Elder to Elder

If you are an Elder reading this page, I am writing to you. In much of this website, I speak to non-Indigenous Australians, because that is the work I have taken on: bringing them along to sit down with us, so as to hear the truth spoken plainly.

But I want to make sure we have a place here for our own connection, because I do not want to be talking past you.

The best chair I have is the guest chair at my Yarning Circle, at St John's Cathedral in Brisbane. Every month or so, an Elder, a First Nations Ally, or a Friend who walks with us, comes to sit and speak with a room of people who have come to listen, and talks about their life journey, and answers questions honestly.

Afterwards, I present a proper record of the morning: a few photographs, and a summary report that stays on this site, so the story is not lost when the morning ends.

Recently, Aunty Sandra King sat in that chair. So have Uncle Billy Gorham, Colin Thomas, Dr Noritta Morseu-Diop and Remah Naji. If you want, I would welcome your taking your place in that Yarning Circle next.

The First Nations Community Calendar Updates from this site go out every Friday to people across Brisbane and South-East Queensland who want to show up and support our events. If you and your organisation have something coming, send it in and I will list it. That is the First Nations Calendar's whole purpose.

And I ask one thing of you. If you read anything on these pages that I have got wrong, tell me straight. I would rather be corrected by an Elder than praised by anyone else.

You can reach me right here, by the form below this letter. If the phone suits you better than typing, leave your number and I will ring you. Come and sit with me.

Uncle Bill Lemson