Connection to Country: Australian Museum X Vivid Ideas

Australian First Nations Cultures have been caring for Country for over 60,000 years. Spend an evening learning how the oldest surviving knowledge on earth around water and land-care management is the key to the future. This night of talks, music, weaving circles and more has been curated by multi-disciplinary theatre maker, choreographer and artist Jacob Boehme and features renowned artists including Nadeena Dixon, Henrietta Baird and Aunty Karlene.

Join ABC RN show Awaye! Host Rudi Bremer in a robust conversation about the future of the Murray Darling Basin with Barkindji Knowledge Holder and Healer David Doyle and Barkindji curator, artist and researcher Zena Cumpston. David’s family is from the Menindee region of the Barka (Darling River) and his extensive knowledge includes bush medicine and edible plants. Zena Cumpston is a Barkandji woman with family and ancestral connection to Wilcannia, Broken Hill and Menindee and she recently co-authored the book Plants; past, present future (2022) and her linocuts, research and writing is featuring in a number of upcoming exhibitions.

After the talk you can expand your knowledge about local native plants from the Sydney Basin region. Drop in and yarn with First Nations landscapers from Dhinawhan as they share practical tips and methods for restoring Country through a practice they call ‘Landback Architecture’. Afterwards, explore the Barka: The Forgotten River exhibition (free) to learn more about the Darling River and the people who have Barka running in their veins.

Songwoman and artist Nadeena Dixon (Wiradjuri, Yuin and Gadigal), will perform songs from and of Country. Nadeena’s cultural practice includes dance, song, weaving, contemporary theatre storytelling and contemporary ceremony.

Throughout the evening you can join Aunty Karlene’s weaving circle and create your own memento to take home and listen to the tunes on the deck spun by Gadigal lad and Koori Radio host, DJ Shark.  The evening will be MC’d by Kuku Yalanji/Yidinji multimedia artist Henrietta Baird.

Event: 5pm-9pm | Talk: 6.30pm-7.30pm

This is part of Vivid Ideas' Immersive Events series. Be transported somewhere new by Up Late nights at Australian Museum and Powerhouse, an NFT party, mindfulness workshops and truly one-of-a-kind experiences.