The RegenNarration 106. Therapeutic & Cultural Economies: Petrine McCrohan on a changing paradigm in the Kimberley
Petrine McCrohan is the founder of Bridging the Landscapes – our inner and outer landscapes. This has emerged from spending the best part of the last 20 years in the Kimberley, engaged in empowering processes and skilled therapeutic interventions. She’s been doing much of this work as a group facilitator and direct mentor to Aboriginal communities and social enterprise developers. And in the process, she’s observed and assisted a transformation in how initiatives and enterprises are being designed. The focus is increasingly on healing inter-generational trauma. And the economies that this shift is successfully restoring and creating constitute a model not just for other Aboriginal communities, but for us all.
Petrine’s journey to the Kimberley stemmed from her own experiences of trauma and transformation. She left an established life in Victoria when in her 40s, pulled and guided by ‘invisible threads’ and formative encounters. And she’s come to believe and witness that healing from trauma is the window through which purposeful, healthy and prosperous lives and societies are forged. We exchange notes on a few fascinating corroborating cases and experiences too, that suggest she’s not alone.
Join us at sunset beside the spectacular Bandilngan (Windjana Gorge), a 35O million year old Devonian Reef, ancient home to the Bunuba people, cornerstone to the story of Bunuba warrior Jandamarra, drawcard on the famed Gibb River Road, and an area pivotal to Petrine’s journey.
And right on topic, you’ll hear how the conversation sub-consciously rolls with the shifting light and sound around us.
This conversation was recorded on 6 September 2021.
Title slide: Anthony James and Petrine McCrohan with the Martuwarra Fitzroy River in the background, just outside of Fitzroy Crossing, a couple of days after this conversation (pic: Olivia Cheng).
See the episode website for more photos from this spectacular Country.
Music:
The System, by The Public Opinion Afro Orchestra.
Stones & Bones, by Owls of the Swamp.
Flamenco Rhythm, by Sunsearcher (sourced from the Free Music Archive).
Find more:
Petrine’s LinkedIn profile.
Yiriman Women On-Country Enterprises.
Dillon Andrews’ Bungoolee Tours.
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