AFTRS has this week launched the Talk Talk: Indigenous Language and Storytelling Podcast.
Talk Talk is a new podcast from AFTRS Indigenous. This first series gives insights into Indigenous Australia from a First Nation’s perspective. AFTRS Head of Indigenous Kyas Sherriff speaks with Uncle Bruce Pascoe, respected Elder, novelist, historian and farmer as he shares deep understandings on language, identity and connection to country.
“We live in a country that holds the oldest living culture with an unbroken connection: our First Nations People. How does Australia in 2019 understand this? There is an expression ‘white Australia has a shared history’. Uncle Bruce and I will explore that history and share contemporary perspectives,” Kyas Sherriff says.
Talk Talk was announced earlier this week at a well-attended AFTRS Indigenous event, Indigenous Language and Knowledge Keeping, held to mark the United Nations 2019 International Year of Indigenous Languages.
Acclaimed Aboriginal filmmaker and AFTRS alumna Rachel Perkins delivered a moving and impactful keynote about The Arrente Womens’s Project. This address spoke to the urgency and agency to look at Australia’s Aboriginial and Torres Strait Islander’s language and song cycles significance to all of Australia and the world. Both Uncle Bruce Pascoe and Rachel Perkins held the audience’s attention with their knowledge sharing. Uncle Bruce Pascoe gave his last orotation as AFTRS inaugural Elder in Residence.
Five episodes of Talk Talk are now available:
Episode 1 – LANGUAGE
Join us for an insightful discussion about how language and Indigenous knowledge is being used today. First Nation Australian’s are a diverse group of peoples who use story in daily life. Enjoy the wisdom from Uncle Bruce Pascoe as he imparts his thoughts on our shared nation.
Episode 2 – IDENTITY
Listen as respected Elder Uncle Bruce Pascoe ruminates on peoples responsibility to be knowledge keepers. An opportunity to hear understandings of the responsibility as being part of the oldest living culture. There are numerous languages spoken in Australia but there were once hundreds spoken by Indigenous Peoples of Australia. Culture is passed through story, language and in this episode you can hear how this has occurred over time from a national Elder.
Episode 3 – CONNECTION AND CULTURE
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have many ways of finding connection to their culture and identifying in today’s Australia. Being grounded with community and connecting to your identity can happen in unique and numerous ways. Awareness to land, air, sea and your role creates a sense of place. Who are we; who might that animal be? Sometimes we all just need to listen.
Episode 4 – SHARED HISTORY
Storytelling informs, engages and challenges culture. Australia has a shared history. Australia’s First peoples are integral to the story of how we got to the Nation we all live on today. Right now is an exciting time to see and hear all of the lived experiences by so many who walk this country together.
Episode 5 – TIME
There has been an unbroken connection to country for First Nation peoples of Australia. Over time there has been a shift in how we as Australians describe ourselves and view our past with each other. The interest in First Nations culture and story is seen and felt on a national level. Together we can walk forward with understanding and wisdom.
You can listen to the episodes here.
Media enquiries:
Tracey Mair, TM Publicity
Ph: 02 8333 9066 or 0419 221 493