I am an Indigenous from America of the Nation of the Iroquois/Tsalagi (Cherokee).
Originally came to Australia in 2010 to sit with the Elders here and learn of the similar beliefs, customs and ways between our people. My main contact was an Aussie who put me in touch with many Elders here, I not only fell in love with the land and its people here, I became a wife in 2011 to the man I had contact with for close to five years prior to coming to this land.
I do miss the pow-wows (gatherings) of my people, and hearing the drum and dancing in the sacred arenas of my people back in the Appalachian Mountains where I am from but I have found a new sound and new dance here with these people of the original lands of all people.
I hope one day to maybe find others like myself who have traveled here, and share once again the drum and dance and stories, but I am part of this land now and hold no regrets of doing so.
I am still a student here and always will be, and hope to continue to share with my new found family of their kin across the great waters. As I was a delegate back in the States and sat on the world council of Elders, I pray to sit with the Elders here of all the different tribes also and help the young ones to never forget their heritages and where they came from. Keeping our histories alive and not wiped out of existence because it is not favorable or strange to others ways of living.
I can be contacted by email: shaunasay_whitefeather@yahoo.com
As We Face the Winds Together!
Kathleen ShaunaSay WhiteFeather Franklin/Gardner
