Meleisa Cox is a Wiradjuri artist and early childhood educator. I purchased two of her artworks in 2022 for my personal use (pictured here) and today had the privilege of discussing artwork for the Children's Voices Centre. Thank you Meleisa for your interest in CVC.
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| Sharynne and Meleisa |
Today we welcomed Camilla Porsanger to The Treehouse. She is studying her PhD at Nord University and has a scholarship to visit Australia. She is a visitor of the School of Indigenous Australian Studies and the Children's Voices Centre.
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| Camilla and Prof Lynn Williams both were welcomed at CVC today |
Camilla's family brought a Sami flag for the CVC and we discussed Wiradjuri land.
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| Camilla's children wearing Sami dress (photos shared with permission) |
This week I have attended a 2-day beginner-level workshop held in Kelso, Bathurst this week to learn the fundamentals of the Wiradyuri language. The workshop was funded by the NSW Aboriginal Languages Trust and taught us to pronounce Wiradyuri sounds, words, and phrases, including: family terms, numbers, animal names, and a basic Acknowledgement of Country.
"Dhuluny: Wiradyuri language workshops commemorating the 1824 declaration of martial law"
The workshops were held at the Wundirra Kelso Community Centre (with Wahluu Health Aboriginal Corporation Bathurst). Workshops were facilitated by Aunty Joylene Simpson and Aunty Leanna Carr assisted by Jonathon Jones. Wiradyuri people, other Aboriginal people, and parents/carers of Aboriginal children were given preference; however, non-Aboriginal people were also welcome to attend.
Research can be such fun. I have never before conducted research next to a jumping castle. Thanks to the OAMS staff, families and children who yarned about our research, looked at the children's books and participated. Lots of people were interested in reading books with their children/grandchildren - so in the future it would be great to have books for people to take home too. Here are the children's books that Ebony has selected for us to use in our research: https://www.csu.edu.au/research/multilingual-speech/first-nations-resources
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| Sharynne and Ebony |
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| Sharynne and Emily-Jane by the jumping castle |
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| Our children's books near the jumping castle |
Today Emily-Jane Woodhead, Sarah Bartlett and I had a wonderful day analysing data from our Indigenous children's communication research and preparing for more data collection with children, families and staff next week. It was serendipitous that we were joined by early childhood education researchers Prof Linda Harrison (Macquarie University) and Dr Leanne Gibbs (CSU) for a short while to plan how to share the resources with the Indigenous children at their school holiday program next week.
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| Emily-Jane, Sarah and I celebrated our birthdays too :) |
Today at the Dhuluny Aboriginal Art Market I met two Wiradjuri children's book authors: Larry Brandy and Jessica Leffley. We are purchasing Indigenous resources as part of our current RHRI grant to support rural children's communication.
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| Jessica Leffley |
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| Resources purchased from Reilly Callie |
Today was the 200th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law in Bathurst. A sad day in the history of our nation. To mark this occasion, "Dhuluny: The war that never ended", a thought-provoking exhibition, is at the Bathurst Art Gallery https://bathurstart.com.au/exhibitions-events/dhuluny-the-war-that-never-ended/
"Dhuluny means the direct or gospel truth, and the commemoration offers visitors the opportunity to share and understand the true history of our country and celebrate the resilience of the Wiradyuri Nation."
The Wiradyuri Traditional Owners Central West Aboriginal Corporation are hosting a series of events this week. I decided it was very important attend one of these events today. This afternoon I attended Dhuluny and sat with Wiradjuri woman Jessika Spencer (Ngurru: First Nationss Weaving) and learned how to weave as her grandmother had taught her.
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| My weaving |
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| Wiradjuri weaving |
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| Wiradjuri weaving |
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| Possum skin arm bands |
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| Ready for this afternoon's corroboree |
Today Olebeng and I visited Dhuluny: The war that never ended - a powerful and thought-provoking exhibition at the Bathurst Art Gallery
https://bathurstart.com.au/exhibitions-events/dhuluny-the-war-that-never-ended/
"The exhibition is part of The Dhuluny Project – a series of events commemorating the 200-year anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law on 14 August 1824 in the Bathurst region and the ensuing frontier violence. Dhuluny means the direct or gospel truth, and the commemoration offers visitors the opportunity to share and understand the true history of our country and celebrate the resilience of the Wiradyuri Nation...This project has been developed and supported with the Wiradyuri Traditional Owners Central West Aboriginal Corporation."
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| Visitors to the exhibition were given the chance to reflect on the exhibition and write on a gum leaf |
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| "Returning stolen goods" - artwork addressing the stolen generation |
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| Books containing the Wiradjuri language on display (I also own a number of these) |
Over the past two days I have attended the Summer 2023 Research Retreat hosted by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) in Orange addressing the following:
1. First Nations Research - Sue Green and Mark Evans
2. Vice-Chancellor’s Research Excellence Awards
3. Proposal for the Establishment of ARC/NHMRC Bid Accelerators - Mark Evans
4. Research Services Retreat Outcomes - Jason White
5. Implementation of the HDR Review - Sarah O’Shea
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| Accepting Kate Smithers' ECR award |
Some key points about First Nations Research
Four Principles that will underpin the Wiradyuri Research Gateway
Congratulations to my colleagues who won Research Excellence Awards. I was invited to collect the award for Kate Smithers who was awarded the Early Career Researcher Award for the Faculty of Arts and Education.
Across Australia most meetings and formal events begin with an Acknowledgement of Country to acknowledge the indigenous custodians of the lands. Young children also acknowledge country.
Charles Sturt University acknowledges the culture and insight of Indigenous Australians through our ethos which is clearly described by the Wiradjuri phrase ‘Yindyamarra Winhanganha’. This phrase means 'the wisdom of respectfully knowing how to live well in a world worth living in'.Other useful resources
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| Sarah Verdon and Ben Pham with the Wiradyuri possum cloak |
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| Smoking ceremony |
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| Wiradyuri elders presenting the Vice Chancellor with the new flag |
