Ria Jago

“I've been a bit of a gypsy for most of my life - and have been returning to Northern Rivers for the last fifteen years or so. 

I've just finished my PhD on River-led listening - with the Upper Reaches of Mighty Clarence River as my Teacher. The listening is Indigenous mentored, and has led me on a journey toward recovering my own Anglo-Celtic ancestral traditions, through the songs that I've been catching and composing with Upper Clarence River (which Uncle Lewis Walker calls Boogoorooku Bowg ni arnj).

So meeting Pete and Eshana, and getting to know Biirrimba, the lower part of Clarence River, has felt like a lot of synchrony. 

I've worked in law and policy, internationally and in the community sector, and I'm interested in sharing what I am learning about the law that is inherent in Country. I am interested in knowing the world in the ways my ancestors did, before our sense were industrialised, and in sharing that.

My Dad's family lived in Grafton - he was born there and I've visited my Grandmother Marie Carlton's grave there a few times. She died young in 1942, and I feel her wishes for her children, prayed into this River.

I see deep listening happening in Jagera, communally, which recognises and honours the many worlds of this sacred River Valley.”