Our Guiding Elders
Auntie Alison Buchannan
Senior Lore & Medicine Woman, Gumbaynnggirr HomelandsAunty Alison is the matriarchal Lore Woman and Medicine Woman of the Gumbaynggirr Nation and a woman of pure bliss. She guides us with her deep wisdom, always sharing her medicine, magic, giggles, love and teachings of the ancient ways — caring for Country, honouring the land, embodying the animals, and listening to the trees, elements and spirits of all things. She leads us to live in alignment with the Earth and to journey beyond, into the 12th dimension.
Aunty Alison is also a world-renowned artist, creating the most medicinal and magical pieces of artwork. Through her art, she invites us to unlock our own medicine within. She carries profound knowledge of plants and creatures, weaving plant medicine wisdom with joyful laughter. She walks with pure love, and brings women and families on powerful journeys back to truth, beauty, and deep connection.
Uncle Micklo - Micheal Jarrett
Senior Language, Song & Lore man, Gumbaynggirr HomelandsUncle Micklo is one of the guiding Elders of JAANYMILI, generously supporting the sharing of Gumbaynggirr culture, language and connection to Country. With deep care and integrity, he guides us in the respectful use of language and cultural understanding, helping ensure what is shared remains grounded, true and connected to tradition.
Through the medicine of song, story and presence, Uncle Micklo brings warmth, guidance and a deep sense of belonging to all who gather on the Gumbaynggirr homelands. He also guides many bush school activities and shares his cultural knowledge and medicine ways with children, families and schools across community, helping keep culture alive through lived experience, connection and heart-led learning.
Acknowledgement and Treaty
We acknowledge the unceded lands of the Gumbaynggirr people on which JAANYMILI Sanctuary stands. We honour the Ancestors, elders past, present and emerging, the living cultural Lore of this land that continues to guide, nourish and protect all life.
We recognise that true belonging here requires ongoing cultural accountability, deep listening and action rooted in respect.
We commit to:
Upholding Treaty as a living, relational agreement — not a document, but a practice of reciprocity, respect and responsibility.
Walking alongside local Gumbaynggirr Elders, especially through the guidance of the Gumbaynggirr Matriarchal Council, seeking their cultural overseeing, initiations and wisdom in shaping the ways we live, build, grow and resolve conflict.
Pausing for permission — understanding that permission must be granted, not assumed, and earned through integrity, transparency and relationship.
Protecting cultural knowledge and respecting protocols around language, ceremony, story and song.
Holding ourselves accountable to what is asked of us and to repair when harm has occurred.
This Treaty is a felt agreement, a weaving of worlds — and our sanctuary is a place where culture is not borrowed but held in reverence, where freedom is recognised and co-existence honoured.
We walk slowly.
We listen deeply.
We know we are here to tend our MIIMI MARRAAL, Mother Earth, with love & reciprocity.
Naming
JAANYMILI (pronounced Dyahhn-mee-lee) means to gather or come together in our local Gumbaynggirr Language. It arises from the deep cultural and energetic essence of family, as a living network of connection — the heart of our purpose and our way of life.
Family, to us, is not limited to the human realm, it is through relationship with all of creation that we come into right alignment with life.
In choosing this word, JAANYMILI we honour the Gumbaynggirr people — custodians of this land — for sharing their wisdom and songs of the land. We walk forward with humility, respect and a willingness to keep learning.
The word SANCTUARY reflects our commitment to holding a safe, creative and sovereign space — a place where all beings may be held with care, where we can live in trust, peace, create in truth and unfold in presence.