Spirituality, Religion, and Embracing Diversity
My beginnings played a role in my relationship with the church. It was this binding thought process of being raised catholic, even though I can remember never feeling connected to that belief system from the youngest age and being raised in a huge catholic family with two family members living with complex mental illnesses and one uncle playing for Queensland Rugby. The catholic faith and the people admired this sporting accomplishment.
The privilege perpetuated judgment, though, with years of being in an expensive catholic school but not living the same privilege as most there. I am sure many parents worked hard to get their children through school, still, I feel like I was thrown to the wolves as an underprivileged and anxious little girl trying to survive my beautiful father’s illness and the poverty it caused us. I clearly remember my fear and judgment of religion as an adult. And the moment I did not date someone because of the fear of him having religious beliefs coming from a South African ethnicity.
I was conscious of my bias to some degree but was too in my ego to change my view. It was not until I went through my healing that things started to unravel, and my ability to self-reflect became one of my strengths. I no longer have that judgment and my heart is open to the world’s diversity. I am incredibly grateful for my adversity because it taught me to take the road less traveled. In the present day, I am comfortable not being connected to the catholic church and always felt perplexed about where I belong or how the world evolved. Between Buddhism and not knowing, I think my epiphany moment came with this unit and Indigenous ways of knowing. It just makes sense, and it is loving and holistic. I value how the land is within the people, and the land has the people in it.
Closing the Gap—A Personal Passion
My values and beliefs around the closing the gap strategy, People enjoy long and Healthy Lives, lights fire in my belly (Closing the Gap Information Repositiry – Productivity Commission, 2023)! I write with anticipation and butterflies in my tummy as I know how stigma, adversity, and lack of access to support can be impactful. The impacts this has on Indigenous social and emotional well-being can take its toll. It is like a winding picket fence with the roots of a vine weaving its insidious effects, influences, and misrepresentation over a lifetime.
It is a privilege that I can write about my recovery and have access to the resources and information to heal my intergenerational trauma. Unfortunately, it can be challenging to understand and empathise with unless people endure a trauma. Judgment can be harsh, and with unwavering shame, there is a concoction of chronic illness and impacts on mental health. I know, though, as the bear hunt story describes, we cannot go over it, we cannot go under it, we must go through it. We must go through the healing together as a nation by understanding, for First Nations peoples to live long and happy lives; it is crucial that their self-determination, holistic, spiritual, and relationship to country is understood (Murphy, 2018). Their knowing and being are essential in breaking the patterns from the impacts of colonisation and intergenerational trauma.
The content of this unit has helped me better understand First Nations’ core culture and why their being, knowing, and doing are so important. It has given me better empathy, knowledge, and respect. It has given me a gentleness and guiding light to be part of the journey back to country and back leading with our hearts.
Connection to Country—A Personal Reflection
Hiking 110 km in Lutruwita (Education, 2022), over two hikes has taken me to a blissful state of being, where my purpose and reason for being come to light. The power of life force in the earth, sea, and sky sinks into my soul, and my connection to country is ever so present, enmeshed into my skin and bones.
Five weeks into this unit, I realised that I focused on myself when I was tramping through Tasmania. There was an 80km hike in Leeawuleena country (Tasmania – Leeawuleena (Lake St Clair) National Park, n.d.), and a 50km solo hike where the Pydairrerme people lived (“Turrakana, the Homeland of the Pydairrerme” (Tasman Peninsula’s Aboriginal People). n.d.). I never connected to whose land it was, what history took place there, or what inhabited it. Yes, I tramped with care and love for nature and read the signposts, but I did not go deep like this unit has played a part in my life, a transformative journey of self and the land and its meaning. There was this unconscious selfishness as I did not pay as much attention to where I was and the privilege I had being there.
Moving forward five years, I am off on my next solo hike. I am aware that solo hiking can make me nervous and a little scared. Still, I can bravely and wholeheartedly say that I will be inhaling every part of history, custodians of the land, nature, smells, and thoughts I will experience because that is why I am here on this sacred earth. To honor and nurture the moments of the country surrounding me, with the earth, sky, land, and sea.
Growth in Cultural Competency and Future Actions
I wholeheartedly believe I have transformed deeper into the Indigenous worldview experience, and I am astronomically grateful for this. My connection to First Nations worldviews has helped me become comfortable with how I view the world and who I am and have always been.
This common theme of fear of speaking up and of people’s judgments has been a lifelong healing journey from living with a father with brain diversity. I knew being comfortable sitting with the uncomfortable, understanding, and trusting after my first lecture with Noah; I would have so much more clarity as the weeks went on to have competent cultural competency. This week at work, through the essence of my being, I will be doing the acknowledgment with my twist. I will be discussing our playground and the non-human and human entities. I will be posing a different and soft way to share country with the children and guide them in how country can give back to us as we can give back to land. It feels effortless, soft, and reflective to think about, and it certainly has impacted how I tread my feet grounded to the earth and the words I speak. My cultural competence reminds me to lead always with my heart.
Cultural competency is not a destination but a continuous journey. This experience has reaffirmed the importance of leading with my heart, listening with intention, and walking gently on the land with awareness and gratitude.