Dhiiyaan ngay Kamilaroi, winangaldanha ngaya nginaaynya : My Kamilaroi family, I hear you : physical activity, ageing and the places of freedom in a Kamilaroi family

This thesis is written by a Kamilaroi (Australian Indigenous group from North Western New South Wales, Australia) woman using Kamilaroi ways of knowing, being and doing to understand the physical activity experiences of the older members of her family. A Wingangay Methodology was developed for this study which focuses on listening in Kamilaroi which goes beyond ‘just hearing’ and is defined as I understand; I know; I remember; I think; and I love. Thirty interviews of Kamilaroi people over 45 were conducted in Western Sydney, the North West and Central West areas of New South Wales, Australia. All persons interviewed had health issues and low physical activity participation consistent with reported negative statistics. This study creates an understanding of the statistics through life experiences and provides wider implications for Indigenous health and wellbeing discourses. The experiences reveal an earlier life of high participation in physical activities through everyday home routines, recreation, sport and physical employment, a marked contrast to their current circumstances. Racism was found to permeate through their lives and physical activities however at the same time, the physical activities provided places of freedom and respite from it. Broadly, the places of freedom are necessary for Aboriginal people to thrive and therefore have a positive sense of wellbeing. Concurrent to the stories from family, the author has listened to many stories, shared many experiences, felt many challenges and been opened to new understandings of her expertise in physical activity. She has rediscovered the significance of people, places and stories that are integral to her Kamilaroi identity, and been challenged to consider the responsibilities that adhere to being the next generation of Kamilaroi: the next part of a longer story.