Kayla: Gulpa gaka aganya Yorta Yorta woka.
Come walk with us friends on Yorta Yorta Country.
[On-screen text: Kayla Baksh, Cultural Ambassador, Traditional Agreement Officer]
My name is Kayla Baksh. I am a proud Dja Dja Wurrung, Gunai Kurnai, Yorta Yorta woman and I am proud to be a Cultural Ambassador for this year’s Victoria Nature Festival.
I work at the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning in the Loddon Mallee as a Traditional Owner Agreement Officer.
In my role, I deal with Dja Dja Wurrung’s Recognition and Settlement Agreement and the implementation of Schedule 16.
I also gained fire training and am now General Firefighter qualified and have participated in Cultural burning.
Today I ask you all to walk with me on Yorta Yorta country, my home.
Here at Kailtheban Park, in Mooroopna, along the Kiela Goulburn River, where I am here today, I often spend my time practising dance ceremonies, dancing spirit of Country and affirming my connection to Country.
Kalitheban Park is a culturally significant place as the Kalitheban clan settled here before colonisation and is one of the eight clan groups on Yorta Yorta Country.
One of my favourite memories growing up as a child, is when we would go for BBQs and all I wanted to do was roll around in the grass, rolling down hills with my siblings, it was so much fun.
Now when I take my littles ones out, they do that too, and it makes me laugh and think of those times when I was young.
I am also passionate about healing Country because when Country is unwell, people are unwell.
Recently on National Tree Planting Day I was able to come out with my local community group Wulumbarra and we got 80 trees planted that day.
Wulumburra is a First Nations environmental conservation group, and we come together to practice culture, language, dance ceremony and gather to heal Country.
Healing Country heals people, through not just connection to it, but by being out on it brings physical and psychological benefits for everyone.
I would encourage you all to get involved with nature, get out to know the Country you live on, and as I take inspiration from this year's Reconciliation Week theme, Be Brave Make Change.
Be brave, listen to Traditional Owners. Make change, find out what plants and animals belong and are native to your Country and re-introduce that flora and fauna.
Birra Aganya. Goodbye my friends.
Thank you for joining me on Yorta Yorta Country.
I hope you all enjoy this year’s festival.
[End of transcript]
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