澳大利亞塔州中國佛教學院“2025 乙巳鳴鐘迎新春法會”
土著長者Aunty Jan Langridge歡迎來到國家儀式(I/3)
2025年2月1日
[Palawa kani]
Hello everyone and welcome.
[Palawa kani]
I am speaking Palawa kani, which is the revised language of the Tasmanian Aboriginal people.
[Palawa kani]
We have walked this land forever, following in the footsteps of our ancestors and standing strong on mother earth, holding our culture close to our hearts, and are forever grateful to those who gifted us with it.
Walking, I am listening in a deeper way. Suddenly, all my ancestors are behind me. “Be still”, they say, “Watch and listen. You are the result of the love of thousands”.
[Palawa kani]
I am both honoured and privileged to be here this year to once again welcome you all to Aboriginal land. And wherever you are in Lutruwita, you are standing on sacred ground; ground that we know is scared, because our old people have been here since time began, and whose cultures and customs had nurtured this land since men and women awoke from the dreaming.
For we are the oldest living culture in the world, the first peoples and the traditional custodians of the land we now all share. So, as I speak to you today with the spirit of those old people, let us firstly remember, honour and acknowledge the tribe that occupy this area prior to invasion, the Mouheneener people, as well as honouring all the old people, all the tribes across Lutruwita, who fought so hard for our people and our country, and I honour them all. And as I acknowledge them, I also acknowledge and pay respect to the Palawan Aboriginal community of today as the ongoing and lifelong custodians of Lutruwita, and I honour them.
I pay my respect to my elders, those who have returned to the dreaming and those who are present. And to the many Aboriginal people who did not reach their status. Because for us, our elders are the keepers of our knowledge, our culture and our tradition, and they are our most important story tellers, and I honour them.
澳大利亞塔州中國佛教學院“2025 乙巳鳴鐘迎新春法會”
土著長者Aunty Jan Langridge歡迎來到國家儀式（2/3）
2025年2月1日
I pay my respect to my Elders, those who have returned to the Dreaming, and those who are present, and to the many Aboriginal people who did not reach their status. Because for us, our Elders are the keepers of our knowledge, our culture and our tradition, and they are our most important story tellers, and I honour them.
I would also like to extend this acknowledgement to people who belong to ethnic, religious, or linguistic minorities, who have been denied their right to enjoy their culture, declare and practise their religion, and use their language; as well as acknowledging and paying my respect to the many non-aboriginal people who can continue to support both myself and my community.
Thank you to you all here today. I honour you all.
[Palawa kani]
As we gather here today, I welcome you all to the country of Mouheneener people and the Palawa people of Lutruwita, the spiritual Homeland of our ancestors, and recognise we are standing in footsteps that are over a millennium old. This is where my ancestors lived for thousands of years, and they are now very deep in this country, and have returned to their Dreaming.
[Palawa kani]
This land is our country.
[Palawa kani]
This country is us.
You know, we all share so many similarities and beliefs in our cultures; and aboriginal spirituality is the foundation of our culture and our community. Our belief systems guide our morals, values, traditions and customs, to ensure a healthy and balanced relationship with the world around us.
Our culture was formed in the footsteps of our ancestors, and they are one on this country, intertwined spiritually and physically, connected with the land, waterways, animals, plants and skies. And we survive and grow stronger because our culture is strong, as is yours; our spirit is resilient, and our will is indomitable.
So, as this year comes to 2025, being a year of the snake, and I'd also like to say that for me, according to your zodiac, my birth time is the year of the snake as well. So, I celebrate with you.
First Nation people too consider that the snake a symbol of transformation, immortality and healing, a never-ending cycle for us. It is a symbol of fraternity and continually in the oath of life. So, the snake, as we say, Plantina, has been used as a symbol of strength, creativity, continuity, since ancient times, across many countries.
And you may have heard, the snake referred to as the rainbow serpent, which in Aboriginal society, represents one of the great and powerful forces of nature and spirit. The spiritual journey is a continuous process of surrender—letting go of the old and embracing the new.
Before I close, I would like to say to Master Wang and the Academy, thank you once again for inviting me to share your special celebration; thank you for the respect and warmth shown to me; and thank you for extending your hand to friendship. Because friendships aren't measured by time, they are measured by the size of imprint that leave on their hearts, and I'm so blessed to be welcomed into your community.
May peace, happiness, and good fortune be with you always. May the blessings of our good spirit, Paladin, who guides and protects us be with you all, as you celebrate the Chinese New Year, sounding the Peace Bell to welcome the Year of the Snake.
澳大利亞塔州中國佛教學院“2025 乙巳鳴鐘迎新春法會”
土著長者Aunty Jan Langridge歡迎來到國家儀式（3/3）
2025年2月1日
[Palawa kani]
All First Nations people believe their values and traditions are gifts from the Creator. And one of the most important, most common teachings was that we should live in harmony with the natural world and what it contained. So, let us all keep open minds to peace, harmony, health, love and abundance.
And today, our ancestors are singing and dancing with celebration. And as we move forward into the future, it is our hope that, may all live in peace and harmony, and may our ancestors find pride in bringing us together as we all learn, grow and walk together on mother earth, Palawa, Lutruwita, Tasmania, a land that always was, and always will be, Palawa country, Aboriginal land.
[Palawa kani]
Thank you.
