First Nations storytelling: you can’t be what you can’t see

Representatives from the First Nations media industry have gathered on Ngambri/Ngunnawal Country in Canberra this week for CONVERGE, the national First Nations media conference.

First Nations media organisations are critical in providing platforms and opportunities for truth telling and First Nations Media Australia (FNMA) supports them and the professionals to upskill and build their capacity to keep First Nations storytelling alive.

FNMA hosts CONVERGE to bring together organisations and stakeholders from across Australia so that delegates can engage in forums, discussions and showcases where they can network, share their knowledge and their experiences.

Noongar man Professor Shane Hearn, CEO of FNMA, is excited to be amongst some of the greatest storytellers in the world: First Nations people.

‘The great thing is that CONVERGE brings people together and creates a stage, platform or environment that some communities wouldn’t have access to,’ Shane said.  

He sees great value in Aboriginal people being able to amplify their voice and create the narrative of how they want to tell their cultural stories or community stories.

‘We want to give community a voice and also acknowledge the amazing talent that we have out there,' he said. 

 

The conference celebrates and recognises the essential role of the First Nations media industry in amplifying the voices, stories, and cultural narratives of First Nations peoples across Australia and around the world.

‘There’s many reasons for us to have our own space. We want society to look at us with a serious lens. People express themselves in different ways and having this platform is way for us to express our way and our culture,’ Shane said.

He explained how the passion and authenticity that sits with storytelling is intriguing for people. 

‘Having our own platform instils pride. You can’t be what you can’t see. So having Aboriginal people at the front and telling their stories is genuine, authentic and it comes from a place of lived experience.’  

Shane recognises the importance of cultural preservation and the digital restoration of First Nations materials so that they can continue to be accessible and part of the First Nations story going forward. 

FNMA’s indigiTUBE is an online platform by and for First Nations people, preserving language and culture for future generations. It features stories from the desert to the sea, connecting and sharing culture from remote to urban regions.

‘There’s old stories on there with all sorts of representation, using new technologies to translate old stories but also new stories at the same time. It showcases the variety and brilliance of our community across the nation,’ he said. 

indigiTUBE also live streams 27 different radio stations and since launching in November 2019, has published over 100 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists.

The National Indigenous Australians Agency supports FNMA to host CONVERGE to contribute to media sector capability building.