Country Arts SA pays respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and recognises their continuing connection and spiritual relationship to these lands, waters and skies. We are committed to listening and helping care for Country, and to safeguard, share and celebrate First Nations’ living cultures.
This Anzac Day
Country Arts SA would like to acknowledge all the Traditional Owners and Custodians whose land we work, enjoy and cherish.
We acknowledge the sacrifice made by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in wartime and peacetime service for this land and the preservation for all peoples of this country.
Military service and war is a significant part of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history and current experiences. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have served in large numbers in every conflict since Australia’s Federation in 1901.
Country Arts SA is proud to have helped tell a number of uniquely South Australian stories of Aboriginal servicemen and women through the Aboriginal Diggers Project.
The significant 3-year project from 2017-2019 captured the stories and experiences of these servicemen and women who served in Australia’s Military from WW1 to the present day through film, theatre and visual arts.
Country Arts SA worked closely with the Aboriginal Veterans of SA on this project and established the Anzac Brains Trust to help advise on the various aspects, alongside the employment of Creative Producer Lee-Ann Tjunypa Buckskin for the duration of the project. Importantly, the outcome of the overall project was to uncover and give voices to those who have remained silent throughout history for the broader Australian community.
This Anzac Day, we pay our respects to all servicemen and women both past and present. We remember the contribution and suffering of all those who have served. And to honour our Anzac soldiers we would like to share our short film Coming Home with you, this story is from the initial Aboriginal Diggers Project. Coming Home demonstrates by always remembering those who served we are able to reunite them with their families and country, you can watch the short film here.
Coming Home was developed from a film residency in Raukkan with Aboriginal filmmaker Allan Collins and film mentees. It was launched in Raukkan and the Mercury Cinema on Anzac Day 2017 and screened at Black Screen events across South Australia.
Photo Javier Cañada on Unsplash