Plumes of ceremonial wood smoke wafted through Red Cross House in Adelaide recently. As part of celebrations for NAIDOC Week, Red Cross members, staff and volunteers participated in a traditional smoking ceremony led by Kaurna Aboriginal cultural bearer, Karl 'WINDA' Telfer. Karl says the Indigenous ceremony speaks of pathways and journeys of understanding. '[It's] something that can not be achieved in one occasion but must happen cyclically.'

Kaurna Aboriginal cultural bearer, Karl 'WINDA' Telfer, starting the traditional smoking ceremony.

'This is the first time that Red Cross has sought to engage remote communities through their programs and it will provide training, awareness and talk about how that relates to each community,' he says.

'This is about the important work that will be undertaken by Red Cross people and their journey north to engage and foster relations with positive outcomes for remote-area Aboriginal cultural language groups.

'I think this is the right way to work in remote communities. You don't go in with clenched fists, you work with the community with open minds, open hearts and open hands.'