Common Ground has collaborated with four First Nations storytellers from around the country and surrounding islands to launch the second Dreamy podcast series.

This year, Dreamy is a collection of mindful stories by Kirli Saunders OAM, Nayuka Gorrie, Scott Wilson and Yessie Mosby.

While the stories are contemporary, they bring an age-old practice of oral storytelling into the digital space. At the same time, the stories beautifully encapsulate the relationship between First Nations people and Country.

“Dreamy is one of my favourite projects at Common Ground, as it is a beautiful celebration of First Nations wisdom, creativity and connection to Country. The Dreamy storytellers poured so much love into their stories, and you can feel it when you listen,” Communications Manager Gemma Pol said.

Originally launched in 2021 as a collaboration between Common Ground and Snapchat, Dreamy presents storytelling on an ethereal and meditative level, which allows listeners to transcend their physical state of being, and deepen their connection to Country.

Dreamy is for everyone living in so-called Australia, and aims to help listeners drop into the present moment, and bring them closer to First Nations people and cultures. 

By including breathing, visualisation and mindfulness techniques, the Dreamy storytellers guide listeners into a state of calm and rest, which is more important than ever given everything happening in the world. 

“As First Nations people, stories have always been our knowledge systems. Stories carry our Law and rules for coexisting with Country, our maps to navigate across vast distances, and our family trees and kinship systems,” Gemma said.

“Every time a First Nations person tells a story, we pay homage to our Old People and to a practice as old as time. This is what makes Dreamy so powerful.”

In addition to the podcast, Common Ground was lucky enough to collaborate with First Nations educators Clea North and Harmony Domaille to create a multidimensional and intergenerational resource for families, students, teachers and practitioners. 

“We wanted to create resources that complemented the stories. Our approach was to ensure the activities were hands-on, visual, holistic and exploratory. For us, this reflects the essence of First Nations teaching and learning,” Harmony said.

The two learning kits have been designed to support deeper learning and critical thinking. These kits include maps and bios for each storyteller, a one-page resource for each story with fun and engaging activities, and cultural connection cards to assist in teaching.

“Storytelling is one of the most powerful ways to learn, and the Dreamy series demonstrates this beautifully,” Harmony said.

You can visit the Dreamy website to listen to find out more, or download our educational resources HERE.