Supply Nation opens the door to trade

THE story of Bundjalung language and history is set to be the focus of a large scale digital work that will be projected onto the heritage-listed buildings of the former Lismore High School.

Dungarimba Wandarahn (Lismore place of learning) is a spectacular multimedia work created in collaboration with Southern Cross University’s Indigenous School Gnibi Wandarahn, and Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School, Terranora.

The work is inspired by stories from Widjabul Wyabul Elder Aunty Irene Harrington, who attended the high school in the 1950s while living at Cubawee mission, outside of Lismore.

Dungarimba Wandarahn juxtaposes two cultures and ways of learning, Bundjalung and Western, highlighting the complexity experienced by a young Bundjalung woman living in Lismore at that time.

Irene Harrington’s story is specific to the Lismore area but resonates with the experience of many Aboriginal people of her generation.

Dungarimba Wandarahn (Lismore place of learning) is a free event and will run over four nights in The Quad from May 23-26.

EVERY August, people from across Australia journey into the heart of the Northern Territory (six hours from Katherine) and gather on Gurindji country for the Freedom Day Festival, a celebration of Indigenous Land Rights, self-determination and community success.

This is one of Australia’s best remote Aboriginal community events for arts, culture, history, music and sport.

It was on Gurindji land that the legendary Wav Hill Walk-off took place over nine years from 1966-1975.

The story of the Walk-off is an epic tale of bravery and struggle taught in schools and immortalised in the song From Little Things, Big Things Grow.

This action sparked the national Land Rights movement. Each year, people from all walks of life make the pilgrimage to Kalkaringi to celebrate in the spirit of unity and pride.

GAMILLAROI/Torres Strait Islander woman, writer and actor Nakkiah Lui has been named the 2018 STC Patrick White Playwrights Fellow.

The $25,000 fellowship, from the Sydney Theatre Company, is awarded annually to an established playwright in recognition of their excellent body of work and achievements.

Ms Lui will receive a year long commission from STC, which she will use to develop opportunities and share her skills with other playwrights and artists – including the STC Emerging Writer’s Group.

As well as being a multi award-winning writer and actor in TV shows such as ABC’s Black Comedy and Kiki & Kitty, Ms Lui has appeared on Q&A and The Drum, is a regular guest on Screen Time, and co-hosts the BuzzFeed podcast series Pretty For An Aboriginal.

Nakkiah Lui has already staged three plays – Black is the New White, Blackie Blackie Brown and How to Rule the World.

OPPONENTS of a proposed housing development on the North Lismore Plateau, considered sacred to the Bundjalung people, are preparing to blockade any attempts to begin the development.

A smoking ceremony was held last week at the entrance to the plateau, and activists walked onto the site carrying a sacred fire.

They were led by the chair of the Bundjalung Elders Council, Mickey Ryan, who has been leading the fight against the proposed development since rezoning was first proposed in 2011.

The Friday gathering coincided with a directions hearing in the NSW Land and Environment Court, with a trial date expected to be set this week.

In October 2018 the Northern Regional Planning Panel approved the construction of the first stage of 340 of ultimately 2000 lots for the plateau.

A 20 metre animated installation will tell the story of six senior Adnyamathanha women following the footsteps of their female ancestors.

Same Like Yesterday shows the senior women and two teenage girls travelling through the Flinders Ranges in the footsteps of Virlkuthalypila – two women from the Yuramuda (Dreamtime).

Their interpretation of the traditional Dreamtime story and Adnyamathanha Country creation is the result of a year long project where community members – guided by senior custodians – worked on the project, facilitated by the SharingStories Foundation.

With their support, teenagers Shaunaya and Sohara Brady and a group of young people from the Leigh Creek Area School program, recorded and interpreted the Virlkuthalypila and Other Stories from Our Country story through a range of new media.

Senior custodians Yvonne Brady, Lesley and Linda Coulthard, Gladys and Sophia Wilton and Judy Patterson contributed to the telling and artistic expression of the story on Country. Donna and Veronica Coulthard also joined the creative team during the production period.

More than 2,500 people gathered in Sydney for Australia’s largest Indigenous business event, Supply Nation’s Connect on May 8-9.

Supply Nation chief executive Laura Berry said this year the theme was ‘the power of an idea’. “We presented best practice strategies and tactics to implement supplier diversity from around the globe at the Knowledge Forum; we showcased the diversity of business ideas and the growing maturity of the sector at the Indigenous Business Tradeshow; and we celebrated the leaders in the sector at our Gala Awards Dinner,” she said.

More than 450 people attended the Knowledge Forum; over 170 Indigenous businesses exhibited at the Tradeshow with over 1000 buyers in attendance; and more than 1,200 people attended the Gala Awards dinner at the Grand Ballroom at the International Convention Centre to celebrate the announcement of the 2019 Supplier Diversity Awards.