Title: Healing on Kaurna Land
Artist: Grayson Rotumah and Bousta
Language: English
Lyrics
V.1) From the sun-soaked sands of Anangu, To the whispering winds from Arabunna,
From Kokatha, Nawu and Wirangu , Where the desert meets the sea,
From Barnggala and Nukunu, stars of ancestors’ shine on you,
From rock, river, desert and sea. Nukkan you on Kaurna land.
V.2) Rivers flow over ancient stones, A lifeline of the Meru and Barkindji,
From ancient lands it weaves and spans to the mighty Ngarrindjeri,
Through stories told in times of old of the Bindjali and Buandig,
From rock, river, desert, and sea. Nukkan you on Kaurna land.
V.3) Adnyamathanha and Narangga fires paint the night, while Wiljali smoke dances in fire light,
Ngadjuri songs rise with the morn, as it has since early dawn,
The Ngargad and Danggali embrace the summer heat and winters face Peramangk people by the sea,
Where cold waves crash and desert winds meet,
From rock, river, desert, and sea. Nukkan you on Kaurna land.
V.4) (repeat of V.2)
V.5) (repeat of V.3 with breakdown)
Song Background
My journey with Healing on Kaurna Land started from a deeply personal place. As an Indigenous person from the Bundjalung community, I’ve faced the heart-wrenching reality of having both my sons on life support, one in Adelaide. I saw firsthand the crucial role that hospitals and healthcare systems play in our lives. This song, born out of a desire to embrace the diverse indigenous community groups across South Australia, also serves as an educational piece, weaving together the rich mosaic of cultures like threads in a vibrant tapestry and highlighting Adelaide’s pivotal role, known for its quality hospitals and health system.
Healing on Kaurna Land aims to build a deeper, meaningful rapport between music therapists and Indigenous patients, forging connections with specific groups and their profound ties to the land. Through its lyrics, which celebrate 19 groups, Healing you on Kaurna Land, seeks to bridge cultural gaps, fostering healing, understanding, and a sense of unity.
By incorporating these language groups and cultural elements, the song hopes to assist Indigenous patients to feel seen, heard, and respected within the healthcare system and by music therapists. This recognition boosts their spiritual, emotional, and mental well-being, fostering a stronger connection to their heritage and land, like roots anchoring a tree, and greater comfort with healthcare providers. This, in turn, leads to better communication and health outcomes, promoting healing and a sense of belonging while away from their homeland, like a warm embrace in a time of need.
Bio
“Grayson Rotumah’s career has been centred within Australian Indigenous Music for over 30 years. He has been active in the advocacy of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander music through focussed curatorial efforts that give voice to the diversity of a living, dynamic and evolving Indigenous tradition.
For 25 of these years his role at the Centre for Aboriginal Studies in Music has been one of significant influence on many New emerging Indigenous artists. He is currently working with new emerging artists Electric Fields, Emily Warramurra and Marlon X Rulla.”
Biography exert taken from “Grayson Rotumah,” ASO, 2025, https://www.aso.com.au/profiles/grayson-rotumah/.
Rotumah has been involved in the composition of award-winning pieces. His first commission for orchestra was in 1998, a work titled “Music is our Culture”, a piece that represented a significant milestone in Australian art music history. It was the first time in Australian history that Indigenous artists had been commissioned to compose an orchestral work. His latest composition “Creation” premiered in 2023 tied in with his current PhD studies in practice led research, which will culminate in a portfolio of compositions with an exegesis, centred on the rich histories of Bundjalung Country. -CASM