Aunty Shaa Smith
Aunty Shaa Smith is a Gumbaynggirr woman and story holder for her Country. Her mother is Gumbaynggirr and her father Bundjalung. Aunty Shaa is an artist, cultural facilitator and Aunty to many. Led by the Old fellas and Country itself Aunty Shaa’s work shares the deep relevance of Gumbaynggirr Dreaming for today.
Aunty Shaa has led camps, workshops, ceremony, and yarning circles with an array of people living and working on Gumbaynggirr Country. Most recently, her work has been focused on working with education and natural resource management practitioners and mentoring young Gumbaynggirr people. Aunty Shaa aims to bring people into a place of learning with Gumbaynggirr Dreaming and protocols so they can shift consciousness and come into better relationship with themselves, each other and with mother earth.
Aunty Shaa Smith is the Co-founder of Gumbaynggirr Jagun. She sits on the Board of Directors as Chairperson and is lead cultural facilitator. She also leads Yandaarra, a research collaboration with the University of Newcastle on Gumbaynggirr Country.
Neeyan Smith
Neeyan Smith is a Gumbaynggirr woman with a strong connection and relationship with her ancestors and Country. Neeyan is Co-founder of Gumbaynggirr Jagun, she sits on the Board of Directors as Treasurer and is the Project Coordinator. Integrating her role as Gumbaynggir custodian with her skills in business administration, Neeyan is committed to sharing Gumbaynggirr knowledge with people from a range of cultural and professional backgrounds.
Neeyan has worked alongside Aunty Shaa Smith and her Elders facilitating a variety of cultural education workshops and projects. A key focus in her work has been supporting her Elders in passing down knowledge through the generations. Neeyan believes Gumbaynggirr wisdom offers to a way of being with each other that can lead to a sustainable future - socially, environmentally, culturally and economically.
Neeyan is also projector coordinator for Yandaarra, a research collaboration with the University of Newcastle on Gumbaynggirr Country.
Uncle Bud Marshall
Uncle Bud Marshall is a Waambung man of the Baga baga bari on Gumbaynggirr Country. He is a senior traditional custodian who has shared his knowledge and wisdom with many, especially young people in cultural camps on Country and primary schools. He has also addressed international academic workshops and conferences with a focus of Indigenous peoples knowledges and rights. He is a senior cultural advisor to Gumbaynggirr Jagun. Guided by the Old fellas, and in particular his grandfather, Uncle Bud shares his deep custodial knowledge and expertise in a number of Gumbaynggirr Jagun’s projects.
Sarah Wright
Sarah Wright lives in Thora on Gumbaynggirr Country with her family. She sits on the Board as an Independent Director and is part of the Yandaarra Collective, led by Gumbaynggirr Jagun co-founder Aunty Shaa Smith, which aims to shift camp together towards Gumbaynggirr-led, decolonising ways of caring for and as Country. She is also part of the Bawaka Collective and has had the privilege of working/living/loving with Yolngu grandmothers and other family for over 12 years writing several award-winning books together. She is a professor of Geography and Environmental Studies at the University of Newcastle.