Deakin University lecturer Andrew Creed read the excerpt at a recent event held by the Samson Cree Indians in Canada that celebrated the environment and water and it found common ground with the Indians.

That led to the idea of a joint celebration of indigenous cultures and the environment that was realised with the Culture, Creativity and Place II two-day event that began with a Land and Water Celebration on Friday.

The celebration at Hopkins Falls, presently looking magnificent with floodwaters, included a Welcome to Country performance by the Kirrae Whorung dancers and addresses by Nobel Prize winner Dr Russell Schnell among others.

Hopkins Falls was chosen as the site for Friday’s celebration because it was a special place to local Aborigines through the generations, where they socialised and told stories. 

Dr Schnell, an environmental scientist, will speak at an Elders for Environment conference at Deakin University on Saturday about air quality while Canadian representatives Drs Jane and Jack Ross will talk about “The Power of Ideas.”

The conference also includes talks on local places of Aboriginal significance, Aboriginal education and languages and carbon capture.