舞動生命的陽光( 四 )  Manymak Yolngu- Good people        

Esther Blanquet     

Hi! My name is Esther Blanquet. I was born in South Africa, but I have lived in Melbourne for the last 20 years. I trained first as a Nursing Sister, and then as a teacher of Maths and Science. I have nursed in Australia, but have also taught Maths, Science, Psychology and Health & Human Development in a secondary college. My grandparents were missionaries in various places in Africa, spending most of their time in Kenya and South Africa. Therefore, I was brought up with fascinating stories of adventures while working in remote, rural places. This year my chance to have my own adventures became a reality.

I have spent 2005 living and working with a Yolngu aboriginal community in Galiwin’ku on Elcho Island in North East Arnhemland. The Island is situated 250 km East of Darwin, 3 km off the mainland in the Arufura Sea,  It is 50 km long and 6 km wide, and is covered with bushland. The temperature is consistent throughout the year, with a high of 31 and a low of 22 degrees Celsius. The humidity is high, but an island breeze is refreshing. The views of the sea and wild flowers are breathtaking, and watching the sunset over the ocean is a priceless experience.

Elcho is home for two to three thousand Yolngu people. These people move around between neighbouring communities, and still respect the old ways and laws. As in all of Arnhemland, a permit is required to enter the land. This is to ensure that tourists do not spoil the authenticity of the traditional community. The Elders have declared the area an alcohol and petrol free zone. Although we have a female elder who is a police aide, there is no need for a police presence on the Island.

The Yolngu people are kind and gentle, with a great sense of humour. Their lifestyle is still traditional, and ‘bush tucker’, including fish and crustaceans (crayfish, mud crabs and shellfish) form a large part of their diet. A Yolngu family adopted me, so that I would have family up there to guide me and help me to understand and be sensitive to the Aboriginal culture. As a female, I need to ensure that my clothing is respectful at all times. Dresses or skirts are preferred to pants or shorts. The sacred area from above the umbilicus/midriff to below the knees should never be exposed.

The Northern Territory Government employs me as a Special Needs teacher at Shepherdson Community Education Centre (CEC). We have an enrolment of 650 students who greet each day with a smile and enthusiasm. We have a hub school, and 8 homeland schools where visiting teachers help on smaller communities. I work with disabled indigenous students ranging in age from three to 20 years. Eighty percent of the students in Arnhemland have a hearing impairment at any one time, due to ear infections. In conjunction with the local health clinic, I work on preventative health programs, which include face and hand washing, nose blowing. Washing, daily nose blowing and good nutrition help minimise damage to hearing. The school already provides a healthy breakfast program and fruit midmorning, as well as a variety of healthy foods in the canteen.

The most rewarding experience is to be greeted every day be happy enthusiastic students. This year a fourteen year old learnt to write his name for the first time, and an 8 year old has begun speaking. Both have multiple disabilities, but never stop smiling. My most challenging experience was surviving a category 5 cyclone with no one from my culture in the house.

I have 2 major projects for 2006.  The first is to start recycling of Aluminium cans. The second is ‘Healthy Teeth’. This year we only saw a school dental assistant for 5 days. Most students need urgent dental attention. We are going to focus on prevention. I need 400 toothbrushes so that each of the students under ten can brush their teeth at school every day.  

Little ‘Joseph’, accepting his responsible role in the Christmas pageant with great seriousness. 小小的 約瑟夫嚴肅地接受他在聖誕戲劇的角色

Ready for the Christmas concert.    聖誕音樂會準備好了

My Yolngu father- a real treasure. 我的Yolngu 父親—真正的家中之寶

The Sameway Magazine would like to thank Yolngu People for granting their generous permission to use the photos.

                            Manymak Yolngu—好人

                                                                         圖文  Esther Blanquet  譯者  田田

       大約在 四年前, 我第一次在St. Christopher 小學禮堂見到Esther Blanquet 女士,那時我是一個社交舞初學者,而她已是舞林高手。熱情友善,樂于助人,笑容滿臉,勁力充沛,是我們的開心果。一天,她說她將離開墨爾本,去一個叫Elcho的陌生的島,去實現她的夢想----教澳洲土著小孩念書。那裏,沒有麵包,所以她要把麵包機帶去自己烘；那裏,有頭虱,所以她要把長長的秀髮剪了；那裹,沒有恰恰恰,沒有華爾滋,她會非常非常想念跳舞。一年後,她回來了,兌現她對我的承諾,讓我把她的事告訴大家, Manymak Yolngu 是島上土著語言, Manymak的意思是「好」,Yolngu 是「人」。假期後,她還要回去,在那個小島上和她心愛的學生共跳原住民土風舞,在椰林海風下,舞動她生命的陽光。                                 譯者按

  哈! 我的名字叫Esther Blanquet, 我生長在南非,但在墨爾本已經住了20年了。我最初受訓為註冊護士,后來受訓為數學和科學教師,曾經在澳洲做過護士,也曾在中學教過數學、科學、心理學、健康及人類發展等課程。我的祖父母曾在非洲很多地方做過傳教士,在肯雅和南非渡過他們大部份的時光。因此,我是隨著祖父母在遙遠落后的曠野工作的種種迷人,充滿驚喜剌激的經歷一起長大的。今年,我要實現我自己的探險經歷終于夢想成真。

  2005年我在Elcho島上的一個叫Yolngu的原住民社區,和當地土著一起生活,一起工作。Elcho島位于North East Arnhemland,在Darwin 之東250 km ( 譯者按: 由Darwin坐小飛機赴Elcho島需3小時。)距離Arufura 海的主要島嶼3km。島長50km闊6km,島上灌木叢叢,氣溫終年保持在攝氏最高31度,最低22度之間,濕度很高但海風清新,海洋風景和野生花卉,美得令人凝神屏氣,觀賞遠洋日落是一種無以至上的經驗。

  Elcho島是2000至3000 Yolngu人之家,他們遷移來往于鄰近的社區之間,仍然尊重固有的生活方式和律法。外人須申請特許証始得進入Arnhemland 全島,此舉是確保旅客不會破壞真實的、傳統的土著社區。土著長老宣稱這個地區是沒有酒類和汽油的,雖然我們有一個年長的女性輔警,但是這個島上並不需要警察的存在。

  Yolngu人善良溫柔,具有極高的幽默,他們的生活方式依然是傳統和叢林式,膳食主要是魚和貝殼類,包括蝦、蟹、蠔、小龍蝦等。一 個Yolngu家庭收養了我,我得到家人的指導,幫助我敏銳地理解原往民文化。作為一個女性,我需要確保我的衣著裝束時時刻刻都受到尊重,全身或半身裙較褲子或短褲為佳,身体的神聖地帶,自肚臍以下至小腿,萬萬不可暴露。

  北領地政府聘請我擔任Shepherdson 社區教育中心(CEC)的特殊需要教師,我們有650位學生,他們每天早上都熱情地微笑著打招呼。我們有一間中心學校,八間地區性學校,在那裏「探訪教師」會幫助一些較小的社區。我的工作涉及原住民殘障學生,年齡由3歲至20歲。80% Arnhemland島上的學生,由于感染,長年聽覺有問題。我的工作是與當地醫療中心合作,推行預防性的健康課程,包括臉和手的清潔、哼鼻涕、日常洗滌、良好的營養,以減少對耳朵的損害。學校經已推行營養早餐活動,早餐與午飯之間提供水果,而且飯堂也有不同種類的健康食物供應。

  每天早上,熱情快樂的學生向我問安,是我最快慰的經驗。今年,一個14歲學生首次學會寫他的名字,一個8歲學生開始張口說話,他倆都具有多重殘障,但是,從未停止微笑。我面對的最大一次挑戰,是當5級暴風(譯者按:相當于香港10颱風)來襲,屋內無一人是與我有相同文化背景的 。

  2006年,我有兩個主要計劃:第一個是開始回收鋁罐。第二個是〔健康牙齒〕。2005年,我們只看到一個牙醫助手5天,大部份學生逼切需要牙醫檢查。我們將會注重預防工作,我需要400枝牙擦,這樣10歲以下的學生便能每天都可以在學校擦牙兩次。

   鳴謝啟事: 《同路人》雜誌社在此感謝Yolngu族人慷慨允准使用文中圖片。

7—1—2006