| Summary: | My heritage is Wiradjuri, a Central New South Wales nation with a powerful
connection to Lake Cargelligo and a number of inland rivers. Our old ties with the
river have facilitated strong ties with tribes up and down the rivers which have
extended as far as South Australia. In addition, Wiradjuri has strong familial
associations with Yorta Yorta, Gamillaroi and historically significant ties to
neighbouring nations, such as the Wonnarua with whom we collaborated during the
1826 uprising against the British (Miller, 1995). Our broad associations also included
ceremonial and marriage arrangements with peoples much further afield, such as
Aboriginal people who shared Mount Bogong in the Victorian Alps. Cultural ties and
reciprocity arrangements extended as far as Southern Queensland and during the
Bunya Pine ceremonial cycle, there were huge gatherings of people, including
Wiradjuri, who travelled significant distances to share food. This is the present
location of the College of Indigenous Studies, Education and Research (CISER) at the
University of Southern Queensland (USQ). It is at this university that I now plan and
implement innovative art theory that provides a narrative of Indigenous art in the
contexts of human rights, land rights, intellectual property rights, politics and
international networks. In this way cultural exchange continues between myself as
Wiradjuri and Aboriginal communities in Southern Queensland in an unbroken chain
which honours both past and present associations.
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