For half of my life, I grew up elsewhere, off Country, off Lutruwita/Tasmania, so I lived in Kulin Country and over Noongar Country and up in Gadigal Country and I always feel that I'm returning, in a sense, rather than returned because of the missing time and, you know, with place. So, I think about these things, what I recognise of Country and Country in me and of me.
I also find the word has been really amplified and universalised here on this continent in relatively recent years, by those also living in suburban … and particularly Southeastern people such as myself where we've been most impacted most devastatingly in those first couple of generations post-British raising their flag. I think that there are differences in relationships to Country, and this expectation that all Aboriginal peoples on this continent would have the same relationship is problematic, because it will make some people who have a way to go, including myself, with even spending enough time on Country, that it can make you feel lesser or failing in some way with this relationship, that's really with your greater self.
So yeah, there's a lot to think about in individualising these relationships so that you don't kind of come to them or reflect on them as never what they should be. I find it important to think about what our Ancestors did, who they are, and how we come from them and not to forget all of this that they went through so that we can be here, not to rush the process of reconnection with people and country because that won't work, you know. That's the point of Country Waits; it's still there even if it's under cement or going through some sense of tragedy of the waterways, et cetera, that it's still alive and so are we, and we find each other in that good time when we're meant to, I think that you have to trust in that.
