#naidoc2018

[ancestorsalive]

“The woman in this photograph is Annie Hamilton, she is my Grandfather’s Grandmother, which makes her my Great-Great Grandmother.

The photograph is from a series taken in the late 1800s at Corranderrk Aboriginal Reserve - which is around 50kms north-east of Melbourne.

‘Granny Annie’ hailed from the Riverina district near Balranald. She was a fresh water river woman who was dedicated to keeping Aboriginal families strong and connected despite the processes of the British invasion. The British invasion brought warfare and massacres, sickness and death. The expanding frontier imposed a culture that was greedy and selfish, that required Aboriginal people to be rounded up and confined, and often they were removed from their traditional country. Aboriginal children were forcibly taken from their families and communities. We lived through an attempted genocide. We survived, thanks to Aboriginal women like our Granny Annie.

Throughout her homelands Granny Annie was famous for visiting many of the white homesteads that had stolen Aboriginal children (many of whom were kept as slaves working as farm hands and domestics) and would demand that the children be allowed to spend time with her. Her requests were rarely rejected. With the children in her care she would take them on slow, meandering paddlesteamer journeys up and down the Murray or the Murrumbidgee so they could visit their parents, families and communities. She would return the kids to the white homesteads, with great heartache I’d imagine, satisfied that they would at least know who they were and where they belonged. It was her way of keeping Aboriginal families strong and connected despite the inhumane treatment of the British invaders.

Her dedication to keeping Aboriginal families strong was most notable in her role as a midwife. Granny Annie oversaw the births of many Aboriginal babies in her lifetime – which is arguably one of the most effective ways to combat the British and their intent to ‘smooth the pillow of the dying race’ and enact Aboriginal genocide. Granny Annie became so skilled at midwifery she was recognised by the Victorian Midwives Association and became the first Aboriginal woman to be given a qualification recognised by the state.

In her mid-20s Annie fell in love and married and was moved to Corranderk on Wurundjeri country. She was at Corranderk during the government inquiry of 1881, in fact she was a signatory to the petition from residents that gave birth to the inquiry.

Corranderk was where she lived most of her life and I wonder how she coped with the cold and the altitude, as our home on the river is low-lying and flat, and the bush isn’t so dense and shaded.

When I first saw this photograph, I thought she was wielding a spear, holding it like a warning, her baby wrapped in the government-issued blanket, safe and protected while she was on-guard, ready to take on the world.

The truth is she’s holding a canoe pole, which is a symbol of her identity as a woman of the river. A canoe pole isn’t a weapon that serves to restrict or guard. A canoe pole is about access. When you stand on a flat bark canoe with a canoe pole as your oar you can glide across gently flowing water or still lakes with ease, you can meander from midden to midden across expansive flooded plains in order to access whatever it is you need.

Even though the photograph is staged and represents the construct of a white male anthropological gaze, she still – to this day - radiates dignity and resilience.

I suspect that this is the oldest photograph in my family’s collection.

Government records suggest that Annie Hamilton lived until 1935, and so she would have been alive when my Grandfather was born at Cummeragunja.” ~  Bryan Andy. 8 July 2018.

[swinburne]

Telling stories through Bunjil’s Nest

Constructed by Swinburne engineering students, the Bunjil’s Nest installation encourages people to tell their stories and engage with the stories of others in a celebration of Indigenous culture.

Swinburne’s Moondani Toombadool Centre teamed up with Engineering Practice Academy associates to create an interactive installation joining two local cultural practices: weaving and storytelling.

Asher Marks, Andrew Thompson, Elise Wilkin and Charlie Graham worked together over three weeks to determine the best form to engage visitors with the nest and with Indigenous culture.

Academy Associate Charlie Graham says while the project has been challenging, it has also taught him a lot.

“Personally, I have learnt a lot about Indigenous culture and the Kulin nation, specifically around the stories of Bunjil and Waa.”  

Prototyping storytelling

After workshopping several ideas for the final design, including the use of pipe-cleaners to support the structure, the associates eventually landed on a solution that both fulfilled the brief and helped them learn valuable skills along the way.

Charlie says the intention of Bunjil’s Nest was to bring people together.

“Bunjil’s Nest not only provides an opportunity for people to learn about different cultures in a fun way. It also brings everyone together, setting their age and cultural differences aside.”

Strand by strand, people from all walks have brought their unique twist to the story, adding to the nest through weaving.

“We are extremely happy with the project. It’s been great to see how everyone at Swinburne has contributed and made the nest grow collectively.”

A post shared by Swinburne (@swinburne) on Jul 9, 2018

Embedding Aboriginal perspectives

Engineer in Residence at the Academy, Jennifer Turner, mentored associates and worked with the Moondani Toombadool Centre’s Indigenous Strategy Manager, Angela Burt, on including Aboriginal perspectives into the Academy.

“Angela and I were having a cup of tea and she said that she had an idea to build Bunjil’s Nest on campus for NAIDOC Week,” says Jennifer.

“She wondered if the Academy was interested in getting involved and the project took shape from there.”

Jennifer says that as both engineers and people living in Australia, we have a responsibility to contribute towards reconciliation by building strong relationships with Aboriginal people, as well as recognising and respecting traditional owners of the land.

“One way this can be achieved is by incorporating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives into our engineering practice,” she says.

“To do this we first seek to become aware of the diversity and complexity of Indigenous culture and to build our own personal connection to culture and Country.

She says participating in this project, and NAIDOC Week more broadly, will help form those personal connections.

Angela Burt, Indigenous Strategy Manager, was proud to work with the Academy to create such an interactive piece.

“The nest will eventually find its home in the new Moondani Toombadool Centre as a constant reminder of the strong connection between Swinburne and the traditional owners and story of the land on which our campus is built,” Angela says.

Everyone can add to Bunjil’s Nest, on display during Celebrate Your Heritage Week at Swinburne’s Hawthorn campus. 

[rightimagephotography]

Naidoc week 2018, Bundaberg. #indigenous #aboriginal #naidocweek #naidoc #naidoc2018 #warriorsdecendants (at Bundaberg, Queensland)

[mpathe]

Recently launched at Berala Community Centre is our mural for @cumberlandcouncil Warami Wellamabami, 2018 by Geoff Sellman, 480x60cm, digital print on acrylic photo by Councillor Depty LM @elmoreglenn with #ChrisTobin #darug #welcometocountry #warami #wellamabami #indigenousart #geoffsellman #digitaldesign #collaboration with #simonalexandercook #socialcanvas_au #naidoc2018 #becauseofherwecan @sydneypacifica @pacificdivaworld (at Berowra Community Centre) https://www.instagram.com/p/BqgQIp8lOkV/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=cdsehlmjafsa

[redfashionmarketing]

Because of her we can. As NAIDOC Week 2018 comes to a close I am grateful to be a part of this amazing Community/Family. Remember it’s not the showcased women - but all Aboriginal Women. I also remember my Grandmother who without agreement had all of her Children taken - never to see my Dad or his Brothers and Sisters again. The passing of time does not lessen the magnitude of sadness and tragedy of this story - my story and so many other stories. Today I Remember these Women - My Grandmother. #naidoc2018 #forciblyremoved #becauseofherwecan #remember #nomoreanger #love (at Sydney, Australia)

[pbmurray-blog-blog]

Today’s #naidoc2018 tribute goes to my Nanna Ngarie Cattermole ( Barkindji woman) from Wilcannia. Nan is a mother of 8 children, a grandmother of 18 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. ( Oh and a heap of dogs 🐕! God knows how many 😂) Nan is a respected Barkindji woman in Wilcannia and surrounds. No one cooks my nanna. I reckon she’s the best cook around. I’ve never been able to replicate her custards.🤤. Or her roasts! Nanna Cattermole was another one to play cards with us and Her mother Nanna Brown. We’d sit in the backyard in the sun and play on an upturned cardboard box 📦. Nanna Cattermole is a beautiful soul inside and out, she is dependable, loves her family fearlessly and her culture. She can be quiet but she’s always thinkin. She’s sharp, smart, quick to rebuttals and the most loving personality I know. Nan is so many things to all of us... thanks for being my Nanna. 🙏🏾 love you so so much!! 💋♥️💋 #becauseofherwecan

[laflorsagrada]

Andrea Daniel • @tatt2andrea Bookings ~ tatt2andrea@yahoo.com.au 🌿 www.laflorsagradatattoo.com ✨ . . . . . . #tattoomelbourne #traditionaltattoo #sydneyroad #laflorsagradatattoo #andreadaniel #tatt2andrea #coburg #melbourne #naidoc #melbournetattoostudio #melbourneartist #supportlocal #artist #trad #blossoms #tradtattoo #boomerangtattoo #boomerang #july #naidocweek #naidoc2018 (at Melbourne, Victoria, Australia)

[nelarun]

So today was the departmental National Reconciliation Week trivia event. I was the quiz master and discovered two things.

1. My fun facts were more morbid than fun, but still amusing for the guests, especially after I realised how morbid they actually were.

2. I didn't think of the message I was trying to get out when asking for volunteers to play NAIDOC Touch carnival. Firstly I mentioned that last year it had been snowing when we started to play, but there was a free lunch, and uniforms. Well there was a shirt. Everyone had to bring their own pants, please wear pants.

[addictiontreatmentnews]

Kylie Hampton, one of our Community Development Officers in the Northern Territory, shares her nana and mother’s stories and how they’ve inspired her to be the strong Aboriginal woman she is today for #NAIDOC2018 #BecauseofHerWeCan

Kylie Hampton, one of our Community Development Officers in the Northern Territory, shares her nana and mother’s stories and how they’ve inspired her to be the strong Aboriginal woman she is today for #NAIDOC2018

#BecauseofHerWeCan

from Drug Rehab Treatment Near Me https://twitter.com/AlcoholDrugFdn/status/1015105562869157889

[darrellafrytx]

Celebrating Mt Druit Local Drug Action Team's Renee Thompson for NAIDOC Week! #BecauseOfHerWeCan #NAIDOC2018 https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/the-standard/celebrating-women-during-naidoc-month/news-story/f5ea0018c1b7237fb2789b69c48ffe80?csp=846766596bb8a2211b492688df19994e …

Celebrating Mt Druit Local Drug Action Team’s Renee Thompson for NAIDOC Week! #BecauseOfHerWeCan

#NAIDOC2018

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/the-standard/celebrating-women-during-naidoc-month/news-story/f5ea0018c1b7237fb2789b69c48ffe80?csp=846766596bb8a2211b492688df19994e …

from Drug Rehab Treatment Near Me https://twitter.com/AlcoholDrugFdn/status/1014295951815503873 from Addiction Treatment News https://addictiontreatmentnews.tumblr.com/post/175745352222

[rightimagephotography]

Naidoc week 2018, Bundaberg. #indigenous #aboriginal #naidocweek #naidoc #naidoc2018 #warriorsdecendants (at Bundaberg, Queensland)

[mpathe]

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by thesocialcanvas (@thesocialcanvas)

Our #Warami mural from Berala projected at #granvillestories evening by Cumberland Council #digitalart from Naidoc2018 community workshops @cumberlandcouncil #geoffsellman #simonalexandercook (at Granville Town Hall) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bx4kdTagUyS/?igshid=19oj1k8iddel9

[redfashionmarketing]

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Unity Store (@unitystoreaustralia)

Like it or not Fashion has an impact on most of our lives. Last night at the Naidoc Gala Indigenous Designers presented their talents. An interpretation of their particular culture/story in print, design, cut & sew inspired by fashion trends. In a world of same - we saw Fashion @sandrakingmanagement crafted a beautiful presentation - a veteran of the Fashion Industry - one of the first Indigenous Australian Models. Sandra’s choreography of many first time models was was on trend but true to culture. @kirrikinaustralia @lyn_al @mayrahfashion #naidoc2018 #naidocweek2018 #naidocgala #indigenousaustraliandesigners #fashion #becauseofthemwecan #mymob (at Sydney, Australia)

[pbmurray-blog-blog]

Today’s first #naidoc2018 tribute goes to my mother Colleen Riley. (Wiradjuri Woman born in Broken Hill). Mum has worked in many roles over her young life including Meals on wheels, Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) in Broken Hill, Wilcannia LALC, Nyampa LALC, Chamber of Commerce, and the last 18 years for Department of Justice at Broken Hill Local Court. Mum and I speak on the phone everyday whether it’s me calling when I’m on my way to work or her on FaceTime to talk to Hannah. She’s my no 1 go to for advice on all things. Cultural, Work, motherhood etc. We’ve gone away and done training together, conferences, karaoke, and the big events in my life. She travels for 2 days driving to visit every year. When I was living at home, I’d take mum out often for night out and we’d have a ball. Best times though are sitting by a fire in back yard or in kitchen yarning while drinking tea and tellin stories about when I was a kid or when she was! We’d play cards, and yarn for hours! Mum doesn’t realise how amazing is... she is a respected person in our community back home (Broken Hill and area) she will do anything for people she holds dear and fearless to boot. Goes in to bat for our community when help is needed and loves to work in community. With community. She is intelligent, beautiful, cheeky, strong, tenacious, brave, unrelenting and too many other words to mention. If you see her in the street.... shake her hand or give her a hug tell her how awesome she is! #becauseofherwecan

[bluethumbart]

A signature and collectible work from the 2010 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award winner, Jimmy Donegan. Did you know you can now buy art on Bluethumb using @artmoney_au? #bluethumbartist #nonudewalls #NAIDOCweek Jimmy often paints the Pukara Rock Hole in sandy country where the Desert Heath Myrle grows in abundance. The stories attached to Pukara are plentiful and link to great travelers from the Dreamtime. _ #jimmydonegan #papulankutjaartists #blackstone #aboriginalpainting #strongculture #paintingoncountry #artist #NATSIAA #australianartist #artoftheday #paintingoftheday #photooftheday #abstract #artcollectors #artwork #colour #creative #drawing #aboriginalart #fineart #design #indigenousart #artnews #artshow #naidoc2018 #naidoc #naidocweek2018 https://ift.tt/1TN6MFr

[addictiontreatmentnews]

Celebrating Mt Druit Local Drug Action Team's Renee Thompson for NAIDOC Week! #BecauseOfHerWeCan #NAIDOC2018 https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/the-standard/celebrating-women-during-naidoc-month/news-story/f5ea0018c1b7237fb2789b69c48ffe80?csp=846766596bb8a2211b492688df19994e …

Celebrating Mt Druit Local Drug Action Team's Renee Thompson for NAIDOC Week! #BecauseOfHerWeCan

#NAIDOC2018

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/the-standard/celebrating-women-during-naidoc-month/news-story/f5ea0018c1b7237fb2789b69c48ffe80?csp=846766596bb8a2211b492688df19994e …

from Drug Rehab Treatment Near Me https://twitter.com/AlcoholDrugFdn/status/1014295951815503873