Indigenous Youth Getting a Taste of Life as an Artist in Queensland’s Gulf

On a remote northern Queensland island in the Gulf of Carpentaria, a new art program is teaching Aboriginal youth about local language, cultural connection and business enterprise all in one.

The program launched at Mornington Island State School involves high school students exploring their ancestral totem, translating it into the local language, and artistically interpreting it on a wearable badge.

Teacher and program-designer Ben Landers said after working in the Northern Territory where most children knew their totems, he wanted to share the same cultural understanding with the children on Mornington Island.

“I thought this was a really good opportunity to work alongside people in the local community who could teach the students about their totem through dreamtime stories,” Mr Landers said.

“Each badge featured an image of the totem as well as its Lardil name — Lardil is the traditional language from the island.”

Art project turned business enterprise

What started as a school art project, has grown into student-run enterprise.

After making the totem badges, Mr Landers said the students approached the local arts centre which is now selling them, enabling many of them to consider a career in the arts.

“Through this project they’ve been be able to recognise their capacity to have a career in the arts, which is a real potential career path for the people on the island,” he said.

Mr Landers said the projectwas also now engaging the wider community.

“I’ve handed over the responsibility to the local people I’ve been working with, for them to teach the students about their culture,” he said.

One artist created a totem picturing a mangrove crab, which is also known as a bingkurn. Supplied: Mornington Shire Council

A student cutting the vinyl to make her totem badge. Supplied: Mirndiyan Gununa Art

Learning the ‘money story’ behind life as an artist

Manager of the Mornington Island Art centre, Grace Barnes said stocking the children’s badges was not only profitable for the school, but it had been a real learning lesson.

“The kids and I negotiated the price of the badges, and the commission as well,” Ms Barnes said.

English                     Lardil translation
Barramundi                Daan
Sea turtles                 Kendabal
Stingray                     Thurarra
Boomerang                Wagal
Mangrove crab           Bingkurn
Morning star              Ngarijan

“They were really, really good at negotiation and they’re going to get 60 per cent, and I’m going to get 40 per cent for the gallery.”

Ms Barnes said by engaging students in the ‘money story’ that was the backbone to becoming a professional artist was really important.

“For the artists it’s about defending their rights and their artwork, so it’s a skill that all artists should have,” she said.

“These kids potentially could be the future artists in Mornington Island and starting them young is a great benefit.”

Vital cultural engagement

Mornington Shire Council’s Deputy Mayor and Island Cultural Advisor Sarah Isaacs said the process of understanding and engaging with one’s totems was a vital part of Lardil culture.

“Art is how Lardil people have always transferred the knowledge of their culture,” Ms Isaacs said.

“It has always been an expression of not only on a personal and individual level, but also on a community level because totems connect families, they connect these kids.”

Ms Isaacs said Mornington Island was still grappling with European settlement, giving children the opportunity to re-engage culturally was increasingly important.

“It’s important because we’re losing that way of transferring knowledge, and we as community have to figure out ways to do that in contemporary society because otherwise we are going to lose it.”

“We’ve got a whole generation that missed out sitting around a campfire and talking about their culture and their totems, and where they come from and what these story places are,” Ms Isaacs said.

The totems are currently displayed in the Contemporary Arts Centre in Cairns as well as Mornington Island Art centre.

Educational assistant Violet Thomas (left) and Grace Barnes (right) pictured with three students holding their totems. Supplied: Mirndiyan Gununa Art