When Cyclone Yasi hit the coast of North Queensland in 2011, the Girringun Aboriginal Corporation and its active community of rangers and artists took a position of leadership in the recovery process and galvanised a devastated community.
In this episode, Girringun’s Founder and Executive Officer Phil Rist shares the story of their Traditional-Owner led organisation; we take a tour around the renowned Girringun Arts Centre with manager Joann Russo; and we also hear from Girringun Ranger Michael George and Communications Officer Seraeah Wyles about the interconnectedness of arts, culture and country.
This episode is a re-release, originally aired in October 2019. We decided to share this episode this month in response to the outcome of the recent referendum as a way to continue using this platform to amplify Indigenous perspectives in disaster management.
The Creative Recovery Network expresses our solidarity with First Nations people and our ongoing staunch commitment to walk hand in hand to find new pathways for change.
If you would like to support the work of the Girringun Aboriginal Corporation, you can donate here:
Some perspectives on the outcome of the referendum we have been reading / listening to:
Bhiamie Williamson in The Conversation
Claire G Coleman in The Saturday Paper
The Full Story: How to continue the fight for Indigenous rights
The movement that follows the Voice, Thomas Mayo
Other resources related to this episode:
Girringun Aboriginal Corporation
Girringun Resilience: Portraits of Yasi
Girringun Resilience (video), Creative Recovery Pilot Project
National Indigenous Arts & Cultural Authority
Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction
UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Girringun: the trailblazing Indigenous corporation caring for 1.2m hectares of north Queensland