WEST DARLING ARTS

Our Stories

The Baaka River Story

Arts and culture is a way to affect change and express who we are and how we feel.

Art needs to be a part of the fabric of communities in everyday life. 

The Arts creates a space to belong and share; and creates the opportunity to connect. 

The arts can foster and strengthen the identity of a town, community and region.

The Baaka River Project

This is an project from West Darling Arts, a regional arts not-for-profit organisation based in Broken Hill, to work with the cultural and artistic skills of the Baakindji People to tell stories of the Baaka/Darling River.

Aims:

  • To contribute to individual and community well-being
  • To provide opportunities for people to come together and connect through art
  • To contribute to a sense of belonging and cultural identity
  • To use the arts and culture as a way to affect change and express who we are and how we feel
  • To build the public profile and value of Aboriginal culture within the local and regional area.

The filming and recording component was be undertaken by Broken Hill Productions, directed by Jason King, who is experienced in working with the Aboriginal Community to collaborate on story-making. This was undertaken with assistance from Jessica Byrne, an Indigenous filmmaker currently finishing a PHD through Deakin University. Recognition of Copyright and retention of materials will be held in the communities involved in the project.

The Federal funding for the project has been provided through Indigenous Languages and the Arts, Department of Communications and the Arts.

A Lino Print Workshop was held at the Hub Community Centre in Broken Hill for the Aboriginal Community, in June. A Weaving Workshop was held in Menindee at the Local Aboriginal Lands Council in September, with Maliangappa-Paakintji artist/weaver Clair Bates. A weaving workshop with the Murray/Darling Dreamweavers Group was held on the river at Wentworth with support from the Baaka Project. An exhibition of Indigenous artists (and a collaboration) telling river stories through various mediums will be held at West Darling Arts in December, along with the film component of the project.

Different communities use different spelling of Baakindji, Barkindji and Paakintji. The project as it was named through the original application used the spelling of Baaka.

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