Today on the podcast, we are graced with the presence of Ella Noah Bancroft, An indigenous-born artist, storyteller, published author, public speaker, mentor, and founder of The Returning Indigenous Organisation. 

A proud Bundjalung woman- for the past decade, Ella has been deeply invested in decolonizing to thrive across all aspects of community, helping both indigenous and non-indigenous folk connect to the immense depth of knowledge and spirit her culture and this great land holds. 

Ella, accompanied by Jataya, a young Bundjalung girl she mentors, chats with Mason about the recent Northern Rivers Floods in which she has played an integral role at the Koori Mail hub in Lismore. This 100% volunteer, First Nations-led response team for a natural disaster that shook the Northern Rivers to its core saw our First Nations brothers and sisters protect, support, and provide for a broken community when they had nothing. Ella shares her experience of volunteering at the hub and witnessing her community stand up as a backbone to the people of Lismore. "It's been an incredible way for us to reclaim what our cultural role is here, which is to protect all community, anybody that is on these lands, that we, us that have blood ties to these lands- It's our purpose to be here, to protect everybody. More than human kin and the natural world included in that space".  

This heart-centered, wisdom-filled conversation is about bridging the disconnect between indigenous and non-indigenous Australia through building better relationships, investing in country and community, and building businesses that replenish and work with the natural world rather than those that extract and destroy it.  A must-listen, tune in now. 

 

Ella and Mason discuss:

-Localisation.

-Community.

-Mental health.

-Investing in community first.

-First Nations wisdom; guiding us to a better world.

-Lismore floods - the aftermath and where it's at now.

-Investing in the natural world over the man-made world.

-Koori Mail; A First Nation's led response team in the floods.

-Community work for indigenous mob affected by the floods.

-Business designed to work with and replenish the natural world.

 

RESOURCE GUIDE:

 

Guest:

Koori Mail

Ella's website

Ella's instagram

Women Up North

Work with Ella Noah Bancroft

The Returning Indigenous Organisation

Donate to The Returning Indigenous Organisation

 

Books: 

It Takes Courage To Tell The Truth - book by Ella Noah Bancroft

 

Check Out The Transcript Here:

https://www.superfeast.com.au/blogs/articles/ella-noah-bancroft-ep-164