As a male, I grew up knowing that there were certain places I could not enter: only my sisters could go there with their mothers to learn their stories through the passing down of wisdom. Everything in that place has a surname – animal and creature – and you are all one, with the same songline. Birds can land on their branches, animals can take their leaves for food, humans can eat their fruit and use their wood when the tree no longer needs it. We believe that at the time of conception each member of the family is given two elements of being: the voice of the super-consciousness, and free will. Once again your own decisions can have you in a place of peace and wonderful connections or they can have you in a place of disharmony, of imbalance, of distress. : "http://analytics.") Through the land you connect with all your other family members. Trees give us so much. That is your totem connection. The family therefore naturally connects to Ngura – land, home, place of residence, Mother Earth. Of course ‘family’ doesn’t just apply to humans: it applies to all life – our family extends to all species and is inclusive of everything. As we watch it, we realise his story is also our story. Kanyini is best expressed in English as the combination of the two words ‘responsibility’ and ‘love’, but it is actually a relationship; it is an enormous caring with no limit – it has no timeframe: it is eternal. "Kanyini" is a Pitjantjatjara word encompassing spirituality, community, land and family. You create your own kurunpa – your own personal spirituality – by adhering to those teachings that particularly resonate with you. The ‘Keepers’ ensure through their ceremonies that the natural world continues in its sacred state, making life comfortable for all members of the family. All creatures – humans and other than humans – are family. Logged in users can submit quotes. The four dimensions that embody the principle of Kanyini all have equal importance in our lives. With the majority of humanity living in cities these days, separated from their own songlines, they no longer care what trees are cut down to provide their shelters – because they don’t know them and the trees are no longer family. Your personal connection to Kanyini is through your chosen spiritual path. However you came to find Uncle Bob [Melanie], you did a great job letting him tell his story and the story of all our people's history. Our Earth Mother is all of our mothers; we don’t just have one mother – everything is Mother. When we are born, each of us has the choice, at each moment in time, of which voice we are going to listen to, thus determining the course of our lives. Based on 4 principles passed down from the Aborigines elders. Quotes will be submitted for approval by the RT staff. Read our vision statement, © The Resurgence Trust | Terms & Conditions | Be generous like the trees. It is so wonderful to actually know all the beings from your home land, to be in communion with them.