Culture is environment 

Have yorlyi ever thought deeply about how entwined our culture is with our environment? How interwoven awas language, arts, wetls, and way of life is with the land, ocean, and sky around us? It's easy to overlook our reliance on our environment, especially when our day-to-day lives are wrapped in layers of convenience, commitment, and the constant effort to simply make ends meet. 

Our culture was created as a means of survival. Our language began as a language of understanding between our Tahitian Foremothers and British Forefathers. Our use and knowledge of natural fibres developed from a need to clothe and protect ourselves and awas letl salan. Whether it be from the cold, the wind, or the sun, awas Drein Flaeks (Bullrush), Raahulu (banana bark), and M'uu (cliff flax) could be stripped, beaten, woven, or twined to shelter us from the elements. Our agricultural and husbandry skills were first passed down from awas Tupuna (ancestors) and then honed to suit the changing environment as we migrated from Tahiti to Pitcairn to Norfolk. Finding innovative and intuitive ways to work with unknown soil and animals until it became as natural as breathing. There was always a delicate balance of give and take as we hunted whales for their oil but fed the soil with their crushed bones. As we harvested flax for its fibre but planted pups so they could continue to grow strong. As we went for whalebird eggs, but took only as much as we needed. 

Without the environment in which to practice and teach, our culture is diminished to a theoretical concept and stories of a bygone time. We will not survive as a people if the environment that we belong to disappears. This knowledge is what inspired our local team to support and encourage the transition to Revolve Your World's circular economy and resource recovery model for The Norfolk Wave Recycling Centre.

We feel truly honoured to be caring for Norfolk's environment through sustainable waste management. We're proud to know that our efforts and perseverance help protect our greatest teacher and that awas letl salan might be lucky enough to grow up in the same classroom as we did. We're thankful to yorlyi in the community who share this vision and trust that we will continue to find the right way forward. 

We're excited to share our story and all we've learned through the Norfolk Wave at the Festival of Pacific Arts next month. 

Thaenks f aklan
Lil, Dan, Mandi, and the Revolve Your World team