Yarta Wandatha: the land is speaking, the people are speaking
Walking with Elders, learning from their ancient wisdom and wrestling with the lessons that creation - 'God's oldest voice' - has to teach us today
May 26, 2025
This article was first published in VOX, the bulletin of the University of Divinity. It is republished with permission.
By Dr Rosemary Dewerse, Academic Dean and Research Coordinator at Uniting College for Leadership and Theology (UCLT) in South Australia
In Semester 1, 2025, Uniting College for Leadership and Theology (UCLT) – a college of the University of Divinity – has taught its first Indigenous Studies unit led by Adnyamathanha Elder Reverend Dr Aunty Denise Champion (NAIDOC SA 2024 Scholar of the Year, and Theologian in Residence at the College), with Dr Rosemary Dewerse (Academic Dean).
Since 2013, the College has held four-day Walking on Country experiences, but the dream has always been to build in more time for deeper thinking and relationship-building.
“We practised Yanakanai, coming together around the campfire, over meals, billy tea and damper to yarn, and Ngakarra Nguniankulu, deeply listening to and discerning Arrawatanha-God in their story speaking to God in our own.”
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‘Yarta Wandatha’ as an Indigenous Studies unit begins by exploring the very complex, contradictory and difficult story of Christian mission across Aboriginal lands, including for Aunty Denise’s people. It asks, ‘Who then is Jesus?’ in such spaces for First Nations peoples, listening for how different voices are responding. Then, to explore how ‘ethical’ ministry could be newly defined and lived today, we particularly attend to the wisdom of Adnyamathanha.
‘Yarta Wandatha’ means ‘the Land is speaking, the people are speaking.’
This semester we immersed ourselves in the grandeur of Ikara Flinders Ranges, travelling to Blinman and Wilpena Pound, listening to Muda and insights from Aunty Denise and Kristian Coulthard, singing together in language, and pausing often to soak up the lessons Yarta/Country was offering us.
We practised Yanakanai, coming together around the campfire, over meals, billy tea and damper to yarn, and Ngakarra Nguniankulu, deeply listening to and discerning Arrawatanha-God in their story speaking to God in our own.
Lessons emerging in reflection so far include the need to: unravel presumptions and assumptions to open ourselves to First Nations peoples’ wisdom; recognise that we are all born of Creator (‘one blood’ as per John Harris’ seminal book on mission history in Australia) but our differences bring a wealth of perspective and deeper richness to community; attend to the wisdom of creation – ‘God’s oldest voice’ (as Aunty Denise says); accept as grateful guests the gracious hospitality of First Nations hosts, not be afraid of stepping out of comfort zones and of making a mistake but choose to practice respectful enquiry; and to commit to listening, learning and re-learning in humility and telling this story on.
Such lessons being gained from this journey with Adnyamathanha Yarta and Yura (Country and People) we recognise teach us how to be honourably engaging with all peoples.
In Semester 2, we are offering the opportunity to travel on Yarluwe-Ruwe (Sea-Country) with Uncle Ken Sumner, a Kukabrak Ngarrindjeri korni (man) for the unit Kungan Kaldowinyeri: Listening to Creation. We already have a full class enrolled!
These units are available to all for-credit or for-audit students of UCLT/UD or as a cross-institutional enrolment. Places are limited. Priority is given to those studying for credit.
Contact Uniting College for Leadership and Theology now to book your place for 2026: (08) 8416 8420 or info@unitingcollege.edu.au.
Images by Simon Story, Gaby Coutlhard and David Bailey.
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