First Nations young people from 3 different schools took part in a series of 6 workshops Cofacilitated by Taungurung Artist Sammy Trist and Mornington Peninsula Youth Services held at Tounnin Wominjeka Youth Hub during term 2.
Throughout the workshops the young people learnt about how First Nations people have historically created art. The young people practiced linework, crushed and painted with ochre, painted gum leaves and bark, and designed boomerangs. Throughout all of these workshops the young people also brainstormed and gave design ideas to Sammy to contribute to the creation of a new large public artwork displayed at Tounnin Wominjeka Youth Hub.
Sammy had each young person design one of the boomerangs that feature prominently on the final piece. Alongside the art the young people also learnt about Bunjil's Law, listened to talented First Nations musicians and had great conversations about their own connections to culture. The workshops were a wonderful environment full of connection cultural learning and art.
Sammy Trist describes the mural
I started off with the background colours, they represent the different layers of country, the land, water, plants, sunset/sunrise. The colours also represent all the people in the community, we all deserve to belong no matter what our skin/hair/eye colour is or how we Identify.
The left hand top corner is the line art representing Wonga ~ Arthur’s seat
The blue line art across the mural represents water ~ bay, ocean, rivers and creeks on the Mornington Peninsula.
Bundil the wedge tail eagle ~ creation spirit of the Kulin nation
Waa the crow ~ protector spirit of the Kulin nation
These two birds are also our symbols of sky country
The large eucalyptus tree with scar represents 60,000 years of Boonwurrung connection to this land. It also has a spirit inside the scar representing belonging to this land.
The Boomerangs were each designed by local deadly first nations youth, originally drawn with south eastern line art taught by Aunty Sammy and then they painted in with ochre colours. Aunty Sammy then recreated the paintings into digital art.
The Boomerangs are healing the land as they travel across country. It is a reminder that it is the responsibility of the whole community and visitors to the Mornington Peninsula to take care of the beautiful land that we live on. The white line and dots represent the Boonwurrung People traveling in one line across country for thousands of years with minimal impact on the land. They travelled for ceremonies, harvesting plants, hunting and fishing.
The plants in the mural were collected still today by people of the Kulin Nation for food. Murnong, Karkalla, Salt bush, Chocolate lily, Apple berry and Ballee. The Ballee is in the wooden coolamon and is sometimes used in a smoking ceremony.
Kangaroo footprints and the blue tongue lizard were suggested by the students as animals they often see in the area.
The students expressed that the Touunin Womindjeka hub is a safe place to belong, for community coming to come together to connect, share, learn and celebrate together. The ceremony circle represents all of this.