Sister Liz is the Good Samaritan Sister who is currently living in Santa Teresa and very graciously looked after us and guided us through this experience. She explained to all of us that we weren’t tourists but we were pilgrims on a pilgrim experience. We weren’t there to sightsee and simply take pictures of the community. We were there to live with the community, to learn from them and gain an understanding of their culture and their beliefs.

While at Santa Teresa we volunteered at the Spirituality Centre, the Creche and the Community Centre. At these centres we spent time with some of the local women and children. Communicating with the locals wasn’t difficult but it was challenging in the sense that we had to be mindful of the questions we asked and who we were talking about. In the Arrernte language that is spoken within this community, they are not able to say the word ‘No’, therefore we tried to prevent asking “Yes/No” questions.

The highlights that led me to a greater understanding of what Aboriginal communities such as Santa Teresa are truly like was on the Thursday night. Sister Liz took us out to the bush for the night, to give us a chance to feel that sense of connectiveness to their land and understand the importance of respecting what is sacred to them. Sister Liz communicated in Arrernte language to the ancestors to let them know that we were on their land, that we were respectful and mindful that everything around us had importance to the community.

Being on such a pilgrimage meant experiencing being a part of that community. I also had the chance to meet a lovely lady named Mia who is a Traditional Healer. She held a Smoking Ceremony with bush medicine and used that smoke to heal any of the sick (including myself) and by the next morning I was mentally feeling much better. 

From all of this I could come home knowing that those stereotypes that we are faced with about Aboriginal communities aren’t true. Santa Teresa has been one of the most eye-opening experiences that I have embarked on. It has shown me the importance of culture and relating to not only our own community but with the rest of the world. The people of Santa Teresa invited us in to listen to what they say about their culture and what they believe in.

I believe that going to Santa Teresa helped me in finding out who I am as a person and how I can give back to the communities around me and be able to give others the chance to understand that everyone is important and everyone has the right to be listened to.

Tayla D – Year 10 Student