Guests at a morning tea on Rockhampton Campus this week paused to reflect about the development of relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.

Hosted by CQUniversity's Nulloo Yumbah* centre, the morning tea celebrated NAIDOC Week and the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people within the University community.

Participants in the Nulloo Yumbah morning tea

Nulloo Yumbah Director Associate Professor William Oates stressed the importance of what he referred to as "sit-walk-stand".

"This is being prepared to sit with us and to listen to us and really hear our voice ... there are people in the University who only want to talk at us. 

"Once you've sat with us and listened to us, then you may be able to truly walk with us, not ahead of us along paths of your choice but walk with us where we may want to go; only then will a real partnership develop where we will stand together to make a better future for our children and all Australians."

Staff member Ros Dunphy read an extract adapted from the writings of Miriam Rose Ungenmerr about the concept of Dadirri. She said Dadirri is a special quality, a unique gift of the Aboriginal people, of inner deep listening and quiet still awareness. LINK for more on 'Dadirri'

Guests at the morning tea watched a short film entitled Buried Country, which tells the story of Australian country music in the Aboriginal community.

 * Nulloo Yumbah in the language of the Darumbal people means ‘our home' or ‘place' and it's more formally known as CQUniversity's Indigenous Learning, Spirituality & Research Centre.