Indigenous man learns granddaughter is graduating and travels thousands of miles to see her
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Parents and grandparents should support their children and grandchildren when they attend college. This indigenous Australian elder is an example for everyone.
When Sasha Mulungunhaway Yambulul left her home to attend Worawa College, it was a big deal.
The college was almost 2,000 miles away from her family. Her family all lived on a remote Australian island off the coast of the country’s Northern Territory, named Elcho Island.
Her upbringing in a remote Indigenous clan, the Galpu clan, was very different from the environment she was now in.
But she found that all of the people on the mainland were friendly and accepting of her.
For the next three years, Sasha studied incredibly hard.
Her college specializes in teaching indigenous Australians from disadvantaged backgrounds. So Sasha found that she was in the perfect place to learn. In fact, her experience was so good that her sister, Alicia, later went to the same college.
Sasha managed to get incredible grades at the college. When it was time for her to graduate, she informed her family back home.
Everyone was overjoyed. But no one was happier than Gali Yalkarriwuy Gurruwiwi, Sasha’s grandfather.
Sasha asked her grandfather if he could come to the graduation. He was more than happy to. He made plans to travel with his wife, Jane Garrutju, to the college.
On the day of the graduation, Gali celebrated his granddaughter’s graduation in the traditional way of his clan. He, Sasha and Alicia and other dancers performed a dance called a Lunggurrma.
Gali does not speak much English, but his expressiveness in the dance showed his pride in a way that words cannot.
Later, when Australian news company ABC asked Gali how he felt, he said “proud” and touched his heart.
Jane, Gali’s wife, was able to translate some of the grandfather’s more nuanced thoughts on the day:
“It was his dream, to dance with his granddaughters here.”
Jane also said that she and her husband were proud that the college took and is taking such good care of his grandchildren.
It was hard initially for Sasha’s family to cope with her and then her sister’s absence from home. But they realized that it was important for the grandchildren to have the opportunity to have a happy and fulfilling life.
Gali may have celebrated his granddaughter’s graduation in a slightly different manner to Western people. But his underlying feelings of pride in his offspring are universal. We all feel proud when those who we’ve nurtured achieve their goals and have the opportunity to live the life they want to lead.
Sasha’s next stop is to study nursing in another college, which will take her another two years.
Alicia still has some more time at her current college. She is yet to decide what to do afterward.
But both grandchildren will balance their indigenous heritage with their westernized lifestyles.
Gali has taught them their clan’s values for many years, and they are more than happy to embrace these.
“I would still love to practice culture and teach people my culture.” – Sasha Mulungunhaway Yambulul.
Sasha also hopes that she can be a role model for other indigenous Australians who want to retain their cultural heritage and integrate with wider Australian society.
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