On the 5th episode of Mycelial, we speak with Wiruungga Dunggiirr which in language means ‘Leader of Koalas’.

Uncle Wiruungga is an active First Nations Elder and wisdom keeper from the Ngambaa clan of the Gumbaynggirr people of Nambucca heads. He is an artist, wisdom teacher, storyteller, bush medicine and bush tucker educator. Wiruungga is also an Indigenous Australian Ambassador and has been invited all over the world to numerous international summits to represent the original people of this continent. COP28 United Nations and Kiva gatherings of multicultural elders are just a few on this list.

In Wiruungga’s words his passion lies in building bridges amongst all races on the planet and ancestors beyond. He is the founder of ‘The Bridge’ which is an initiative bringing non indigenous to remote indigenous communities to support them with clothing, supplies and permaculture set ups and tools. Along the way non indigenous volunteers get taught culture in various ways creating a type of cross cultural symbiosis.

In this episode we embark on a non-linear yarn through stories of his childhood growing up on a mission and learning the dreaming and culture from his grandmother and extended family who he calls the ‘the best of the best’ of wisdom teachers. He shares the difference between old dreaming and new dreaming and tools to connect us with it and nature in general. He also tells us how and why protocol is important to follow in this.

Finally Wiruungga gives us an insightful indigenous perspective on his vision of veering away from the laws of other countries and reinstating natural law back to this land.
He also explains what we can expect from the upcoming Kiva International Elder forum in Byron Bay in March which is the first time Australia has held this precious gathering of ancestral preservation // and much more
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Massive Gratitude and Respect to Uncle Wiruungga for his time and wisdom.

You can learn more and get in contact with Wiruungga through his instagram @wiruungga_dunggiirr. Or you can email him at [email protected] if you are interested in supporting or volunteering for the Bridge expeditions to remote indigenous communities.

You can also learn more about the upcoming Kiva international elder gathering in Byron through the website www.kivafamily.au or instagram @kiva.gathering.australia

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At this point, this project is 100% self funded by me and my recycled clothing business NIRANIA so you can also support my business on instagram https://www.instagram.com/nirania_collective

Also big thanks to Juman for the music
https://open.spotify.com/artist/77pkM8fFPgStKyD3G2Qr4B

This podcast is broadcast from the First Nation ancestral sacred lands of Bundjalung in so called Australia. I would like to pay my respects to the Elders, past, present and emerging, and any indigenous Elders listening in. I’d also like to acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded in this country. Always was, always will be aboriginal land.