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The Australian Defence Force has opened an Indigenous yarning circle on the grounds of the Royal Military College at Duntroon in Canberra.
The circle is envisioned to provide a new space to bring together members of the ADF and the public with a deep and meaningful connection to the ACT’s Ngunnawal tradition.
A traditional smoking ceremony was held on 12 May for the official opening of the Duntroon space, attended by personnel from the three services, members of the Ngunnawal Tribe, and Chief of the Defence Force General Angus Campbell.
Ngunnawal Elder Aunty Violet Sheridan said the yarning circle would serve as an important place for people to contemplate and appreciate the capital’s rich ties with country.
“This will be the place for people to come, sit down, and share. To me, it’s a sacred place,” Aunty Violet said.
“Having the Ngunnawal Yarning Circle at Duntroon is especially important as we have a lot of young people from Army, Air Force, and Navy coming through here and it gives them the chance to connect with our family as the traditional owners of the land it sits on.
“They’re here on country and so it’s something we can share as Ngunnawal people, particularly where we go and do smoking ceremonies and welcome new recruits doing training here at Duntroon for 13 weeks.
“The space will also be important for those training here to be officers. We can bring them in and help protect their spirits, so they know they have the full support and backing of the Ngunnawal people.
“When the recruits and officers eventually leave here and go back to their home, they will have learned more about — and shared — our culture to help them reconnect with the traditional owners of the particular country where they come from.
“Mutual respect is the key here really. It’s important that the yarning circle will help people from interstate understand how we can work together in making sure respect is given as well as received.”
Air Force Indigenous Liaison Officer Flight Lieutenant Kristal House was instrumental in the creation of the Duntroon Yarning Circle and Bush Tucker Garden.
FLTLT House previously built a yarning circle on site at RAAF Base Amberley in 2020. However, she said the Duntroon space was a little more unique.
“This place will bring together all levels of the ADF whenever hosting duties arise for people visiting from overseas, in order to give them a cultural immersion experience in the ways of our First Nations people,” FLTLT House said.
“We want this to happen through traditional ceremony, as well as developing an appreciation of the plants and animals so intrinsic to the lives of our First Nations people.
“For us as a Defence Force, the yarning circle highlights and helps ensure we respect the way Indigenous Australians use the very land we help defend.”
