Stephen Korp: Hi, my name is Stephen Korp and I am a proud Wamba Wemba fella.
[On-screen text: Stephen Korp, Cultural Ambassador, Program Manager, Aboriginal Partnerships]
This year, I am the cultural ambassador for the Victoria Nature Festival for 2022.
In my role, I do cultural burning, which I am very passionate about, as cultural burning puts the landscape within fire.
I also work with Traditional Owners to help and support their self-determination.
My special place for me is Muyimer, which is Lake Boga. It is where my mob is from.
Lake Boga was a meeting place for us, for hunting and gathering. We held ceremonies and we fished along Lake Boga.
I went back on Country to hold a smoking ceremony at the start of NAIDOC Week to bring my family connected to Country.
Another special place for me is the Little Murray River, and the mighty Murray River, where they both join.
Here I am walking down to the Ten Steps near Riverside Park in Swan Hill on Wamba Wemba Country.
It is also a place where we liked to go fishing along the river, as well as camping and trading tools with our nearby tribes.
To me, Country means a sense of belonging and connecting to the lands, to the water.
I look after Country by our traditional burning program and protecting culture within our landscapes.
It is very important to me to keep culture alive.
It is important to keep sharing and educating not only for our Aboriginal community but for the broader community.
Holding welcome to Countries, smoking ceremonies, yarning circles are always good ways to educate and bring people together to experience Aboriginal culture.
Starting a conversation with your family about the colours of the Aboriginal flag are, what do they mean? What is the difference between an acknowledgement to Country and a welcome to Country?
I would like to encourage everyone to join the festival this year by heading to the website or the Facebook page to learn more.
[End of transcript]
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