Connecting with our land and traditions.

Having returned from Australia recently I remember clearly the announcements on public transport at the beginning of each journey or as we entered a museum or other such building. They state (for example) "Australia acknowledges the traditional owners of the land on which we stand and throughout Australia. We recognise the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal cultures; and to the Elders past and present."

The First Nation peoples share their stories in museums and other public spaces raising awareness and sharing their traditions and knowledge. In Melbourne's Immigration Museum there is an exhibition which comments on how the Māori believe that they were not supposed to adopt Christianity at the expense of tikanga Māori, however the influence of the church has indeed confused what was once clear for the tūpuna (ancestors).

Māreikura - Immigration Museum

Tikanga is a Māori concept set around customary practices and principles. Tikanga is made up of two words - 'tika' meaning correct, and 'ngā', which is the plural of a 'thing'. As a whole word, 'Tikanga' means 'the right way or thing to do at any given time' and 'all things that pertain to being right'. It essentially means to have an awareness of any culture, norms and ways of being and doing, therefore meaning 'to be culturally competent'.

It left me wondering whether our stories have disappeared; we don't have origin stories as well known as the Māori, Native Americans, or the Australian First Nation peoples for example but does that mean we have none? Lincolnshire is a large county and has a diverse landscape from the industrial north, through the gentle Wolds, along the coast on the east, and into the fields and fenlands in the south. This part of the country has seen invaders and settlers from many areas of the mainland over the centuries, and women will have encountered varying degrees of respect and freedom. Where are our mothers' voices? What were their traditions? - the wives and mothers of the fishermen out on the treacherous North Sea, and those of the farmers leaving at first dawn. What were the crafts and traditions, the stories and knowledges shared to keep them and their communities safe?

Let's search these out and pay homage to all they survived and become grounded in their and our traditions and once again share their stories.