Meet Yirrganydji Traditional Custodian and Ranger Coordinator Gavin Singleton and Yirrganydji Custodian Dr Mercy Singleton Baird, and learn about the culture of the Yirrganydji Peoples.
Video transcript
Gavin Singleton (Ranger Coordinator and Yirrganydji Traditional Custodian)
โYou know, when we put on our ranger badge, our uniform, it’s for our Elders and ancestors gone before us. Putting on the symbol of our people, you know, we’re accountable and responsible to our Country and our Elders. I’m Gavin Singleton. I’m from the Yirrganydji Traditional Owner group.
You know, this particular place where we are today, the Cairns Esplanade is really special. My great grandad had his camp just here, and all the mangroves behind me is really culturally significant to our family.
Our connection to Country from here all the way through to Double Island up to Port Douglas as Coastal Rainforest People is a part of our identity. The Irukandji jellyfish is culturally important to us. It is said to be discovered off Palm Cove in our area near Double Island.
It’s kept our tribal clanโs name alive. We have now sporting teams particularly the Australian surfing team whoโs named after our tribe. Rocks are in a particular place for a reason moving rocks around and taking rocks from Country as well. A lot of our Elders and our people generally are not happy with that activity.โ
Dr Mercy Singleton Baird (Yirrganydji Traditional Owner)
โMy name is Dr Mercy Singleton Baird. I am a Yirrganydji woman. This is Palm Cove, Mount Buchan and out there is Double Island, what they call.
Our ancestors were born around, here they lived along the beaches. Our cultural obligations by lore, this is all about maintaining the stories, maintaining the practices, maintaining the ceremonies. It’s the cycle of life.
Before colonisation we had structures, Aboriginal lore. When people were broken away and sent away from homelands and Countries and all that lore, all that social responsibility was disseminated, was broken down.
It’s also about raising awareness, teaching young people about the land, about caring for Country. It’s about sacred places just like if people were to go to a cemetery, they would expect us to respect the cemetery.
It is similar with us, with our places, our sites. People did exist and they still exist today. Their culture, their way of life, their ceremonies and practices are as strong as ever before.โ