We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land that hosts our Event, the Njaki Njaki Noongar people. We acknowledge and respect their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of this region.
60,000 to 40,000 years ago the first people settled this country which became the home of the Njaki Njaki. When European explorers rode through here 160 years ago it was the Njaki Njaki ancestors who welcomed them and showed them the waterholes at the base of the rocks. This is still Njaki Njaki country. Their stories are woven in the landscape, and it is their language that gave the names ‘Jilakin’ and ‘Kulin’ to the lake and the town.
Each year we gather at the Bush Race Track beside Jilakin Lake on land made available to us by the Lucchesi family who came here generations ago and we thank them for hosting us here.
We drive through Kulin, the community who support us, who built the roads and the facilities we see around us. and we thank them for their welcome.
We watch the moon and sun rise up over these billion year old rocks beside the remains of a river that flowed past here 40 million years ago. This is Old Country that was here long before us and will be here long after us.
The Blazing Swan principle of Radical Inclusion says, “We welcome the stranger.” This transformative idea is central to our Event and our community. We are reminded that in this Country we are the strangers who have been welcomed. When we welcome the stranger, we are passing on a gift that has been given us, and we are sharing a special place that has been shared with us.