Text and photos : Judy Bennett
Guurrbi Tours, Nugal-warra rock art tours with a Traditional Elder.
The south-east corner of Cape York is home to the Guugu Yimithirr nation, with its distinct language, culture, bush foods, medicines and history. The nation is made up of various clans, each with their own clan estates. One such estate, that of the Nugal-warra, is home to a multitude of rock art sites of both cultural and spiritual significance. Previously inaccessible to visitors, it is now possible to visit some of these sites in the company of Willie Gordon, a Nugal-warra Elder, and to hear the stories, myths and legends depicted in the paintings.
“Behind the art lies the story of the Guugu Yimithirr tribe. This art reminds us who we are. It renews our historical and spiritual links with the land, and gives us our sense of belonging.”
Wilfred (Willie) Gordon, Nugal-warra Elder.
The sites, set in a dramatic landscape, include the Reconciliation Cave, which portrays a heart-warming story of acceptance and compassion, and an ancestral Birthing Cave which is a place of particular importance to the clan. Two-hour and four-hour tours from Hope Vale depart daily Monday to Saturday, either self-drive, or with transport from Cooktown provided. The tours give visitors an insight into Aboriginal culture and society, and an understanding of the ancient philosophy which shows us all how to engage the environment in order to better understand ourselves.
There are three other Aboriginal-owned tourism enterprises in the Hope Vale area. Maaramaka Tours, owned by Irene Hammett, offers lunch and tea at her home in the bush, complete with billy tea and damper. Here she entertains visitors with stories of her family and of the history of Hope Vale in a beautiful, relaxing bush setting. Elder Eddie Deemal has camping facilities at the glorious beach of Elim, close to the famous Coloured Sands. And there is a permanent campsite nearby run by Chrissy Deemal, where meals are also provided. To the south of Cooktown, in the Aboriginal community of Wujal Wujal, visitors can visit the Bloomfield Falls with members of the Walker Family, traditional owners for the area, and see this special place through their eyes.
Localisation
Cape York, près de Cooktown
Contact
Willie Gordon & Judy Bennett
PO Box 689, Cooktown, Qld 4895, Australia.
Tel : (+61)7 4069 6043 ;
Mobile (JB) : (+61) 417 305 490 ; (WG) : (+61) 428 781 199.
E-mail : info@guurrbitours.com
Web site : www.guurrbitours.com
Language : English
Another possible tour to take in the hour.
Walker Family Tours.
The Walker Family are members of the Kuku Yalanji people who have lived in this area of the World Heritage rainforest for tens of thousands of years. They now share their wealth of cultural knowledge with visitors, guiding them to some of the special places on their lands, and allowing the visitor to see the landscape through their eyes and to learn about the cultural significance of the area. Thirty minute, one hour and two hour tours are available. Afterwards you can join family members for tea and damper, and have the opportunity to buy art and crafts from the Yalanji people.
Francis Walker
Walker Family Tours, c/- Post Office,
Wujal Aboriginal Community, Queensland 4895, Australia.
Tel. : (+61) 7 4060 8069 or 8139.
Fax : (+61) 7 4060 8108.
E-mail : walkerfamilytours@bigpond.com
Web site : www.walkerfamilytours.wujal.com.
Guurrbi Tours
Nugal-warra rock art tours with a Traditional Owner.
Guurrbi Tours :
Pam’s Place, PO Box 689, Cooktown, Qld 4895
Tel. : (+61) 7 4069 6259
Fax : (+61) 7 4069 5964.
Maaramaka Tours
Irene Hammett
C/o Post Office, Hope Vale, via Cooktown, Qld 4895, Australia.
Tel. : (+61) 7 4060 9389
E-mail : irenehammett@hotmail.com.
Eddie Deemal :
C/o Post Office, Hope Vale, via Cooktown, Qld 4895, Australia.
Tel. : (+61) 7 4060 9223
Malabama Tours
Chrissy Deemal
C/o Post Office, Hope Vale, via Cooktown, Qld 4895, Australia.
Tel. : (+61) 429439555