Thread by @IndigenousX

I think I want to start this by talking personal. As I mentioned in my intro, I just got back from my homelands. It was the first time in three years I have been up there and that's been tough because prior to COVID, I'd go every 6-12 months. It was a healing trip yet hard. TBC

I say "hard" because whilst I was up there, COVID started exploding in the NT and so given so many of my relos are elderly with health conditions, I didn't get to visit them for fear I might spread it. So I just want to shout out to NT mobs: stay safe, get vaxxed & #protectnan

I did, however, get to go on country a fair bit (apart from Mparntwe) and visit some really important sites to my ancestors. I want to share a photo of one such place. This is part of the Junction Waterhole

I've found the below article but back in the 90s, my nanna was part of the protest camp that set up to stop this women's site from being dammed. During news coverage, Nanna was heard calling the then Minister "you bloody dingo" from behind the camera ✊🏾
abc.net.au/local/stories/…

It's pretty humbling to be back in a spot where your ancestors have walked for millennia and have fought to protect for future generations. Dad & I told that story of nanna being busted on camera yelling at a Minister at her funeral. You didn't mess with Emily Liddle ❤️

Nanna was an Alice Springs Bungalow kid. I have shared this in many of my articles, but if you want to hear a snippet of her speaking about her time as a stolen kid, follow this link. It was recorded in the 90s as part of the Between Two Worlds exhibition: territorystories.nt.gov.au/10070/702243

I also just want to share this beautiful grinding stone we found whilst up at Junction, along with the cutting tools. Thanks to people like my nanna and other strong Arrernte women, I could walk up there and just see this stuff that ancestors of mine probably made. I mean, wow.