BABIES from local Indigenous communities have been celebrated in a ceremony on the banks of the Murray River to start their lifelong connection to Country.
After a smoking ceremony with dance, Wamba Wamba and Wadi Wadi woman Vicki Clark anointed each of the 20 babies with oil gifted from Aboriginal people in South Australia and ochre gifted from the local people, mixed in a coolamon.
The oil is meant for healing, and endows the babies with strength in heart, mind, spirit and connection to Country.
“It’s an absolute privilege to be invited to come and welcome these babies to their land, and to be welcomed like this is very significant and a lifelong part of their story,” Ms Clark said.
Prior to the ceremony, Ms Clark spoke to the gathered families and community about the thousands of babies that have been born on Country, with birthing trees planted with the placenta of each baby.
“This land is part of us, we are part of it, and it is in our DNA,” she said.
The mother of one of the welcomed babies, Ashleigh Moore, is a Wamba Wamba woman living on Dja Dja Warrung Country.
“This is really special to us, because I’m from here and we want our kids to have a connection to this Country, and it’s special to catch up with family and celebrate our new babies,” Ms Moore said.
“There’s something great about being on Country.”
Mallee District Aboriginal Service has held Welcome Baby to Country ceremonies for more than 10 years, connecting families and their babies to Wamba Wamba Country, since Wamba Wamba woman Lowana Moore started them in Swan Hill.
These ceremonies are now practised in communities around the country.
