Our Elders – paving the way for generations

Growing up in a tight-knit Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander family is The Salvation Army’s Tahana, Queensland’s Divisional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Engagement Coordinator. Being raised in the presence of Elders in her community, Tahana deeply understands the importance of learning from each other and passing knowledge down through the generations.

Reflecting on the importance of NAIDOC Week

“NAIDOC Week is a pretty significant week in the Indigenous community’s calendar,” says Tahana. She explains that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples needed a day to mourn what happened to them. Tahana extends upon this by saying, “That whole day of mourning changed into a whole week, and the idea was to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture. We have a very rich and diverse culture, and it’s a way for us to show the wider community that we are here. We exist and our culture is alive and thriving and we want to journey and partner with you to celebrate who we are.”

For Tahana, NAIDOC Week is a time to celebrate this journey together and learning from Elders has certainly shaped who she is today.

The role of Elders in our community

Our Elders have paved the way for future generations. And while Australians have gained much from their experiences, there is more for us to learn from the many messages shared via stories told.

Tahana knows firsthand that Elders are a special part of her culture. “Personally, Elders are the reason that I am here. When I look back on my life journey so far, each and every Elder that I've come across has contributed, has encouraged, has spoken life and sometimes spoken truth that at the time I thought was hurtful. But it was actually their way of telling me straight. Elders have helped me grow into the strong, proud Indigenous woman that I am today.”

Moreover, Tahana feels privileged to have had Elders support and shape her in her career pursuits. She states, “Every bit of advice I was given rang true, and I was challenged to take up a career that I actually felt that I was called to do.”

Bringing family together

A significant person in Tahana’s life was her Nan. “One of the greatest things that she taught me growing up is how to bring family together.”

Tahana recalls Christmas as a time that brings back many happy memories. “Nan would make me watch her make one of those traditional Christmas puddings. These were the ones that you put in the calico bag and boil it in a big pot. There was a particular moment in the recipe where she would put the flour in the bowl with suet mix. I used to watch her in that particular moment, preparing the mixture with her soft, gentle hands and rubbing it all together. I don’t know what was so significant about that, but it’s stuck with me forever.”

From there, the mixture forms a crumb and when you add in the wet ingredients, it combines well. Tahana explains, “It wasn’t until later on in life that I realised the symbolism of what it all actually meant and what I was watching. For me, it represented a legacy. It represented the passing of Nan’s knowledge.”

These days, Tahana loves cooking her Nan’s pudding for her family. “Especially because it brings my family together at Christmas time,” she says. “I love seeing them taste the pudding and the looks on their faces when they put it in their mouth and savour the flavours. It just brings back the nostalgia of being a kid and watching Nan make a pudding. It’s pretty special.”

Listening to learn

Listening is key. Tahana explains, “When Elders felt you were ready enough to be able to sit and listen to their conversations, they would invite you to the table.” One thing Tahana was able to learn in her own journey was to respect and learn.

“A key word is listening,” she continues. “In my language group, there’s a particular word called ‘binungal’, which means deep listening. When I hear this word, I know I need to actually be quiet, so I can listen deeply to the stories and absorb the life lessons. And this takes patience and maturity.”

“After spending time with Elders, it always filled my heart with much love, respect and pride. Having the opportunity to sit at the feet of them and listen to them speak of the days of old is something that I will cherish forever, these stories and those times I can never replace,” reflects Tahana.

Elders have paved the way for us to succeed. “It’s the behind the scenes and unseen things. Elders don’t want the big fanfare. But I think it’s important to acknowledge what they do,” says Tahana. She also states that Elders don’t necessarily need to be old. “There is confusion in some communities around who’s an Elder and who’s not an Elder”. An Elder is simply someone with a story to tell, someone who holds knowledge and is a role model.

For more information about NAIDOC Week, visit our Naidoc week page.