Seaborn has appointed Unambal Gambera Traditional Owner as godfather of the Seaborn Pursuit Expedition Ship.
“Traditional owners” is an Australian term that describes Indigenous people whose ancestors are associated with a particular area of land. Wunambal Gaambera are the Traditional Owners of the Kimberley region, which includes Ngula Jar Island (Vansittart Bay), Yirinni (Hunter River) and Ngauwudu (Mitchell Plateau).
Representatives of the Unambal Gambera Indigenous Association will welcome Seaborn Pursuit and attend a dedication ceremony on 29 June on Ngula Zar Island, off the coast of Uunggu.
The naming ceremony will take place during a 10-day cruise in Australia's Kimberley region. Pursuit is scheduled to depart Broome, Western Australia, on June 22 and conclude her voyage in Darwin, the capital of Australia's Northern Territory. The event is scheduled for June 29, almost a year after the ship was delivered in July 2023.
Seabourn will donate to Wunambal Gaambera to support the production and sale of arts and crafts, as well as supply pearl oysters, art supplies and polishing materials.
Although the role of godfather is typically reserved for individuals, Seaborn said the decision to honor the organization is a symbolic expression of Seaborn's stewardship and responsibility for the environment and the communities he visits.
“We believe that no one can better bless our ships than the communities we visit,” said Natalya Leahy, Seabourn president.
The Unambal Gambera people share their culture with Sibon visitors through welcome and smoking ceremonies, rock art tours, indigenous songs and dances, and stories from the Uunggu Rangers.
