Rites of Passage: Project turning Butchulla boys into men

At a camp on sacred country, fronting the Great Sandy Strait, Aboriginal boys and their fathers are joining together for a life-changing experience.

Butchulla Men's Business will host its fourth Babbinyuwi Wanda camp for boys and at its Raven Hill property on the Sandy Strait next month.

Butchulla Men’s Business will host its fourth Babbinyuwi Wanda camp for boys and at its Raven Hill property on the Sandy Strait next month.

COVID-19 restrictions stopped the organisation from having two camps last year but two 2021 dates are locked in.

“Potentially, we will have 15 boys and fathers participating,” organiser Glen Miller said.

“All up we will have 45 men and boys on camp for four days and three nights.”

Babbinyuwi Wanda is Butchulla for Father and Son climbing and is a program that was developed with the assistance of Dr Arne Rubinstein from the Rites of Passage Institute in New South Wales, Mr Miller said.

The event was being held at Raven's Hill Maryborough National Park on sacred site for the Butchulla people.

The Social and Emotional Wellbeing team was invited to attend the Rights of Passage Camp that was organised by the Butchulla (Badtjala) Men’s Business Aboriginal Association for the pilot run of a contemporary Rites of Passage for boys to earn their right to become young men.

“This event was held at Raven’s Hill Maryborough National Park on sacred site for the Butchulla people,” Mr Miller said.

“It was a five day journey that was a truly life changing experience for all of those that had shared in it.

“It was extremely special for a couple of people and myself as I am a Butchulla man and it was the first time on that sacred country.

“The other humbling experience was that it was the first time a rites of passage ceremony was held on sacred ground for over 200 years.”

The pilot program started with a full traditional ceremony for entering the land by Dustin Curry, a local Butchulla (Badtjala) man.

It continued over the next two days with learning from shared experiences for the men around yarning circles and living from the Three Butchulla (Badtjala) Lores.

First Lore: “What best for the land must come first”.

Second lore: “Don’t touch or take what’s not yours”.

Third lore: “If you have much you must share”.

The pilot event started with a full traditional ceremony for entering the land by Dustin Curry local Butchulla (Badtjala) man.

Challenge Night lived up to the title, Mr Miller said.

“It was an amazing test that created the atmosphere for each to look at themselves and see … how to change into the type of man they wanted to become … allowing them to take the first step towards becoming strong, healthy role models for their families and their communities.”

The next camp will be held on July 7.

Originally published as Rites of Passage: Project turning Butchulla boys into men