The healing capabilities of Country and Culture: a story of cultural revitalisation in Woorabinda

In this episode of Creative Responders, we’re heading to Woorabinda, an Indigenous community in Central Queensland on the Traditional lands of the Wadja Wadja and Ghungalu Aboriginal peoples.

Nickeema Williams, Director of the Woorabinda Arts and Cultural Centre, shows us around the burgeoning arts centre and shares how it is providing opportunities to revitalise cultural practices with direct and meaningful impacts on the wellbeing of the community.

We’ll hear from Woorabinda community members about the challenge of preserving and passing down cultural knowledge in the face of the massive disruption brought about by colonisation - and how arts and culture can be a pathway to restoring some of these lost connections.

Woorabinda artist, Roxanne Oakley, shares the healing benefits of her own artistic practice, and her commitment to sharing that knowledge with others through her role at the arts centre. Community elders, Uncle Steven Kemp and Uncle Milton Lawton, talk about the work they are doing to share Traditional knowledge and cultural practices, along with the histories and environmental knowledge they carry.

Interviews:

Roxanne Oakley, Artist

Nickeema Williams, Director, Woorabinda Arts and Cultural Centre

Uncle Steven Kemp

Uncle Milton Lawton

Produced by: Jill Robson and Scotia Monkivitch

Audio Engineer: Glen Morrow

Studio Recordings: Tiffany Dimmack

Sound Recordist for Woorabinda Recordings: Boe Spearim

Sound Recordist for Additional Woorabinda Recordings and Carnarvon Gorge Trek: Josh Burton

Links and Further Reading:

Woorabinda Arts and Cultural Centre

https://www.instagram.com/woorabindaarts

Yarbun Creations (Uncle Steven’s natural soaps and other handmade products)

https://www.facebook.com/Yarbun.Creations

Mayi Kuwayu, The National Study of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Wellbeing

https://mkstudy.com.au

Gumby gumby trees and other Aboriginal medicines to be researched by CQ University:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-04-26/cq-university-traditional-medicine-research-ghungalu-elder/101009154

Youtube video: Plant Uses and Medicines with Uncle Steven Kemp

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQ8QiqZ3k8E

ABC article about Uncle Steven Kemp and his work to pass on knowledge to younger generations:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-17/ghangalu-aboriginal-elder-living-on-borrowed-time/10876104

Central Queensland University News Video of Woorabinda Arts and Cultural Centre (featuring interviews with Nickeema Williams and Roxanne Oakley)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtwOdORZ5Fk

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