Our country is a part of us and makes us who we are as a people. Aboriginal people have been blessed with this land by Biami, The Creator.
We are caretakers and custodians of our land treating it with respect and only taking what we need. For thousands of years we cared for country and that country has cared for us, providing food and water to sustain us for many, many generations. Strict lores were in place to ensure the continued plentiful supply of food. Food was shared. The old, very young, sick and disabled were cared for and provided for. Nobody starved.
My country is sea country. Quandamooka country. This painting shows the sea life that can be found there. Quampies (pearl oysters), eugaries (pipis), kinyingarra (oysters), andaccal (mullet) and more...
The line at the bottom right represents the injustices of the past. We will always remember the pains of our ancestors and the intergenerational traumas that still carry on today. I have left the top right of the painting empty. This represents the future that is yet to be written. A future of strength, a great resurgence and better understanding of our culture. That we as a Nation can grow together and learn from one another.
