In the Circle of Life
When Land Remembers Us
Across the ancient land of Australia, where timeless songlines stretch across the country like veins of ancestral memory, this film reveals the raw wounds inflicted by colonization while celebrating the indomitable spirit of a people who have danced with the earth for millennia. It beckons us to listen—truly listen—to the heartbeat of the land, to understand the deep interdependence of all life, and to recognize that in forgetting who we are, we need only listen to the Earth to remember. Through unbroken songlines and the beauty of culture, we remember that everything in nature is relational. The film challenges us to look into the abyss of our shared history, illuminating humanity’s capacity for both destruction and healing. In this eternal dance, we are reminded that we are all connected to country, to each other, and to the great cosmic wheel that turns ceaselessly through the night sky, inviting us to join in its timeless revolution.
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In the Circle of Life
Bundjalung & Wiradjuri (Australia)
Listen to “Yana ay” by Uncle Paul Gordon from the film
The Guardians
Ancestral Wisdom

Paul Gordon
Elder, Cultural Custodian Brewarrina, NSW, AustraliaUncle Paul Gordon is a cultural leader and custodian of Aboriginal Lore throughout Australia and has dedicated his life to teaching and connecting stories. He leads camps and workshops for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to reconnect to culture. As a traditional knowledge holder and custodian of Aboriginal lore, he continues to share as part of his obligation to thousands of years of Aboriginal culture.

Judy Atkinson
We Al-li Founder Central West Queensland and Northern New South Wales, AustraliaEmeritus Professor Judy Atkinson, is a proud Jiman, Bundjalung, Anglo-Celtic and German woman. She is the author of Trauma Trails – Recreating Songlines The Transgenerational Effects of Trauma in Indigenous Australia and has won many awards for her contributions to the understanding of trauma-related issues stemming from the violence of colonisation and the healing/recovery of Indigenous peoples. Presently she is the co-founder and patron of We Al-li Trust and continues to work across Australia and in Papua New Guinea.

Joe Williams
Author of "The Enemy Within" and Public Speaker New South Wales, AustraliaJoe is a proud Wiradjuri/Wolgalu, First Nations Aboriginal man. He forged a successful professional sporting career as a rugby player and boxer, but after struggling with suicidal ideation and Bipolar disorder, he felt his true purpose was to help other people struggling with mental health. Joe is now an accomplished author and motivational speaker, teaching people tools to improve their well-being and in 2019 was named a dual winner of the Australian Mental Health Prize.

Dhinawan Baker
Artist & Cultural Custodian New South Wales, AustraliaDhinawan (Michael) Baker, is a multifaceted public speaker, cultural ambassador, and artist. He has received many accolades for his work with Indigenous and non-Indigenous people using dance, song, and storytelling to promote cultural awareness and understanding. Dhinawan is also an accomplished artist and is represented at the Kate Owen Gallery in Sydney, Australia.

Kylie Miles
Fire Tender, We Al-li group fascilitator Northern Rivers region, AustraliaKylie Marjambi walks as a living example and interpreter of the ancient way in the context of the next seven generations. She focuses on returning to new old ways of being and seeing through ancient wisdom, connection, and grounding ceremony. Through her work, she honors the old ones and our habitat, Planet Earth.

Jarmbi Miles
Fire Tender, We Al-li group fascilitator Bundjalung & Wiradjuri (Australia)Jarmbi is a regional custodian of the Northern Rivers on the east coast of Australia. Deeply committed to community activism and connection to wisdom, he works with both Indigenous and non-indigenous communities, focusing on the intersecting issues of sovereignty, environment, human rights, and trauma healing.

Paul Callaghan
Public Speaker, Author "The Dreaming Path" New South Wales, AustraliaPaul Callaghan is an Aboriginal man belonging to the land of the Worimi people, located on the coast of New South Wales just north of Newcastle. In addition to consultancy work, Paul is a motivational speaker, a storyteller, a dancer, and an author. His most recent book, The Dreaming Path, reveals the power of Aboriginal spirituality as a profound source of well-being for anyone willing to listen.

Shane Philips
Tribal Warrior CEO Redfern, New South Whales, AustraliaShane Phillips is a respected member of the Redfern Aboriginal community and an advocate for Aboriginal rights. He is the full-time CEO of the Tribal Warrior Association and also operates a mentoring program to help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth.

Shirley Scott
Community Leader Bathurst, NSW, AustraliaShirley Scott is a proud Wiradjuri woman from the stolen generation. For over 35 years she has been an Aboriginal Community Corrections Officer. She also voluntarily runs a Men’s Homeless Shelter in Bathurst, NSW, Australia with her daughter that supports Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal men who have been released from prison.

Mark Merritt
Community leader, Dinawan's Connection Founder Dubbo, NSW, AustraliaMark Merritt is the co-founder of Dinawan’s Connection, an Aboriginal cultural group that offers programs for adults and youth to learn and be in community. Merritt’s work is deeply rooted in Country and is dedicated to creating transformative learning experiences that bridge cultures, nurture connections, and honor ancient traditions.

Matt Scott
Senior Mental Health Clinician Orange, NSW, AustraliaMatthew Scott is a proud Wiradjuri man, living and working on Wiradjuri country. In his work as a Senior Mental Health Clinician and Registered Nurse for the local Aboriginal Medical Service he encourages and supports self-reflection and discovery within a culturally safe environment. Through his own discovery, he aims to increase self-belief and connection to culture, Country, and community.
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