November 21st, 2024Welcome baby … to Country
More than 50 babies born on Dja Dja Wurrung Country have been welcomed to Country at a special ceremony hosted by DJAARA in partnership with Bendigo Health.
The Welcome Baby to Country ceremony took place on Tuesday, November 12 in the Garden for the Future at White Hills, Bendigo.
DJAARA general manager Cassandra Lewis said the ceremony honoured and acknowledged an infant’s connection to the lands on which they are born.
“DJAARA is proud to share this Dja Dja Wurrung cultural ceremony formally welcoming new babies to Country,” Ms Lewis said.
“The smoking ceremony and traditional Welcome connects babies to Country and offers them wellbeing and protection.
“We hope that, by nurturing babies’ connection to Dja Dja Wurrung Country, we are not only enriching their own lives but also fostering greater understanding and connection to Dja Dja Wurrung People.
“Practising our traditional cultural ceremonies helps Dja Dja Wurrung People to heal from the impacts we still experience as a result of colonisation, keeping us connected to our culture.”
Through their ongoing partnership, DJAARA and Bendigo Health have welcomed over 500 babies to Dja Dja Wurrung Country since 2019.
The gathering continues to share Dja Dja Wurrung’s cultural practices with the broader community of Bendigo.
Words & Image: Supplied
