Briefing on the WA Aboriginal Journey Ways project and a conversation with Grace Forrest

The Governor was today briefed about the WA Aboriginal Journey Ways project from the Honourable Rita Saffioti, Minister for Transport and representatives from Main Roads WA.

The WA Aboriginal Journey Ways project is a collaboration between Kurongkurl Katitjin, Edith Cowan University, and Main Roads Western Australia. The aim is to research and articulate traditional cultural meanings of selected Aboriginal journey ways that are aligned with modern main roads and bridges. A small research team, including Aboriginal researchers, is visiting custodial Elders across the State collecting stories that will be collated and published.

Many main roads in WA are built on journey ways that were walked by Aboriginal people for tens of thousands of years. They were walked as songlines, trade routes and seasonal runs. Songlines are living narratives, usually a journey made by one of the spiritual ancestors. Songlines have layers of meaning revealed slowly over a lifetime. Trade routes are movements made by larger groups travelling to traditional gathering places for trading, lore and ceremony. Runs are the movements of family groups taking particular routes enabling them to enjoy the benefits of the six seasons.

Later in the day I met with Grace Forrest, anti-slavery activist on a mission to end modern slavery globally.

What a delightful and inspiring young lady so full of passion and purpose.

I cannot wait to bring you the Conversations at Government House so you can all hear Grace’s phenomenal story and what inspires her to continue to abolish slavery worldwide.

The video will be launched next week to celebrate Youth Week 2021. In the meantime, check out Walk Free to learn more about Grace and this amazing organisation.

 

 

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