The Guwiinbarraan Exhibition open till April 19

See this wonderful exhibition while it is still on at Aboriginal Cultural Centre and Keeping Place 96-104 Kentucky Street, Armidale.

The exhibition results from a research project led by PhD candidate Kisani Upward, a Gamilaraay woman from Tamworth,
featuring Stories of Country, Community, Hope and Change from co-researchers, the Nucoorilma Mob of Tingha

Yaama,

Firstly, we acknowledge the Elders past and present. We acknowledge the Countries and Communities involved for their support and participation in our project. Namely, Nucoorilma Country and Gamilaraay Country. We acknowledge and thank the Anaiwan Peoples, who have welcomed us and our artworks onto their Country. We thank the Armidale Cultural Centre and Keeping Place for hosting our Exhibition and our supporter, the Building the Tingha Community Spirit Aboriginal Corporation. Lastly, we thank the University of New England and the Lowitja Institute for their encouragement, support and contributions to this project.

After years of insufferable drought, in 2019, Australia was ravaged by one of the worst Bushfire Disasters in written history. This significant event sparked a Nation-wide conversation about the increasing prevalence of natural disasters as a result of climate change, the recognition of our contribution to environmental changes and our role in mitigating future events. Since then, our global community has experienced a pandemic that led to a world-wide stand still, the continuation of droughts and famines, increasing natural disasters and even war. Throughout this time one question has remained the same, “What can we do about Climate Change? … ” What you are about to experience is the stories of the Nucoorilma Community of Tingha, who collectively endured the Black Summer Bushfires. A Community that was already facing significant disadvantages in access to housing, transportation, education and services, they faced this additional adversity head-on. This pro-active Community recognised the systematic failures of post-disaster recovery within their region and took it upon themselves to support each other in their recovery, by growing their resilience. This sparked the formation of the Building the Tingha Community Spirit, Aboriginal Corporation. In 2023, the Nucoorilma Community joined forces with the University of New England’s PhD Candidate, Kisani Upward, a Gamilaraay Woman from Tamworth, NSW. Together, they developed Guwiinbarraan: Close to Fire Project, which aims to conceptualise ‘solastalgia’ (the grief and loss associated with negative environmental change, resulting in a feeling of homesickness) through an Indigenist lens, as an offering for hope and change. However, this project became so much more…

Over the course of this project, our friendships grew. We spent time yarnin-up over cups of tea and heading out on Country, taking photographs and sharing stories. During this time, something became very clear … Being (back) on Country is fundamental for healing. For generations, the Nucoorilma Peoples have cared for their Country. But years of forced removal, displacement, conflict and misinformation have resulted in dwindling opportunities for the younger generations to connect to Country. For some Elders, it had been years since they had taken their families out to Old Bottom where they grew-up, to the sacred sites at Bassendean, played in the waters of Joseph Wells and gathered ochre at Mount Topper. The experience was resounding, it was rejuvenating, uplifting and felt like being back home. However, there were tensions that remained … Fear of the looming risk of bushfires, the feeling of being underprepared for the next evacuation, the stress that comes from hearing the sounds of sirens in the distance and the anger of missed opportunities for Cultural Burning, now that summer has returned. The Nucoorilma Community have no autonomy. The current system in place has proven to be difficult to navigate, with the Community reporting numerous incidents of misguidance and mismanagement of land, to misinformation about the authorities that govern beloved Community spaces. This needs to change… Our message is this… Connection to Country is VITAL for our existence… Connecting to Country means the continuation of our Culture. The support of Aboriginal Communities to connect with Country can benefit the entire Community. Resulting in better land management practices and a greater chance of adapting to and potentially mitigating climate change related events. This support can lead to stronger, more resilient Communities, unified by common goals, and even resulting in positive health outcomes for all. So, as you walk through this exhibition, we implore you to see what we see, to feel what we feel and absorb the message imbedded within our work. Maarubaa nginda (Thank you)