More than 70 Aboriginal community organisations and groups across NSW will be supported to host initiatives that celebrate Aboriginal culture via $1.4 million in NSW Government grant funding.
The Cultural Grants will help support, strengthen, protect and maintain traditional and contemporary expressions of Aboriginal culture across the state.
“Aboriginal communities continue to keep culture strong through festivals, workshops and programs across NSW,” said Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty, David Harris.
“These grants are designed to empower Aboriginal community organisations and groups to run events which celebrate culture and facilitate sharing of knowledge and skills between generations.
“These initiatives have been designed by Aboriginal communities for Aboriginal people, reflecting the NSW Government’s commitment to self-determination.”
The successful grant recipients include:
- Dharawal Cultural workshops, La Perouse: Gujaga Foundation: Hosting a series of cultural workshops about native plants, language, art, weaving, cooking and history for young people on Dharawal country.
- ‘Welcome Baby to Country’, Narrandera: A cultural celebration will be held on Wiradjuri country that will see children up to 18 months welcomed by elders and the community.
- ‘First Nation Food Sovereignty’: A documentary which will examine how communities have historically sustained themselves for generations using traditional food systems and Indigenous knowledge.
- ‘Echoes of Country’ didgeridoo workshops, Kiama: Gumaraa Aboriginal Experience is running workshops for young men from local schools to learn more about the cultural significance of the didgeridoo.
- Kangaroo Festival in Casino: Casino Boolangle Local Aboriginal Land Council will lead the revival of a significant cultural celebration on Bundjalung Country including children’s weaving, traditional foods, bush medicine, dance and music activities.
- ‘Return of the Yowies’ short film, Pilliga: An Aboriginal film-maker is developing a short documentary to honour the Pilliga traditional custodians and their families. It will celebrate, preserve, and pass down their rich cultural heritage of growing up in Pilliga in north-west NSW.
- Women’s gathering at Wagga Wagga: West Wyalong Local Aboriginal Land Council will lead cultural workshops for Aboriginal women on Wiradjuri Country with an elder.
- ‘Our Culture Our Future’, Umina Beach: Freshwater Education will run a cultural and wellbeing school holiday camp on Darkinjung country for Aboriginal girls aged 9-18.
- Weekly youth cultural program in Moree: Moree Sports Health Arts and Education Academy will run workshops to connect young people to culture through creative arts and culture on Kamilaroi country.
“This grant enables us to deliver dedicated cultural experiences for children in the La Perouse Aboriginal community, led by Dharawal knowledge holders,” said Chief operations officer of Gujaga Foundation, Jessie Longbottom.
“It also supported the delivery of a cultural family day, increasing the opportunities for our community to connect with language, culture, and each other. These experiences are vital to strengthening identity and passing knowledge between generations.”
Directors of Gundyarri (‘Welcome Baby to Country’ event in Narrandera) Cherry Johnson and Vivian Prior Christian said the grant will help to welcome newborns back to their traditional river and land after being born in hospital where the closest maternity facilities are an hour away.
“The ceremony will connect our babies spiritually, emotionally and physically which in turn will re-introduce cultural practices i.e. to be ongoing for generations,” they said.
“Also it will help preserve our identity, sense of belonging (children), having respect for one another and staying grounded to our roots (ancestral knowledge).”
Director of Indigenous Futures Foundation Levi-Joel Tamou said the grant was a powerful step forward in celebrating and preserving First Nations culture through storytelling.
“It allows us to share our voices, honour community knowledge, and bring our film project into reality. We’re currently in pre-production and deeply grateful for this support,” he said.
For more information about upcoming Aboriginal Affairs NSW grant opportunities, visit www.nsw.gov.au/living-nsw/aboriginal-outcomes/grants-and-funding.
