Connecting with culture, Country and community on a Canteen October 2024 Immersion program

Canteen and Red Earth recently collaborated to facilitate a 2-day cultural immersion where a group of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Canteen young people spent time on the beautiful Deerubbin (Hawkesbury river) in Deerubbin lands learning about and connecting with Country, guided by First Nations Culture Facilitator, Uncle Graham. Canteen’s cultural immersion programs are designed to provide young people with a break from everyday life, to enable them to connect with other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in a culturally safe environment and to support them to thrive amidst the challenges of cancer.

The young people engaged in a range of cultural activities, including participating in opening and closing smoking ceremonies, yarning circles, and reflections by the fire. They took part in bush tucker and bush medicine walks, connected with local flora and fauna, enjoyed river swims, and created individual art pieces.They also listened to beautiful violin and didgeridoo music and visited a sacred site, where they observed 5,000-year-old rock carvings depicting stories linked to sky country, spirit, and creator stories. Here’s some of the reactions from the young people:

“I really enjoyed the sunrise and just listening out to the nature. Connecting with other young people was also so good and connecting with Country”.

“It was perfect”

It was incredibly moving to observe Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people from all over Australia connect with each other and embrace the cultural activities offered by Uncle Graham. Watching them quietly absorb the peace of their surrounds—whether swimming in the river or creating personal artworks on its banks—was a reminder of the healing power of land and culture, and the strength that arises when young people feel comfortable in spaces that honor their heritage.

A huge thank you to Uncle Graham and Red Earth for hosting/co-facilitating this incredible program.