The generous gift to the Elders Council of Tasmania Aboriginal Corporation was much appreciated by our Elders, who would also like to thank Alison Overeem and her team – Ayla Williams and Grace Williams – for advocating on behalf of the Elders Council to acquire it.
As Elders and leaders within our Aboriginal community of Lutruwita the bus will be utilised for the following purposes:
culture-based workshops for men and youth for preparing wood and making clap sticks, making spears and fish traps, canoe making and other men's business
culture-based workshops for women and youth in basket weaving, bull kelp gathering and preparation, necklaces and bangle making, bush tucker and women's business
returning to Country with our young people to share, practise and maintain our culture
returning to Country for spiritual connections and health and wellbeing
culture-based activities will occur at the Elders premises between on country workshops that will continue engagement of community members, and in particular our Elders and youth
building and strengthening a positive relationship with Elders, community and young people to ensure a safe and health wellbeing environment for them within our community
to work and connect in partnership with other community based organisation’s such as Leprena etc.
With the gift of this bus the Elders will continue as always to be at the forefront of keeping Tasmanian Aboriginal cultural knowledges, stories, strengths and experiences respected and appreciated by connecting to country and community within Lutruwita because as Elders within our community we recognise that it is essential that cultural strengthening remain at the fore front of our activities and planning by the Elders to ensure the survival of our culture and traditions.
Time needs to be taken to pass on our stories, knowledges and practices to counteract the negative impacts of colonisation on our people and build the strength, wellbeing and resilience of future generations, particularly our youth based in our traditional culture. In this way, as Elders, we can support our community to overcome the intergenerational damage that is evident in the level of disadvantage experienced by our people today.
With our Elders, young people and community the benefit of strong cultural connections and sense of cultural identity is increasingly recognised in research as underpinning the health and wellbeing of our people. For example: close relationships between Elders, young people and other family within the community enable cultural knowledges, stories and strengths to be passed down through generations.
The Elders Council know it is important to respect, recognise and invest in our people's spiritual connections, health and wellbeing as our culture is central to our lives as we identify culture as a key factor to the health and wellbeing of our people. It shapes our Aboriginal identity, linking family to their community and country.