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NAIDOC Week 2011
Aboriginal Elder shares his story with Singapore

As part of this year’s celebrations for NAIDOC Week, Australian Aboriginal Elder and renowned artist Roy Wiggan is visiting Singapore to share stories and traditions from his culture. National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) Week is an annual celebration of Australian Indigenous art and culture marked by the Australian High Commission.

During his visit, Mr Wiggan will conduct a workshop at the School of Arts for students, where he will share the stories and practices of the Bardi people, performing traditional songs and dances. He will also speak at the Australian High Commission’s official NAIDOC Week reception on Thursday, 28 July 2011, which is supported by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia.

At 83 years old, the indigenous elder is the creator of traditional dancing totems called ilma, and has a passion for passing on his culture to younger generations. Both bright and colourful, the artworks made from plywood, paint and wool are used in the singing and dance ceremonies performed by the Bardi people, who hail from the far north of Western Australia.

This year’s NAIDOC Week theme is Change: the next step is ours, which highlights the importance of mutual responsibility and support for effecting positive change in the Indigenous Australian community.

Australian High Commissioner to Singapore, HE Mr Doug Chester, says, “It is a privilege to have Aboriginal elder Roy Wiggan here to share the stories and traditions of the First Australians with us. Australian Indigenous art is one of the great art movements of the world, and highlights the remarkable depth and breadth of one of the oldest living cultures.”

The Australian Government continues to take steps towards closing the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Earlier this year, the National Congress of Australia's First Peoples was launched, and it aims to be a voice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in national policy-making.

Mr Wiggan’s visit has been organised by Aratong Galleries, which is co-presenting an exhibition of Indigenous Australian art, Paint, Pearl and Ilma, with the Australian High Commission in Singapore. Paint, Pearl and Ilma features artworks by the Yulparija Artists from Bidyadanga, in the far north of Western Australia. The exhibition includes canvas paintings, ilma crafted by Wiggan, and beautiful carved pearl shells used in the Aboriginal initiation process. It is open till 31 August 2011.

Part of the proceeds from Paint Pearl and Ilma will go to Art Outreach, a non-profit organization which provides community art education. The funds will assist in establishing an Aboriginal art and culture education scheme to be taught at local schools.

The Australian High Commission Atrium Gallery is open from 8.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday. Entry is free of charge. Please note: Photo ID is required for entry to the Australian High Commission. Visitors are required to pass through airport-style security screening. No cameras or camera phone permitted without prior approval. Parking is not available on premises.