‘THIS COUNTRY’S NOT EMPTY’: GROUNDBREAKING EXHIBITION SHARES ABORIGINAL STORIES OF THE CANNING STOCK ROUTE When the world focuses on Perth for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in October, a uniquely Western Australian story will serve as its cultural backdrop. Since 2006, Perth-based cultural organisation FORM has partnered with ten remote Aboriginal art and culture centres in northern Western Australia to provide professional development opportunities and amass material that for the first time examines the history and impact of the Canning Stock Route from an Aboriginal perspective. Yiwarra Kuju: The Canning Stock Route is the result, an extraordinary exhibition of paintings, cultural artefacts, photography, oral history, film and new media created by Aboriginal artists and an intercultural team of emerging Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal curators and filmmakers. Yiwarra Kuju, which means ‘one road’, tells an unexpected story of the century-old, 2000km stock route, which crosses three deserts. It is a story of first contact, conflict and collaboration, radical movement and remarkable family connections that link more than ten Aboriginal language groups across 17 remote communities in and around the desert. It is also a story of rich living culture. Emerging Aboriginal filmmaker Curtis Taylor explains, ‘When you come and see this stock route exhibition, we’d like to give you a chance to just listen and come and see – that’s all. Just listen to the stories, hear the songs. See how the country is, because it’s not empty. Jukurrpa is stories, knowledge, songs, dance, lifestyle, culture.’ ‘The exhibition is showing where people come from and where they belong to, where their heart is really,’ adds Putuparri Tom Lawford, Aboriginal cultural adviser and senior translator. ‘What people paint, it’s their country, how they see it. This Project is going to open a lot of eyes – white peoples’ eyes – to find out the history of the Canning Stock Route through Aboriginal people.’ Yiwarra Kuju has certainly opened a lot of eyes. The exhibition attracted more visitors to the National Museum of Australia than any other exhibition in its history. When the exhibition, and its internationally award-winning multimedia interactive One Road return to Western Australia, they will present a deeply significant story for those interested to know more about Australia’s rich and diverse cultural history.
Key dates: Yiwarra Kuju: The Canning Stock Route will open for CHOGM from the 24th to 30th October. Throughout November (2 - 27) it will be open to Western Australian audiences as a free show at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre and will be supported by a rich calendar of public program events. Media contacts: Lynda Dorrington, Executive Director, FORM: E lynda@form.net.au T + 61 08 92262799 M + 61 0407 771 353 Or Monique La Fontaine, Curator, FORM Canning Stock Route Project: E moniquela@form.net.au T + 61 08 92262799 M + 61 0408924194 Note to editors: The Canning Stock Route Project is an initiative of FORM, which works to build a state of creativity, using design and creative excellence as a catalyst for cultural development and community transformation. Yiwarra Kuju: The Canning Stock Route was produced in partnership between FORM and the National Museum of Australia. FORM gratefully acknowledges the following organisations for their partnership on the Project and Yiwarra Kuju: BHP Billiton Iron Ore Department of Culture and the Arts Lotterywest National Collecting Institutions Touring & Outreach Program Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre Western Australian Museum Bankwest