The Bush University:
Sharing Indigenous Wisdom; honouring diversity, inclusion; social & environmental justice.
Paul has been a student of Wardaman Aboriginal Elder Yidumduma Bill Harney for over 30 years and presents Bush University, Land Of the Lightning Brothers, a presentation of rock art, with associated Creation Stories, didgeridoo, songs, dance and video clips from Bill's Wardaman homeland in the Victoria River region of Australia's Northern Territory.
Using immersive, multi-media storytelling Paul draws from the ancient Aboriginal cosmology, offering a gateway into the "Dreaming", the world’s oldest living culture – in what Wardaman Elder Yidumduma Bill Harney calls the Bush University. Bush University is the Aboriginal term for the School of Nature, paying attention to all living things, the land and the stars. These are spiritually alive, full of story and song; constantly teaching us; reminding us of our primary role to care for the natural world.
The Bush University teaches us to be custodians, to "Care for Country."
Bush University can be adapted to any audience and can feature;
- An introduction to Aboriginal Culture, Wisdom and the "Dreaming": the Spiritual Law.
- The Wardaman Creation Story in rock art and song.
- The three major Creators, Gorrondolmi Rainbow (Water), Dungdung Frog Lady (Earth Mother) and Nardi Sky Boss (Sky Father).
- Overview of European "settlement" or invasion, the Convicts and Colonization
- Bill growing up in two worlds; the Traditional with full ceremony; and the Cattle Industry with slavery.
- The Stolen Generation, assimilation and issues of colour
- Lightning Brothers Story and rock art
- The Moon, Possum & Spirit Children story of Rebirth, with rock art
- Animal/Bird/ Insect images and rock art
- Didgeridoo making
Yubulyawan Dreaming Project YDP
Under Bill's guidance, Paul directs the Yubulyawan Dreaming Project YDP, a dedicated effort to video document and share the wonderful cultural heritage and wisdom of Yidumduma. Here you can see many video clips of Bill sharing his culture in his own words.
- Learn
Yidumduma Bill Harney
Land of the Lightning Brothers Flyer
Bush University Slide show
Yubulyawan Dreaming Project
- Watch
Bill on National TV
Bill on Wyoming Public TV - Listen
Leedi CD Songs, stories, birds and didjeridoo
- More Information
Letter from the Elders
More About Bill
Bill's Art
Yidumduma Bill Harney is an Elder and Senior Male Aboriginal custodian of the Wardaman people of the Victoria,
Flora, and Katherine River Districts of the Northern Territory of Australia. Born in MUY MUY clan country in the early 1930's, Yidumduma is of the YUBULYAWAN clan.
Raised and educated in Wardaman traditional ceremony, Yidumduma is the last fully initiated Wardaman man and speaks seven languages. He worked at an early age on cattle stations and throughout his life has prospered in both Indigenous and non-Indigenous worlds.
He has been described as one of Australia's living 'National Treasures'.
