YOU AND ME STRENGTHENING OUR ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER CULTURAL PRACTICES UMI ARTS NEWS : ISSUE 3, 2008 Big Talk One Fire Big Talk One Fire INDIGENOUS CULTURAL ARTS SUMMIT 27-28 MAY 2008, CAIRNS INDIGENOUS CULTURAL ARTS SUMMIT UMI Arts produced a significant event for Aboriginal Indigenous kids have a cultural light switch – it and Torres Strait Islander culture in Far North QLD just needs turning on. by presenting its keynote event for the year ‘Big Talk Technology is a good tool for drawing culture One Fire’. in to the lives of young people and to show the ‘Big Talk One Fire’ a cultural summit, was staged at the value of culture to the wider communities. Cairns Civic Theatre on Tuesday 27th & Wednesday UMI Arts to track the succession of leaders and 28th May and attracted an audience of 350 people. support the emerging generation of leaders. Over the two days, invited Elders from Kuranda, Art is reliant on the strength of culture. YOU AND ME STRENGTHENING OUR ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER CULTURAL PRACTICES Hopevale, Darnley Island, Aurukun, Kowanyama, Art is the core of culture. Laura and Mossman discussed the importance of Song and dance is songline – art is storyline – culture in the community and ways to strengthen both are lifeblood of culture. community and economy. The outcomes of these talks raised some fundamental points including: The second day’s objectives were to focus on pathways to success. The day included presentations, Culture brings respect and strength. performances and discussions by artists and leaders Elders are very important to the continuity of story. who have gone on to have successful careers utilising their art’s practice and culture. Many artists including special guests, Christine Anu, Uncle Seaman Dan and David Hudson came to share their own personal stories and journeys. Our target audience base for the second day was to attract High School and TAFE students, where we had representation from 8 schools in the region and two TAFE campuses. The summit generated some valuable feedback from its audience that reinforced the importance of maintaining culture, keeping strong, working together and finding success. Some valid concerns that were registered include: The need for more activities for children to learn about Indigenous culture. Career pathways for people to stay in the community. UBER H OLIN C HOTO: P Arts skills and development/training. Cultural Left to right: Dr Tommy George, Craig Koomeeta, Pamela Salt, Roy McIvor, Mavis awareness for young people. Ngallametta, Priscilla Major, Milton Brimm, Walter Lui, Victor Stefensen, Shaun Edwards Networks to mainland opportunities. ...CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 IN THIS ISSUE 1 Big Talk One Fire 4 Arone Meeks 5 Roy McIvor’s first Solo Exhibition 2 UMI Arts introduces Artist & Poet, 4 UMI Arts supports IACOR 6 Pormpuraaw Art Story Heather Koowootha 5 Writing the right way with Alberta 7 Backing Indigenous Arts 2 Chairperson’s Word Hornsby 7 On The Edge residency program 4 From Cairns to Cardwell: Umi Arts 5 Artist Profile: James Passi supports Girringun Art Centre UMI ARTS NEWS: ISSUE 3 1 UMI Arts introduces Artist & Poet… Heather Koowootha Encouragement for our Indigenous boys Our Children’s our dreaming Give our Indigenous boys their rights to use powerful skills, knowledge and wisdom to overcome their weaknesses Our children’s are our dreaming… of silence. Isn’t anyone watching their sleep walking?... Encourage them to stand up for their rights to conquer the They’re chasing a dream quickly. odds as a symbol of a rudder to steer them through rough They’re going the wrong way… currents in each troublesome paths. follow them from those destructive dreams. Develop their inner spirits to stand out amongst others and Don’t let them get away for every dreams they have are to be proud of themselves as a young intelligent person. very strange. We don’t want these children to go astray A person who stands out to be like a warrior that never into another dream that’s full of distraction. gives up to survive. Guide them, bring them back to the dream we once knew before waking them up, before its too late… Chairperson’s Word UMI Arts is and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Thirdly, UMI promotes and celebrates Indigenous arts and cultural Islander not for profit public company. practice and we do this by participating in and representing our members at events and festivals. UMI is dedicated to strengthening Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural practices It is important to UMI Arts to respect OUR WAY, listen to our elders in Far North Queensland and as such and share and learn our stories with our young ones. This is the key see ourselves as a peak body for cultural reason UMI hosted Big Talk One Fire cultural summit in late May. practitioners. Over two days our people gathered from communities across UMI has an all-Indigenous board made up Far North Queensland and the Torres Strait Islands to discuss Lisa Michl of: Priscilla Major representing Kowanyama, the importance of culture in community and ways to strengthen Henrietta Marrie – Cairns, Roy McIvor – community and the economy. Hopevale, Alberta Hornsby – Cooktown, Jeremy Geia – Cairns, and The key focus of the summit was to share and hear the stories, myself as the Chairperson. realities and aspirations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Umi Arts is a relatively new organisation and with the ongoing cultural practitioners across the region. support of Australia Council for the Arts, Arts Queensland and Fellow artist such as Christine Anu returned to share her own Australian Government agencies such as DICTA and DEWER we personal story and journeys on her pathways to success. hope to play a major role in the strengthening of Indigenous culture in Far North Queensland. Fourthly, UMI Arts will guide Indigenous cultural practitioners in Far North Queensland along pathways to success. Many of our Operating an Indigenous organisation that assists Aboriginal and mob have already achieved success and forged pathways such as Torres Strait Islander peoples we hope to strengthen Indigenous Thancoupie, Seaman Dan, Dennis Nona, Christine Anu, Rita Pryce cultural practice and achieve a strong cultural economy for and many more. our people. They have shone a light for our region and our people and have UMI aim to do this through five key ways. UMI wishes to assist our demonstrated that we can succeed in many different ways. It is mob maintain cultural practice to protect our cultural identities. important for UMI Arts to guide our mob along their pathway to Often people talk about the two Indigenous cultures being Aboriginal success wherever they maybe at. and Torres Strait Islander, where as Far North Queensland is rich with diverse clan groups and language groups. UMI Arts want to Finally, UMI Arts has a role in supporting Indigenous cultural assist people to continue cultural practices OUR WAY. UMI Arts economic development in Far North Queensland. The future looks supports the passing-on of knowledge by; bright with many opportunities. This time we will ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are the main beneficiaries of their Firstly, participating in the maintenance, preservation and protection cultural strength and success. of cultural identity. It is an exciting time for our flourishing Indigenous arts industry The passing on of knowledge of Indigenous cultures between and the potential to achieve tangible and sustainable outcomes for generations and communities. This means our young mob learning cultural practitioners in our region. culture, our community sharing culture as well as sharing our culture with non-Indigenous Australians here and overseas. CONTACT UMI ARTS UMI Arts gratefully acknowledges the support of: UMI Arts Ltd. PO Box 1100, North Cairns Qld 4870. Office: 2/151 Martyn Street, Parramatta Park, Cairns Qld 4870 Phone: (07) 4041 6152 Fax: (07) 4051 6152 UMI ARTS NEWS: ISSUE 3 Email: [email protected] Website: www.umiarts.com.au 2 Big Talk One Fire ...CONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE In Cairns a lot of the youth are lost, but to bridge the gap To keep culture strong. between Elders and youth is part of the solution. To maintain Operate UMI Arts as an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander our culture is through UMI Arts. It’s our first stepping-stone. All owned and controlled cultural enterprise. we need is community support and encouragement by love/ Maintain a sustainable cultural enterprise. respect/care. Strengthen all forms of Indigenous cultural practice. Access to Elders to talk in schools. Support business development and the professional Access to Elders to teach the art and culture. development of Indigenous cultural practitioners of Far North Cultural knowledge, cultural demonstrations, unity of youth Queensland. and community. Market and promote the arts and cultures of Aboriginal Chances for young people to be mentored and more culture and Torres Strait Islander cultural practitioners of Far North and arts in schools. Queensland. Keep going to strengthen the culture. Saying if you use it all Special thanks also goes to the following Elders, presenters and the time, you will know it all the time. performers who ensured the success of ‘Big Talk One Fire’. (Listed Promotion of culture through art. in order of appearance) Other quotes we received that support the success of the summit Seith Fourmile, Shaun Edwards, Milton Brimm, Roy McIvor, Walter are: Lui, Mavis Ngallametta, Priscilla Major, Jodie Cockatoo, Earl Rosas, “Do this, like every two years. This was awesome. What more Gimuy Waddama, Dr Tommy George, Victor Stefensen, Pamela Salt, can I say. Our students will remember this forever”. Craig Koomeeta, Hopevale Yimbaala Dancers, Rita Pryce & the “More seminars like ‘Big Talk One Fire”. Baiwa Dance Company, Colin Laurence, Uncle Seaman Dan, Will Kepa & Karl Nuenfeldt, Willy Gordon, Allick Tipoti, Christine Anu, “Can we do this again next year”? Jeremy Geia, Aaron Fa’Aoso, Wilma Reading and the Zennith Boyz.