"Martuwarra: Living Water"

Professor Anne Poelina addressed the Eremos Inaugural Gathering for 2025 ONLINE on Sunday 9 March.  This is the video of her presentation, "Martuwarra: Living Water” 

Professor Anne Poelina, is an elder, academic, a citizen Nyikina Warrwa (Indigenous) Nation, community leader and passionate advocate. 
Her address explored the Martuwarra (Fitzroy River) as one of Earth's last great river systems and "how from the beginning of time, Aboriginal people connected to the area now known as the West Kimberley and cared for Country." 

To watch the video  CLICK HERE.

Resources

    1. Grafton, G., Poelina, A., & Milne, S., (12th February, 2025) “A fierce tussle over a Northern Territory river reveals Australia's stark choice on water justice” has been published in The Conversation, see https://theconversation.com/a-fierce-tussle-over-a-northern-territory-river-reveals-australias-stark-choice-on-water-justice-248766

    2. Second film shown in the video:  https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.28138700.v1 
Reference: Poelina, Anne; Diffusion, Science (2024). The Key to Solving Climate Change May Lie in Indigenous Wisdom. Figshare. Posted 11th February 2025. 

    3. More information about this project can be found here: https://livingwaterheritage.org/

    4. Martuwarra Fitzroy River Council  www.martuwarra.org.

About the speaker

Professor Anne Poelina, PhD, PhD, MEd, MPH&TM, MA. Is Chair & Senior Research Fellow Indigenous Knowledges Nulungu Institute Research University of Notre Dame, Adjunct Professor, College of Indigenous Education Futures, Arts & Society, Charles Darwin University, Darwin.

She is a filmmaker, poet and storyteller and gifted public speaker, incorporating the arts into knowledge brokerage and transformation. See: www.annepoelina.com.

Blessing

This blessing (not recorded) was offered at the end of the session and was written and read by Bethany South, Eremos Retreat Leader.
 
When you seek rest and healing,
May you find it in the still waters.
 
When you seek justice and freedom,
May you find it in the running waters.
 
When you seek peace and patience,
May you find it in the deep waters.
 
When you seek hope and peace-making,
May you find it in the hidden waters.
 
When you seek strength and power,
May you find it in the tidal waters.
 
When you seek nourishment and sustenance,
May you find it in the teeming waters.
 
When you seek knowledge and wisdom,
May you find it in the ground waters.
 
In the name of the Creator,
Through the power of the One called the Living Water,
And in the power of the Spirit.
 
Amen.