ICV Newsletter April 2008

Page 1

volunteers

news

indigenous community

Old Knowedge New Knowledge

A thousand words‌


ICV board members - at back L-R, Peter Steigrad, John Lang, Karen Milward, Bill Armstrong, Bernard Valadian, Stan Kalinko; seated L-R - Dr Melinda Muth, Joseph Elu, Gail Reynolds-Adamson

01 02 04 06

News in Brief A thousand words… Here comes the sun

Tarerer

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Beanies in Balgo Working together Culture Corner

Front cover photo - Beanies in Balgo, Nina Boydell INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS ABN 900 9312 3418 Editing: Nick Ellis Stories: Paul Collis, Tim Lehã, Nick Ellis Design: Jessica Johnson

Towards a bright future “A future where we harness the determination of all Australians, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, to close the gap that lies between us in life expectancy, educational achievement and economic opportunity. A future where we embrace the possibility of new solutions to enduring problems where old approaches have failed. A future based on mutual respect, mutual resolve and mutual responsibility. A future where all Australians, whatever their origins, are truly equal partners, with equal opportunities and with an equal stake in shaping the next chapter in the history of this great country, Australia.” These two paragraphs, taken from Prime Minister Rudd’s apology can be applied directly to the work, methods and spirit of ICV. That is, our Indigenous partners, our volunteers and our staff, can all look towards a future of renewed energy and possibilities. Through ICV’s skills transfer projects, Indigenous communities are able to gain skills they choose to learn and can work towards developing their capacity and potential. Skills transfer projects offer Indigenous people and volunteers an opportunity to live and work together in an environment of mutual respect and shared learning while developing the capacity of the community. The current climate in Indigenous affairs is one of optimism and positive change. ICV intends to harness this energy to extend its partnerships with Indigenous communities and attract more volunteers. Potential volunteers, Indigenous people and communities are welcome to contact ICV to join us in working to contribute to a brighter future.

This newsletter is printed on recycled paper using vegetable-based inks.

Board Co-chairs,

If you would like to be included on or removed from our mailing list,

Bill Armstrong AO and Joseph Elu AO

please contact the ICV communications team on (02) 6122 6444 or email marketing@icv.com.au


News in Brief A quick look at what has been going on at ICV News in Brief

If you would like ICV to come to your community or event let us know.

All Staff Meeting

Yabun

If ICV is a big family, then the Annual All Staff Meeting is a bit like a family reunion. This year the meeting took place in Broome, with staff braving Cyclone Nicholas to get together and go over our plans for the coming year. Guest speakers included Wayne Bergmann from the Kimberley Land Council, board members Karen Milward and Bill Armstrong, and former ICV Regional Manager, Nolan Hunter. ICV staff also participated in cultural activities, such as the telling of a local Dreamtime story by Minyarr Park ranger Micklo Corpus (pictured above).

ICV’s hard-working promotions team joined in the festivities at this year’s Yabun Festival in Sydney. ICV staff members Tina McDonald and Taita Viri were joined by workshop provider and writer, Paul Collis, and board member Peter Steigrad, not to mention a whole mob of volunteers. The promotions team will be around at many festivals and events this year - be sure to drop by and say hello.

ICV Congratulates Joseph Elu ICV congratulates its long-serving Co-Chair Joseph Elu on receiving the Order of Australia (AO) on January 26, 2008. Joseph has been Co-Chair of ICV since its inception in 2000 and has been a driving force behind the expansion and improved services across ICV. ICV congratulates Joseph on his well-deserved award and looks forward to his continuing leadership and support.

Sustainable Living Festival Another event ICV attended recently was the Sustainable Living Festival in Federation Square, Melbourne. With more and more ICV projects involving environmental concerns (see the photo-essay on the Dhuruputjpi community’s solar energy project, on page 4), it is important for us to find volunteers involved in the environmental sector. ICV shared a stall with Reconciliation Victoria and had overwhelming support from our volunteers . If you would like ICV to come to your community or event, please let us know; email info@icv.com.au or call 1800 818 542.


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Photos taken by and showing - left to right, Claudia Sauerland and the Titjikala community; Rosanne Stuart and the Hope Vale community; Ray Davis and the Tiwi Islands community

Pictures, as the saying goes, are worth a thousand words. At ICV, this is definitely true - pictures are some of the most important tools we have for showing volunteers, Indigenous communities and everyone else the great work that happens here. When the Indigenous Cultural Workshop (ICW) moved to Canberra, we included a session on photography and cultural protocols. We wanted to show volunteers what sort of photos would help ICV the most, what had to happen so we could use those photos and how to get some great snaps for the photo album at home.

It seems everyone was listening. Over the past few months we have received more and more great images (and all with their model releases signed!). To celebrate we are running three photo essays, each on a different project or event, each from a different part of the country. This is just the tip of the iceberg, and there are many more brilliant images that we didn’t have space for (such as the photos shown on this page). So thank you to our photographers - volunteers in the field, Indigenous community members and ICV staff who visited projects and events. A picture is worth a thousand words. With your help, we can get those words out to thousands of people. ICV NEWS

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Photos by Geoff and Simone Boadle and the Dhuruputjpi community

The Dhuruputjpi Community in north-east Arnhem Land needed power for their school and office. Computers, a fax and printer, lights and fans all needed to run, hopefully without a noisy, smelly petrol generator. Volunteers Geoff and Simone Boadle were invited by the Dhuruputjpi Community to come and help set up a solar power system. BP Solar donated two 80 watt solar panels and Selectronic donated a 1700 watt inverter so that all of the rooms in the

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complex could operate at the same time. Geoff and Simone showed the community members how to install and maintain the solar panels and also educated community members in what could and couldn’t be run off the solar power. The school is now running four extra computers, all thanks to BP Solar, Selectronic, the hard work of Geoff and Simone, the people at Dhuruputjpi and of course, the sun.


here comes the ICV NEWS

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Above - Archie Roach and Ruby Hunter; right - Yarrabah traditional dancers; all other photos - the Tjudin band. Photos by Nick Ellis

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The two day Tarerer Festival is held on the traditional site of the meeting of the coastal clans of the Port Fairy area of Victoria. This multi-cultural celebration is an invitation to gather in the spirit of the ‘meeting of the clans’ from which Tarerer takes its name. Tarerer came about through a meeting at the old picnic ground in Framlingham forest, where a group of 12 people, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, decided to hold the first of the concerts to celebrate the abundance of talent in the local area and to encourage young Koori people.

In late 2007, ICV attended Tarerer to promote the ICV message and support the up and coming Tjudin band. The band played a brilliant set, looking great in our brand new ICV t-shirts. We also met up with Archie Roach and Ruby Hunter, as well as Yarrabah traditional dancers Basil Harris, Dwayne Street and Malla Neal.

ICV NEWS

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Photos by Nina Boydell and the Wirrimanu community

Sometimes the skills requested by an Indigenous community are very complex. Sometimes they require a professional in the industry. Sometimes the volunteer transfers skills in their profession – other times, it can be a bit more fun. Nina Boydell has worked as a project officer for ICV, but when the Wirrimanu community of Balgo, WA, invited Nina to help them out, it wasn’t her professional capacity they were interested in.

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The women of Balgo wanted to learn how to knit in, particular, they wanted to learn how to knit beanies for their friends and family and help keep everyone’s heads warm. After a couple of weeks in Balgo, Nina had passed on her knitting skills to a group of women, who in turn passed on their new products to people all through the community. The project was such a success that the women have travelled to Alice Springs to check out the Beanie Festival and have asked for Nina to come back – this time to teach crochet.


ICV NEWS

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OLD KNOWLEDGE NEW KNOWLEDGE PAUL COLLIS BY

Four Indigenous women artists from the Papulankutja mob, from the Blackstone ranges in the Western Desert remote WA, had come to the WOMAD festival to promote their art, and to learn a new skill from their ICV volunteer Jacqui. Rona Reid, Melissa Donegan, Nadia Forbes and Janet Lane travelled an eight hour car ride to Alice Springs from their homeland, followed by a further twenty-four hour train ride to reach Adelaide. The Papulankutja people are renowned for their handmade spinifex paper and fabulous artwork. Their artwork can be found throughout major galleries in Australia and overseas. They have used their traditional knowledge of harvesting spinifex to produce handmade paper. The process is intricate.

Firstly, the spinifex stalks are boiled in water (with a dash of soda ash added) for 12 hours. The fibrous stalks are rinsed with cold water and pulped in an industrial blender. Water is added, producing a golden pulpy mixture, which is the basis for the paper. Each piece of paper is individually lifted from the vat, pressed and dried, ready for the artists. The beauty of this process is the paper retains the beautiful gold colour of the spinifex grass and readily accepts paints and dyes. ICV volunteer, Jacqui Morris had been invited by the women to teach them how to create spinifex papier-mâché beads and unique jewellery pieces. “This is such an exciting Project. The (Papulankutja) women have been painting their story on the spinifex paper for some time now, but the jewellery is a new medium for them to work with,” Jacqui informed me as we spoke of the significance of this work. Watching the artists making the jewellery, noticing the care they took with each detail of their work reflects

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that the whole process, from the collection of the spinifex grass, through to the final product, is done with a combination of traditional knowledge, creativity and new skills. The artists have learnt how to create a wide range of jewellery using spinifex and other materials from their homeland such as seeds and gumnuts. Each piece they create is unique; each spinifex bead is hand shaped and painted, each gumnut or seed drilled and hand painted. The women have learnt how to combine all the elements into laces of beads, brooches, bracelets, necklaces and earrings. The pieces can not be reproduced due to the individual abilities and because of the techniques the artists use. “The thing I really like with the jewellery making is its sustainability. As well as providing an opportunity for the artists to practise their art, it’s providing a new source of financial benefits to them,” Jacquie continued. The care taken with their work was a reminder to me that they said that


From left to right - Rona, Melissa, Nadia and Janet; spinifex artworks; paper making; making jewellery; finished pieces; ICV volunteer Jacqui; and the festival in full swing Photos by Tina McDonald

they were missing their homeland. I think the tenderness in which they were using the raw materials was in some way for them a physical and spiritual link with their country. At the same time, new influences were transforming their artwork. Whilst they were painting their traditional stories of ‘country’; clans and songlines on the spinifex paper, they were also telling new stories. They were designing and creating artworks using the new environment of WOMAD as their inspiration. I remember my Grandfather and his brothers teaching me some of our traditional designs when I was growing up beside the beautiful Darling River at Bourke. They taught me how to draw and paint. They told me the stories that went with those drawings. And I remember my Grandfather telling me that it is our (Aboriginal) traditional art custom, to encourage experimentation and innovation in our artworks.

“This is such an exciting Project. The (Papulankutja) women have been painting their story on the spinifex paper for some time now, but the jewellery is a new medium for them to work with.”

The Blackstone artists are a living example of this. Their experimentation and innovation with new materials and using new knowledge in their designs is giving them new dimensions in their artistic expression. This process of innovation shows that they are in fact carrying on an agelong tradition with Aboriginal artists. They may well be using new materials to produce their work, but that’s always been our way.

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Photos - left, harvested Spinifex, ready for paper making: right, L-R, Melissa, Janet, Rona and Nadia take a break from the heat wave Photos by Tina McDonald

Hot in the city WOMAD 2008 was marked by the longest heatwave in Adelaide’s history. The Papulankutja women knew things the average WOMAD visitor didn’t; how to survive the desert. As the sun began to climb in the Adelaide sky, the Western Desert women moved, tracking the shade to continue their art work. I watched as many non-Aboriginal people continue to work in the direct sunlight. Later in the afternoon when shade was limited, the Desert women said “Enough.” It was too hot for work they packed up their gear and rested till the worst of the day was over. They returned to work in the cool of the evening. Often they would continue their artwork well into the night, whist others around them had flagged and were beaten from working in the sun. The Desert women had used their ancient knowledge to protect themselves from the heat and have more energy to practise their new

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knowledge in the jewellery making process and to take in some of the WOMAD action and culture. “They (Papulankutja women artists), are just amazing”, Jacquie concluded. “They really are including new, contempory design with their traditional ones; learning new skills in the jewellery making, and just having a great time doing it! They were inspired by the colour and music of WOMAD’s international culture.” So… if you ever find yourself passing through the beautiful spinifex country in WA, you may just be lucky enough to track down Rona, Melissa, Nadia, or Janet somewhere around Blackstone and purchase Aboriginal women’s artwork and jewellery that comes from, and is inspired by the beauty of their country and the magnificent spinifex grass!

“They really are including new, contempory design with their traditional ones; learning new skills in the jewellery making and just having a great time doing it!”


Working together ICV is expanding its partnerships... ABV - Indigenous Community Volunteers (ICV) and Australian Business Volunteers (ABV) have signed a new partnership agreement that will enable both organisations to share volunteers. “We’re extremely excited to enter into this new partnership with ABV,” said Tina McDonald. “This agreement provides ICV with an added capacity to source skilled volunteers and help Indigenous communities and businesses achieve their goals.” David Bailey, a volunteer with both ABV and ICV said, “My experience as an ICV and ABV volunteer has been so positive on so many different levels. Communities get access to skills and experiences that generally leave them with a brighter future. ”

Story by Tim Lehã and Nick Ellis Photos - left, Tina McDonald and Michael Lynch (ABV CEO) sign the agreement; right above and below, Kalumburu community Photos by Nick Ellis and Dennis Billings

“The idea of volunteering, is not to do things for a community but to skill share so that the community can do these things on their own.”

UTS - ICV has also recently signed an agreement with the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS), who will promote ICV and support their staff to volunteer. UTS staff member, Gael Walker was instrumental in setting up the agreement. She has volunteered twice for ICV, most recently being invited by the Kalumburu community in WA to help set up a women’s group. “The idea of volunteering, is not to do things for a community but to skill share so that the community can do these things on their own,” said Gael.

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Canoe from the Kimberley For Indigenous people from coastal areas, fishing and hunting are often a part of their culture. With this come skills of boat craft and handling.

Western Australia

While most of the fishing and hunting in the Broome area is now done from on board a tin dinghy, the knowledge of how to make the traditional canoes still exists.

Perth WA 6831

Local Indigenous community member Roy Wiggan has known the traditional method of making canoes for many years. Actually making them, however has become harder as he has gotten older.

Northern Territory and South Australia

The Manbana Cultural Centre, in Broome has been the caretaker for one of Roy’s canoes.

GPO Box 4936

“Roy has the knowledge of how they used to make them traditionally,” says Bruce Bird, from the Manbana Centre, “but it would take ages doing it the old way, by hand.” ICV volunteers have been invited to help Mr Wiggan to make new canoes, in the traditional style, but using modern tools and techniques. Together, the volunteers and Mr Wiggan hope to show younger members of the community how to take ancient knowledge and modern skills to produce a traditional canoe. While these canoes most likely won’t be used for fishing, the knowledge and culture will be retained for future generations.

Photos - Top and right top - Roy Wiggan making a canoe; right and middle - an example of a traditional canoe

GPO Box 2571 T: 08 6363 4502 F: 08 6363 4505

Alice Springs NT 0871 T: 08 8912 0001 F: 08 8912 0006

Eastern States PO Box 1585 Fortitude Valley Qld 4006 T: 07 3121 9250 F: 07 3257 3454

National GPO Box 2213 Canberra ACT 2601 T: 02 6122 6444 F: 02 6122 6470

info@icv.com.au FREE CALL 1800 819 542 www.icv.com.au

Photos by Manbana Cultural Centre

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