Last month Adelaide played host to the Australian Theatre Forum. Alexis West, with Steve Mayhew, curated an outstanding event that I Am pleased to say was: a BLACK OUT. What do I mean by that? It’s when Aboriginal culture and Aboriginal people are at the forefront of programming. It’s when protocols and process are visible and reflective. It is the first event of its kind that I have been to where blackfellas weren’t simply doing the welcome to country or dancing in the sand.
Having done absolutely no homework, I had no idea what to expect. Delightfully, the first person I saw was Nadine McDonald-Dowd as I desperately tried to even up luggage quotas at the boarding gate. Peculiarly unnoticed, I boarded the plane and caught up on some light reading (…psst…on that secret event I can’t talk about that everyone knows about that’s happening in April2018…shhh).
Upon arrival on Kaurna country Monday afternoon, we were met by the super sassy Ms West and some super cool architecture.
Twenty seconds later, I knew the week was going to be an awakening of sorts: honest, freakin’ hilarious and dangerously confronting. We casually chilled for a bit (read: ciggie in the park) and returned to the airport to collect the ever inspiring, Teila Watson (aka ANCESTRESS). The journey to the accommodation with these amazing Aboriginal women was naturally humbling, and as one would expect, shitballs funny.
After stopping to let everyone check in to their apartments, meeting up with some more mob (Sermesh Bin Saad & Colin Kinchella), Alexis dropped me at The Watson Hotel. The creative design of this art series hotel, is by Tommy Watson, a Yannima Pirkarli man. I highly recommend this place to stay which is a 20min walk from the city or a quick, free (hotel) bike ride. Check it out! The Watson Hotel .
Now, if you haven’t been to Adelaide before, you may not know how beautiful this part of country is. Kaurna country is alive with creative spirits and on Tuesday morning, Aunty Katrina Karalpina Power welcomed delegates with the sunrise. Aunty Katrina is a force of nature – vibrant, articulate, witty and in-your-face fucking honest. Katrina makes you take notice. She shared and taught language and together we danced “Treaty”. A brilliant start to any day.
The powerful wake-up continued throughout the forum with mob from all over this great land represented at each keynote. Linda Kennedy (Yuin) spoke eloquently about her STATUS QUO (session title) and the frustration experienced in the urban planning sector and how she changed it by honouring protocol in spatial design and community led, creative practice.
The breakout sessions uncovered old wounds of colonial identity. Many admitting they were embarrassed of their Australian heritage. One admitting he was sick of saying ‘sorry’. Internal fires raged laying the foundation for healing to occur.
Dr. Vanessa Lee (Yupungathi/Meriam/Cape York/Torres Strait) and Teila Watson (Birra Gubba/Kungalu) shared their experiences in summing up what had occurred since ATF2015 in a session titled: THE LAST TWO YEARS – more suicides, more violence, more incarceration, less critical community resources and less required funding, the deplorable destruction of country and the dire position of our collective responsibility. The message clear and imminent – the time for action is now. Right now.
Day two began necessarily different. The insightful Eva Grace Mullaley (Blackfulla Performing Arts Alliance), requested a culturally safe space for our mob to gather, connect and share healing. The group shared story around the circle, opening up lines of kinship and a precious pathway for spirit, nestled safely in the heart of Nicky Ashby (Kaurna). Together we laughed and cried and learned how to AUSLAN sign ‘deadly’! The rest of the day was, for me, fairly insignificant and quite a blur. It was the mob and my connection with them that was the most important part of the trip. I do remember
The Australian Theatre Forum:
Adelaide