Bawaka: A Path to Purpose, Connection, and Being

‘Let’s Find the seat of who we really are, not what we do. There is a beauty is just being. ‘

Nestled in the vast and untamed beauty of East Arnhem Land lies Bawaka, an Indigenous community deeply connected to their ancestral lands.

For centuries, the people of Bawaka have lived in harmony with nature, sustaining themselves through traditional practices of hunting, gathering, and storytelling. Their culture is rich with wisdom, spirituality, and a profound sense of purpose rooted in community and connection to the earth.

I was fortunate enough to spend several weeks living and working alongside the Bawaka people, and it was an experience that profoundly shifted my understanding of life, identity, and what it means to live with intention. In Bawaka, I learned lessons that go far beyond words—lessons about simplicity, about the beauty of just being, and about finding connection to both the land and to oneself.

This experience occurred at a particularly unique time: at the beginning of the COVID pandemic, when much of the world was in lockdown. I found myself in the Northern Territory of Australia, living in isolation with the Bawaka community. While the rest of the world paused, this remote experience became a transformative period of reflection and healing for me.

An Extract from My Journal: Bawaka, the Motherland

I remember the first night I arrived. After a long day of settling in and meeting members of the community, we gathered around a campfire to share a meal. The fish we had caught earlier that day was cooked to perfection—the freshest I’ve ever tasted. As the fire crackled and the smoke rose into the clearest sky I’d ever seen, we passed around a guitar, telling stories under the blanket of stars.

There’s something magical about storytelling. It weaves us together, creating a sense of shared meaning and purpose. In the quiet moments around that fire, I realized how powerful stories can be—they set intentions, create empathy, and remind us that our lives are connected, not just to one another but to something greater.

As we sat in the glow of the fire, the head tribal leader, Timmy, turned to me and asked, “Who are you?” “I’m Kate,” I replied confidently. He nodded, but I instinctively started listing off my job and accomplishments, explaining what I did for work and where I was from.He smiled and paused for a moment, then asked again, “Yes, Kate, but who are you really?”

I hesitated, unsure of how to respond. It was a simple question, yet it struck me deeply. Later that night, as I reflected on the conversation, it hit me how much emphasis we place on what we do to define who we are. We’re conditioned to measure our worth by our achievements, by the titles we carry, rather than by our essence.

In that moment, I began to understand the concept of dharma. Dharma is not about what you do for a living; it’s about living in alignment with your true self, your soul’s calling. It’s about tapping into the unique gifts that make you who you are and walking a path that reflects your deepest truths.

Too often, we confuse our jobs and accomplishments with our identity, but dharma calls us to go deeper. It’s about understanding what truly moves you, what brings you joy, and how you can live in a way that honours both yourself and the world around you. When you’re aligned with your dharma, life feels more fluid and meaningful because you are living authentically, in harmony with your purpose.

The two questions that Timmy posed that night lingered in my mind:

• Who am I?

• What do I want?

In Bawaka, these questions took on a deeper meaning. There, I had picked up the nickname Outback Kate. It felt fitting. The days were filled with simple yet profound activities—hunting, gathering, walking the land, learning from the people, and telling stories. The stillness and simplicity of life here invited me to embrace just being.

Living amongst the Bawaka community was life-changing. It taught me to see beyond the roles we play and the labels we wear. It taught me that there is beauty in imperfection, that we are not defined by what we achieve, but by who we are at our core. And, ultimately, it reminded me that we all crave the same things: love, purpose, and connection.

Bawaka, the Motherland. A place where simplicity, connection, and self-discovery converge, and where we can find the courage to be who we really are.