Photo by: Power Water Corporation

Written by: PowerWater Corporation

Bilawara (red-tailed black cockatoo)

The black cockatoo represents change and enlightenment and herald the coming of rain.
They are believed to be the guides and guardians of the spirits of loved ones on their journey to rest amongst the Ancestors.

Doctor Bilawara Lee (Aunty B) OAM – storyteller

Doctor Bilawara Lee (Aunty B) OAM is a proud Larrakia woman and Senior Elder who tirelessly works in her community to continue the Larrakia peoples’ connection to Country, culture, and Ancestors through education, language, spirituality, and healing.

Aunty B grew up in Darwin and is the eldest child of Larrakia Elder Mary Lee (nee Cubillo), and Herbert Lee, a Karajarri man from north Western Australia. She is a mother of three, grandmother to nine and Aunty to all.

Her name, Bilawara, means the red-tailed black cockatoo and is an Ancestral spirit that brings about change.

Aunty B is recognised by the Larrakia community as a Gurdimin-ba Bali, a Spirit Doctor, a healer and teacher of the ancient wisdoms of Aboriginal Spirituality and Healing and cross-cultural communication and Larrakia cultural protocols.

Aunty B is the inaugural Larrakia Academic In-Residence at Charles Darwin University, where she is actively involved in providing culturally informed guidance on cultural protocols and practices and support to the University’s staff and students. In April 2023, Aunty B was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from Charles Darwin University for her work in health, education, cultural and spiritual work.

In May 2023, Aunty B was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for her service to the Indigenous community of the Northern Territory.

In 2021, she won the Northern Territory NAIDOC Female Elder of the Year Award and in 2022 was a finalist in the Senior Australian of the Year Award.

Aunty B is an internationally published author with two books, ‘Star Dreaming’ and ‘Healing from the Dilly Bag’ and is one of the Aboriginal Specialists on the podcast series ‘Ask the Specialist’.

Information Credit: https://www.powerwater.com.au/about/reconciliation/art-project/larrakia-country-stuart-park