October 28, 2025 • 20 mins
In this episode, I sit down with proud Meuram woman Lala Gutchen from Erub island in the Torres Strait — a language teacher, diver, and climate advocate whose life’s work is rooted in protecting Country.
We met at the First Nations Clean Energy Summit on Kabi Kabi Country, where Lala shared her story about preserving language, culture, and Sea Country in the face of rising tides and corporate development. From teaching her people’s first language, Erub Mer, to giving evidence in court alongside her parents to defend her homeland, Lala reminds us that caring for Country isn’t just environmental work — it’s cultural survival.
Together, we yarn about the Torres Strait 8, youth leadership, the importance of elders’ guidance, and how connection to Country keeps language alive. Lala’s words are powerful and grounding — a reminder that protecting the planet begins with listening to those who live closest to it.
🎧 Tune in to hear a deeply moving conversation about family, resistance, and hope — and why, as Lala says, “Country breathes the language to us.”
Resources & Links
First Nations Clean Energy Network
Learn more about the movement bringing mob together to shape a clean energy future.
https://www.firstnationscleanenergy.org.au
Torres Strait 8 Campaign
Read about the landmark human rights case led by Torres Strait Islanders to hold the Australian Government accountable for climate inaction.
https://ourislandsourhome.com.au
Erub Island
Information about Erub, its people, and culture from Torres Strait Regional Authority.
https://www.tsra.gov.au/the-torres-strait/community-profiles/erub
Ben & Jerry’s – Protect the Islands Campaign
How the global ice cream brand partnered with the Torres Strait 8 to raise awareness about rising sea levels.
https://www.benandjerry.com.au/values/issues-we-care-about/climate-justice/torres-strait
Koori Mail
Australia’s national Indigenous newspaper covering stories like the Torres Strait 8 and climate justice.
https://koorimail.com
The Black Magic Woman Podcast is hosted by Mundanara Bayles and is an uplifting conversational style program featuring mainly Aboriginal guests and explores issues of importance to Aboriginal people and communities. Mundanara is guided by Aboriginal Terms of Reference and focusses more on who people are rather than on what they do.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
Black Cast, Unite our voices. Welcome to the Black Magic
Woman Podcast with Mandanara Bail. Welcome to another episode of
the Black Magic Woman Podcast. We are on the beautiful
(00:24):
unseeded land of the Kabbycaby Gabby Gabby people's which is
the Sunshine Coast. For listeners that have never heard of
Kabycabby Country, it is beautiful country here in Queensland. I'm
actually at this amazing summit that's brought together about four
hundred and fifty traditional owners, industry leaders, government and just
(00:46):
community to talk about clean energy. So the T shirt
that I'm wearing, if you can see the whole lot
powered by US First Nations. Clean Energy and renewables is
a new conversation for some of our mob, but it's
an old con station for a lot of our mob
that have been dealing with different peoples, different big corporations
(01:12):
that might be developing or building infrastructure on their lands.
A lot of this infrastructure has negative impacts to our
people and our communities and very importantly some of our
sacred sites. So these conversations that I'm having with all
different mob are covering all different topics, but a lot
of them are coming back to country, community and culture
(01:37):
and looking after our planet, our mother. So this yarn,
I'm excited because I was sitting in the conference room
and listening to a panel and one of the speakers
is Lala, who you're about to hear. And Lala was
talking about her island where she comes from, and being
(01:59):
a language teacher and also a climate advocate. But to
give any more why, I'm gonna hand over to you,
my sister, to introduce yourself to my listeners and to
our viewers now tuning in via YouTube. You want to
share your name, your mob, your community, and a little
bit about where you grew up.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
What's the wall hours, well for the opportunity, So see
mayam everybody.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
My name is Lala Gatchen.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
I'm from Aeroblin In the Torres Strait also known as
Danley Island. So Aerobylin is located in the eastern part
of the Torres Strait from the Comerica Mariam nation, so
we have the volcanic islands on the east side. So
I'm a proud Merum tribe woman. My trival totem is
the bulger, which is the brown sea booby bird. My
(02:51):
family tal terms are the green turtle, which is numb
in my language Serra da urn bird and also on
my the dog.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
So that's my background.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
I teach the first language of my people, which is
Eru Mer is a dialect that is spoken on erub
Ugar and it's a dialect of the Maria Mirror language,
which is the major language for the eastern cluster in
the Torres Strait.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
And for a lot of our listeners that are tuning
in not just in Australia but right around the world.
Where is the Torrest Strait?
Speaker 2 (03:24):
Oh, the Torrest Strae relocated between the Tip of Australia,
the northern part of Tip of Australia and Papua New Guinea.
So he's a cluster of islands spread I don't know
how many kilometers, but you can see them there. Torres
Street is made out of different you know, groups of
islands and different unique structures of islands. As I mentioned,
I'm from the Volcanic Island area and the other ones
(03:44):
he made out of different like a low silt islands and.
Speaker 3 (03:50):
Coralatal islands or yeah.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
And Lala, you've come all the way down to Kabi
Kabby country, long way from home for you? What brought
you to this conference? What was you here to talk about?
Speaker 2 (04:04):
I was more weird to share my experience in this
sort of space. So I do a lot of work
around climate activists in Torres Straits, so more of like
protecting country. So for the job that I do as
a language teacher, so we all know that we Indigenous people,
we must protect country. Country breaths the language to us.
(04:27):
So that's why I'm here to talk to find ways
that you can go less hardware on country because it
will affect the language preservation work that I'm doing.
Speaker 1 (04:37):
Well, of course it makes sense. It makes sense to
me as an Indigenous woman, and I hope it makes
sense for a lot of non indigenous people because you're
part of and I'm talking to you fellas now, whether
you're just listening in the car, or you're sitting on
a Virgin plane tuning in, or you're watching this on YouTube,
wherever you are in the world. In Australia, the Indigenous
(04:59):
population make up three percent, So the ninety seven percent
of the population a non Indigenous Australians, and we need
to bring the ninety seven percent along on this journey
because they too should have an invested interest into looking
after this planet. For future generations. So this should be
all of our responsibility to look after country, to protect country,
(05:23):
and that also would then preserve our languages. A lot
of our languages have been lost due to colonization and
the work that you're doing now, I know that you've
had some big challenges within your community fighting for climate change.
What's the case? There's a famous case that someone whispered
(05:43):
in my ear here that you and your family were
involved in where you had the court come to your
country and you got to talk to them as one
of the witnesses. Can you share with listeners a little
bit about that important case?
Speaker 3 (05:59):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (05:59):
Sure, Well, well I've first of all, I didn't have
an ye you know, understanding where how to get myself
into spaces like this until one of a lovely lady
Marowa Johnson reached out to me and asked me if
I wanted to be part of the case as a
cultural witnesses. So I decided to take that on as
an opportunity. So I had the support from my father
(06:21):
and mother, and my father told me it's like, if
you're going to put in your knowledge, I will be
there to support you along with my parents like my mom.
So yeah, we gave evidence on sea country land country
because I come from a family where we fisherman and
we still practice like cultivation really strong in my family.
(06:42):
I come from a family that still has sixteen native
species of banana in our garden and we keep them
that strong that we want to protect those things because
it's not only food supply, but it's all connected everywhere
part of who we are. So that's why I get involved.
And we had the court come up. So it was
a youth wedding Versta Aurata, Co Call and yeah, it's
(07:06):
five what I called five cultural witnesses, and three of
it happened to be me, my mom, and my dad.
And I'm very happy and I'm proud to be part
of that journey and them to be along with me,
because if you really shape me to be the person
I am today, to continue the work that really sparked
my interest in, you know, fighting to stop call and
(07:27):
gas in the ground and find alternative ways to power energy.
That's why I'm here at this first nation gathering here
for clean energies, as we're trying to look at ways
that way we can be like get access for these
energy instead of ruining country. So that's why I we
get involved with the case is a very tough one.
(07:47):
But I was honored that the court could come to
my country for three days. I took them out on
Sea Country. I showed them the sea country, the storyline
where I grew up, that how we be affected and
if they go ahead with the with the project, it
will cause more damage to it. And then I go
can't continue my duties and abligation as a first nation
person to care for it. Just like you said, everybody
(08:07):
have to care for it. But I have a value
even instilling me from when I long before time, when
our ancestors, we work on this country, we have to
care for it. So yeah, that's how I get myself involved,
and that's why I'm here.
Speaker 3 (08:22):
I want to learn more.
Speaker 1 (08:23):
And you're seeing some good things happen.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
Yeah, I'm seeing good things happening, like more young people
now involved in this space. But what we're trying to
do is get the education side around, you know, educating
our young ones for understand more about what is clean
energy and how we can benefit out of it. Like
when you look at it a tour street and you
make a small percentage of the population in Australia, So
(08:47):
why can't we get access to these these sort of
things for power were on the Middle Islands, Like, I mean.
Speaker 3 (08:54):
It'll be really good for us.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
With the high cost of living in the Torres Strait
and on top of the lack of employment, how people.
Speaker 3 (09:01):
Supposed to survive. So we look after each other. We
look after each.
Speaker 2 (09:05):
Other, whether we got we got or we know got
we still look after each other. But it becomes really
hard that people have to relocate, not to the mainland.
So there is change, but yeah, slowly.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
Slowly, and the climate change and the sea levels that
are rising have been not particularly in mainstream media. But
I've been seeing it in indigenous media, Aboriginal radio, Couri Mail,
I've been seeing it in the Black Fellow space shining
(09:40):
a light on this. But in mainstream Australia there's not
much media attention when it comes to the rising of
the sea levels. I actually bought a tub of ice
cream from Ben and Jerry's and I was in Malula
Bar where the Ben and Jerry's you know, ice cream
shop is and right on the front of the shop
(10:02):
on their ice cream the fridge was this big, big
like banner and I'm looking at and it said something
about the Torres Strait, and I said, what is this
American ice cream company?
Speaker 3 (10:15):
What?
Speaker 1 (10:15):
How have they connected or what there? What is their
relationship with Torisa people? So I then got on and
I googled, and I've seen that Ben and Jerry is
in America is supporting the climate at eight. Is it
called the Climate eight the Torres Strait eight? Is it
a court case?
Speaker 2 (10:32):
Yeah, it was a denied beeve very well, very other
court case.
Speaker 3 (10:36):
It's another one. Why Yeah.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
But the ship that I'm werrying here is Protective Island
from the Campaignland, our own born out.
Speaker 3 (10:45):
Of the tor Straight eight.
Speaker 2 (10:46):
So I'm one of the island ambassadors for that island
power Wow.
Speaker 3 (10:51):
And here I am yowning with you.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
Yeah, I was literally my husband loves bean and Jerry's
ice cream loves The Chunky Monkey is a good one.
It's got the banana in it and the chop and there's
vegan range for vegans as well. Murraw with Johnson. She's
a very gable woman. That's my father's people. So Murrow
(11:13):
was like my sister. Yeah, small world, shout out, she's
another baby. Now, congratulations and we've got to get Murrow
on this podcast. But what's some kind of words of wisdom,
like what can we share with some of our non
indigenous people listening to this podcast. What do you want
(11:34):
them to know?
Speaker 3 (11:36):
What's missing?
Speaker 1 (11:37):
Where are the gaps or how can they support some
of these initiatives or campaigns for your people in particular,
but for Indigenous people anywhere that are impacted or we're
not at the table, we're not invited to have these
conversations when these decisions are made without us. What do
(11:58):
you want to share with them? What do you want
people to know?
Speaker 2 (12:00):
Well, as a grassroop play, we grow up all my
life on the island for thirty two years.
Speaker 3 (12:07):
One thing I received at a gap where my people is.
Speaker 2 (12:10):
That we never got the seat at the table, and
often we get forgotten because other people want to speak
on be off of us. It should first and all,
it should be a person living on country speak. And
then if we get stuck into understanding anything, then others
can step in. Because I believe that our voice you
(12:30):
are more power because we leave it.
Speaker 3 (12:34):
I leave it. I see it every day.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
And what I want to put it out day is
that if if you have time and you look to
straight islander, you sit down, you have a yron with
a torch to islander. You'll be surprised what we know
and what we want to know, because I think we
be so isolated up on the islands that we only
(12:57):
come to the mainland when we come. But then we
have our families that are on the mainland living here
that build a bridge for us and you know, reach
out to us and stuff. But I think the most
important thing is that if you want to know more
is you must engage with us living on country because
we have a different story from our family that live
(13:18):
on the mainland. We see the world from different perspective
and I'm grateful for BES. I just want to thank
our First Nation Clean Energy Network for bringing me down
here and to have a you know, space on the
panel to have those those conversations and a share with
the big group, because I didn't realize the group was
(13:38):
that big people big as a bit nervous, but I'm
happy that I got a space the way I can
share the story so people can understand that from my perspective,
and as I mentioned, I'm not years representing somebody. I'm
here as a concerned community member and I know that
my family back home is very proud of me for
coming down and because when I go home, I tell
(13:58):
them that. So it's more of building the bridge with grassroots.
That's the main thing. That's the only thing you can understand.
If you want to understand country, you have to do that.
Speaker 3 (14:09):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (14:10):
And what about for the young people listening now? The
young people. We need these young people to start to
educate themselves. We need these young people to find their voice,
to find their feet. And having you on this podcast,
I know is going to inspire and motivate a lot
of the younger people that are coming through the ranks
(14:32):
where they're not too sure yet where they're needed. You know. Now,
ole people put us on the right path. We just
have to trust in that process. But some of our
young people still a little bit lost. What would you
say to the younger people coming along?
Speaker 2 (14:47):
Well, I talked from my perspective is that you have
to find the right person or gay to you. And
we all know that teaching, for steaching is start at home.
Take the time for sit with the elderly people, your mummy,
your daddy, your grandparents them. One of the most important
(15:07):
people I can tell you, because I grateful for my upbringing,
is that I use that, and I've seen it with
other young people. How they you know, we changed over
the years that put them silly things aside, like take
the time instead of go on, or we can go
(15:27):
do other things. Take the time for go on country,
Go sit with grandparents, be your uncle or auntie. You
go surprise how many people like everybody is an expert
in them own right. And you can be an old
person or a young person or a middle eight person.
You have ten percent knowledge somebody don't have, and that's
the time there now for you for pass it on
(15:49):
and sit with them, because that's the only way you
put you in the right track. And I think me
as I believe where cultural values where I wanted to
be something else in life. I wanted to be offisher man.
I wanted to own my own boat, so i'm my background.
I'm a fisherman and a diver. I wanted to do that.
But then my father put me in the right thing
(16:11):
and said, now it's your turn to take over the
language teaching. Because he taught language for several decades for free,
and because he knew that he was the right thing
to do, so when he told me to do it, I'd.
Speaker 3 (16:22):
Be scared like i'n't be scared.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
I was just obeying my traditional laws and saying whatever
I want to be his thing. But when I look back,
I thank my father for doing that because he saved
my life, that's one thing. And be saved me from
doing wrong things. And I can say that my ancestors.
He guide me every day with the work I do,
because when I wake up, I'm always on the go.
(16:44):
It's timey ticking, and that's why the only thing and
save you is culture, language.
Speaker 3 (16:53):
And family time. That's all I can say. Well, he
can put you in the right pathway.
Speaker 1 (16:59):
There's a lot of distractions for us with devices, malbl fan, TikTok,
social media, Instagram, Snapchat, and my children they are caught
up on this. And for the younger generation that are listening,
hopefully this is an opportunity for you to start thinking
about how can you, you know, how can you participate
(17:21):
in some of these conversations as our young people that
perspective of a young person, there are conversations where it's
needed to get the youth involved. How is this impacting you?
How are you feeling? What are the challenges for you
as a young person? You know, so a lot of
the time, I realize that the young people are missing
(17:41):
out or they don't feel like they're being heard. So
I try and use this opportunity as well with this
podcast to let our younger generation know that they are
being heard, that we are making space for them to
come and sit at the table as well. And I
hope we get some more young people on this podcast
to share some of this stuers. So, my sister Lala,
(18:01):
it's been an absolute privilege. If I wasn't here, I
wouldn't have got to meet you. I'm hoping that I
can come to your island. We will crayfish and I
know tourism has taken off in the Torres Strait. You've
got pi Ando cruise ships coming through there.
Speaker 3 (18:18):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (18:20):
Yes, So there is opportunities for tourism, for indigenous to
operators to create their own businesses and to be able
to hopefully create a living and income for their families
without having to leave the island. But if the sea
keeps rising, then that's going to be detrimental. It's going
to force families off the island to having to relocate,
(18:43):
and that's the last thing that we want. So I'm
hoping that we can bring as much attention to this
very important conversation, and that's right around the world. It's
not just in this country, but because we are Indigenous
women in this country, we are focusing on our families
and our communities. So thank you for the work that
you do for your family, your community, for your people,
(19:06):
for us and for future generations. We need more people
like you that are guided by elders, because it's hard
to do this work without the support from our community.
So it's not for everyone.
Speaker 3 (19:20):
We know that, So.
Speaker 1 (19:22):
Biggest ours well for coming and yeah, if there's anything
I can do to support as well, you reach out
to me, let me know too, deadly, So on that note,
or you mob listening all the way from edub Island
in the Torres Strait, I was able to actually meet Lala,
(19:43):
hear some of her stories and some of the things
that she's doing in her community. And it's something that
I usually say, you know, how do we fill our cups?
But here I am yarning with Lala and many other
people that have taken time out of their busy lives
to be here at the First Nation's Clean Energy Summit.
Biggest to the organizers, thank you for letting me and Clint,
(20:07):
my producer, be here and capture these deadly stories. I
hope you've enjoyed this deadly yarn. Until next time, bye
for now. If you'd like any more info on today's guest,
please visit our show notes in the episode description. A
big shout out to all you Deadly Mob and allies
who continue to listen, watch, and support our podcast. Your
(20:29):
feedback means the world.
Speaker 3 (20:31):
You can rate and review.
Speaker 1 (20:33):
The podcast on Apple and Spotify, or even head to
our socials and YouTube channel and drop us a line.
We'd love to hear from you. The Black Magic Woman
podcast is produced by Clint Curtis
Black Cast, Unite our voices. Welcome to the Black Magic
Woman Podcast with Mandanara Bail. Welcome to another episode of
the Black Magic Woman Podcast. We are on the beautiful
(00:24):
unseeded land of the Kabbycaby Gabby Gabby people's which is
the Sunshine Coast. For listeners that have never heard of
Kabycabby Country, it is beautiful country here in Queensland. I'm
actually at this amazing summit that's brought together about four
hundred and fifty traditional owners, industry leaders, government and just
(00:46):
community to talk about clean energy. So the T shirt
that I'm wearing, if you can see the whole lot
powered by US First Nations. Clean Energy and renewables is
a new conversation for some of our mob, but it's
an old con station for a lot of our mob
that have been dealing with different peoples, different big corporations
(01:12):
that might be developing or building infrastructure on their lands.
A lot of this infrastructure has negative impacts to our
people and our communities and very importantly some of our
sacred sites. So these conversations that I'm having with all
different mob are covering all different topics, but a lot
of them are coming back to country, community and culture
(01:37):
and looking after our planet, our mother. So this yarn,
I'm excited because I was sitting in the conference room
and listening to a panel and one of the speakers
is Lala, who you're about to hear. And Lala was
talking about her island where she comes from, and being
(01:59):
a language teacher and also a climate advocate. But to
give any more why, I'm gonna hand over to you,
my sister, to introduce yourself to my listeners and to
our viewers now tuning in via YouTube. You want to
share your name, your mob, your community, and a little
bit about where you grew up.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
What's the wall hours, well for the opportunity, So see
mayam everybody.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
My name is Lala Gatchen.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
I'm from Aeroblin In the Torres Strait also known as
Danley Island. So Aerobylin is located in the eastern part
of the Torres Strait from the Comerica Mariam nation, so
we have the volcanic islands on the east side. So
I'm a proud Merum tribe woman. My trival totem is
the bulger, which is the brown sea booby bird. My
(02:51):
family tal terms are the green turtle, which is numb
in my language Serra da urn bird and also on
my the dog.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
So that's my background.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
I teach the first language of my people, which is
Eru Mer is a dialect that is spoken on erub
Ugar and it's a dialect of the Maria Mirror language,
which is the major language for the eastern cluster in
the Torres Strait.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
And for a lot of our listeners that are tuning
in not just in Australia but right around the world.
Where is the Torrest Strait?
Speaker 2 (03:24):
Oh, the Torrest Strae relocated between the Tip of Australia,
the northern part of Tip of Australia and Papua New Guinea.
So he's a cluster of islands spread I don't know
how many kilometers, but you can see them there. Torres
Street is made out of different you know, groups of
islands and different unique structures of islands. As I mentioned,
I'm from the Volcanic Island area and the other ones
(03:44):
he made out of different like a low silt islands and.
Speaker 3 (03:50):
Coralatal islands or yeah.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
And Lala, you've come all the way down to Kabi
Kabby country, long way from home for you? What brought
you to this conference? What was you here to talk about?
Speaker 2 (04:04):
I was more weird to share my experience in this
sort of space. So I do a lot of work
around climate activists in Torres Straits, so more of like
protecting country. So for the job that I do as
a language teacher, so we all know that we Indigenous people,
we must protect country. Country breaths the language to us.
(04:27):
So that's why I'm here to talk to find ways
that you can go less hardware on country because it
will affect the language preservation work that I'm doing.
Speaker 1 (04:37):
Well, of course it makes sense. It makes sense to
me as an Indigenous woman, and I hope it makes
sense for a lot of non indigenous people because you're
part of and I'm talking to you fellas now, whether
you're just listening in the car, or you're sitting on
a Virgin plane tuning in, or you're watching this on YouTube,
wherever you are in the world. In Australia, the Indigenous
(04:59):
population make up three percent, So the ninety seven percent
of the population a non Indigenous Australians, and we need
to bring the ninety seven percent along on this journey
because they too should have an invested interest into looking
after this planet. For future generations. So this should be
all of our responsibility to look after country, to protect country,
(05:23):
and that also would then preserve our languages. A lot
of our languages have been lost due to colonization and
the work that you're doing now, I know that you've
had some big challenges within your community fighting for climate change.
What's the case? There's a famous case that someone whispered
(05:43):
in my ear here that you and your family were
involved in where you had the court come to your
country and you got to talk to them as one
of the witnesses. Can you share with listeners a little
bit about that important case?
Speaker 3 (05:59):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (05:59):
Sure, Well, well I've first of all, I didn't have
an ye you know, understanding where how to get myself
into spaces like this until one of a lovely lady
Marowa Johnson reached out to me and asked me if
I wanted to be part of the case as a
cultural witnesses. So I decided to take that on as
an opportunity. So I had the support from my father
(06:21):
and mother, and my father told me it's like, if
you're going to put in your knowledge, I will be
there to support you along with my parents like my mom.
So yeah, we gave evidence on sea country land country
because I come from a family where we fisherman and
we still practice like cultivation really strong in my family.
(06:42):
I come from a family that still has sixteen native
species of banana in our garden and we keep them
that strong that we want to protect those things because
it's not only food supply, but it's all connected everywhere
part of who we are. So that's why I get involved.
And we had the court come up. So it was
a youth wedding Versta Aurata, Co Call and yeah, it's
(07:06):
five what I called five cultural witnesses, and three of
it happened to be me, my mom, and my dad.
And I'm very happy and I'm proud to be part
of that journey and them to be along with me,
because if you really shape me to be the person
I am today, to continue the work that really sparked
my interest in, you know, fighting to stop call and
(07:27):
gas in the ground and find alternative ways to power energy.
That's why I'm here at this first nation gathering here
for clean energies, as we're trying to look at ways
that way we can be like get access for these
energy instead of ruining country. So that's why I we
get involved with the case is a very tough one.
(07:47):
But I was honored that the court could come to
my country for three days. I took them out on
Sea Country. I showed them the sea country, the storyline
where I grew up, that how we be affected and
if they go ahead with the with the project, it
will cause more damage to it. And then I go
can't continue my duties and abligation as a first nation
person to care for it. Just like you said, everybody
(08:07):
have to care for it. But I have a value
even instilling me from when I long before time, when
our ancestors, we work on this country, we have to
care for it. So yeah, that's how I get myself involved,
and that's why I'm here.
Speaker 3 (08:22):
I want to learn more.
Speaker 1 (08:23):
And you're seeing some good things happen.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
Yeah, I'm seeing good things happening, like more young people
now involved in this space. But what we're trying to
do is get the education side around, you know, educating
our young ones for understand more about what is clean
energy and how we can benefit out of it. Like
when you look at it a tour street and you
make a small percentage of the population in Australia, So
(08:47):
why can't we get access to these these sort of
things for power were on the Middle Islands, Like, I mean.
Speaker 3 (08:54):
It'll be really good for us.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
With the high cost of living in the Torres Strait
and on top of the lack of employment, how people.
Speaker 3 (09:01):
Supposed to survive. So we look after each other. We
look after each.
Speaker 2 (09:05):
Other, whether we got we got or we know got
we still look after each other. But it becomes really
hard that people have to relocate, not to the mainland.
So there is change, but yeah, slowly.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
Slowly, and the climate change and the sea levels that
are rising have been not particularly in mainstream media. But
I've been seeing it in indigenous media, Aboriginal radio, Couri Mail,
I've been seeing it in the Black Fellow space shining
(09:40):
a light on this. But in mainstream Australia there's not
much media attention when it comes to the rising of
the sea levels. I actually bought a tub of ice
cream from Ben and Jerry's and I was in Malula
Bar where the Ben and Jerry's you know, ice cream
shop is and right on the front of the shop
(10:02):
on their ice cream the fridge was this big, big
like banner and I'm looking at and it said something
about the Torres Strait, and I said, what is this
American ice cream company?
Speaker 3 (10:15):
What?
Speaker 1 (10:15):
How have they connected or what there? What is their
relationship with Torisa people? So I then got on and
I googled, and I've seen that Ben and Jerry is
in America is supporting the climate at eight. Is it
called the Climate eight the Torres Strait eight? Is it
a court case?
Speaker 2 (10:32):
Yeah, it was a denied beeve very well, very other
court case.
Speaker 3 (10:36):
It's another one. Why Yeah.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
But the ship that I'm werrying here is Protective Island
from the Campaignland, our own born out.
Speaker 3 (10:45):
Of the tor Straight eight.
Speaker 2 (10:46):
So I'm one of the island ambassadors for that island
power Wow.
Speaker 3 (10:51):
And here I am yowning with you.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
Yeah, I was literally my husband loves bean and Jerry's
ice cream loves The Chunky Monkey is a good one.
It's got the banana in it and the chop and there's
vegan range for vegans as well. Murraw with Johnson. She's
a very gable woman. That's my father's people. So Murrow
(11:13):
was like my sister. Yeah, small world, shout out, she's
another baby. Now, congratulations and we've got to get Murrow
on this podcast. But what's some kind of words of wisdom,
like what can we share with some of our non
indigenous people listening to this podcast. What do you want
(11:34):
them to know?
Speaker 3 (11:36):
What's missing?
Speaker 1 (11:37):
Where are the gaps or how can they support some
of these initiatives or campaigns for your people in particular,
but for Indigenous people anywhere that are impacted or we're
not at the table, we're not invited to have these
conversations when these decisions are made without us. What do
(11:58):
you want to share with them? What do you want
people to know?
Speaker 2 (12:00):
Well, as a grassroop play, we grow up all my
life on the island for thirty two years.
Speaker 3 (12:07):
One thing I received at a gap where my people is.
Speaker 2 (12:10):
That we never got the seat at the table, and
often we get forgotten because other people want to speak
on be off of us. It should first and all,
it should be a person living on country speak. And
then if we get stuck into understanding anything, then others
can step in. Because I believe that our voice you
(12:30):
are more power because we leave it.
Speaker 3 (12:34):
I leave it. I see it every day.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
And what I want to put it out day is
that if if you have time and you look to
straight islander, you sit down, you have a yron with
a torch to islander. You'll be surprised what we know
and what we want to know, because I think we
be so isolated up on the islands that we only
(12:57):
come to the mainland when we come. But then we
have our families that are on the mainland living here
that build a bridge for us and you know, reach
out to us and stuff. But I think the most
important thing is that if you want to know more
is you must engage with us living on country because
we have a different story from our family that live
(13:18):
on the mainland. We see the world from different perspective
and I'm grateful for BES. I just want to thank
our First Nation Clean Energy Network for bringing me down
here and to have a you know, space on the
panel to have those those conversations and a share with
the big group, because I didn't realize the group was
(13:38):
that big people big as a bit nervous, but I'm
happy that I got a space the way I can
share the story so people can understand that from my perspective,
and as I mentioned, I'm not years representing somebody. I'm
here as a concerned community member and I know that
my family back home is very proud of me for
coming down and because when I go home, I tell
(13:58):
them that. So it's more of building the bridge with grassroots.
That's the main thing. That's the only thing you can understand.
If you want to understand country, you have to do that.
Speaker 3 (14:09):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (14:10):
And what about for the young people listening now? The
young people. We need these young people to start to
educate themselves. We need these young people to find their voice,
to find their feet. And having you on this podcast,
I know is going to inspire and motivate a lot
of the younger people that are coming through the ranks
(14:32):
where they're not too sure yet where they're needed. You know. Now,
ole people put us on the right path. We just
have to trust in that process. But some of our
young people still a little bit lost. What would you
say to the younger people coming along?
Speaker 2 (14:47):
Well, I talked from my perspective is that you have
to find the right person or gay to you. And
we all know that teaching, for steaching is start at home.
Take the time for sit with the elderly people, your mummy,
your daddy, your grandparents them. One of the most important
(15:07):
people I can tell you, because I grateful for my upbringing,
is that I use that, and I've seen it with
other young people. How they you know, we changed over
the years that put them silly things aside, like take
the time instead of go on, or we can go
(15:27):
do other things. Take the time for go on country,
Go sit with grandparents, be your uncle or auntie. You
go surprise how many people like everybody is an expert
in them own right. And you can be an old
person or a young person or a middle eight person.
You have ten percent knowledge somebody don't have, and that's
the time there now for you for pass it on
(15:49):
and sit with them, because that's the only way you
put you in the right track. And I think me
as I believe where cultural values where I wanted to
be something else in life. I wanted to be offisher man.
I wanted to own my own boat, so i'm my background.
I'm a fisherman and a diver. I wanted to do that.
But then my father put me in the right thing
(16:11):
and said, now it's your turn to take over the
language teaching. Because he taught language for several decades for free,
and because he knew that he was the right thing
to do, so when he told me to do it, I'd.
Speaker 3 (16:22):
Be scared like i'n't be scared.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
I was just obeying my traditional laws and saying whatever
I want to be his thing. But when I look back,
I thank my father for doing that because he saved
my life, that's one thing. And be saved me from
doing wrong things. And I can say that my ancestors.
He guide me every day with the work I do,
because when I wake up, I'm always on the go.
(16:44):
It's timey ticking, and that's why the only thing and
save you is culture, language.
Speaker 3 (16:53):
And family time. That's all I can say. Well, he
can put you in the right pathway.
Speaker 1 (16:59):
There's a lot of distractions for us with devices, malbl fan, TikTok,
social media, Instagram, Snapchat, and my children they are caught
up on this. And for the younger generation that are listening,
hopefully this is an opportunity for you to start thinking
about how can you, you know, how can you participate
(17:21):
in some of these conversations as our young people that
perspective of a young person, there are conversations where it's
needed to get the youth involved. How is this impacting you?
How are you feeling? What are the challenges for you
as a young person? You know, so a lot of
the time, I realize that the young people are missing
(17:41):
out or they don't feel like they're being heard. So
I try and use this opportunity as well with this
podcast to let our younger generation know that they are
being heard, that we are making space for them to
come and sit at the table as well. And I
hope we get some more young people on this podcast
to share some of this stuers. So, my sister Lala,
(18:01):
it's been an absolute privilege. If I wasn't here, I
wouldn't have got to meet you. I'm hoping that I
can come to your island. We will crayfish and I
know tourism has taken off in the Torres Strait. You've
got pi Ando cruise ships coming through there.
Speaker 3 (18:18):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (18:20):
Yes, So there is opportunities for tourism, for indigenous to
operators to create their own businesses and to be able
to hopefully create a living and income for their families
without having to leave the island. But if the sea
keeps rising, then that's going to be detrimental. It's going
to force families off the island to having to relocate,
(18:43):
and that's the last thing that we want. So I'm
hoping that we can bring as much attention to this
very important conversation, and that's right around the world. It's
not just in this country, but because we are Indigenous
women in this country, we are focusing on our families
and our communities. So thank you for the work that
you do for your family, your community, for your people,
(19:06):
for us and for future generations. We need more people
like you that are guided by elders, because it's hard
to do this work without the support from our community.
So it's not for everyone.
Speaker 3 (19:20):
We know that, So.
Speaker 1 (19:22):
Biggest ours well for coming and yeah, if there's anything
I can do to support as well, you reach out
to me, let me know too, deadly, So on that note,
or you mob listening all the way from edub Island
in the Torres Strait, I was able to actually meet Lala,
(19:43):
hear some of her stories and some of the things
that she's doing in her community. And it's something that
I usually say, you know, how do we fill our cups?
But here I am yarning with Lala and many other
people that have taken time out of their busy lives
to be here at the First Nation's Clean Energy Summit.
Biggest to the organizers, thank you for letting me and Clint,
(20:07):
my producer, be here and capture these deadly stories. I
hope you've enjoyed this deadly yarn. Until next time, bye
for now. If you'd like any more info on today's guest,
please visit our show notes in the episode description. A
big shout out to all you Deadly Mob and allies
who continue to listen, watch, and support our podcast. Your
(20:29):
feedback means the world.
Speaker 3 (20:31):
You can rate and review.
Speaker 1 (20:33):
The podcast on Apple and Spotify, or even head to
our socials and YouTube channel and drop us a line.
We'd love to hear from you. The Black Magic Woman
podcast is produced by Clint Curtis
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