National NAIDOC Youth of the Year spreads message of positivity

A self-taught virtuoso guitarist with a passion for reconciliation, Torres Strait Islander Chris Tamwoy says he wouldn’t be where was today without the guiding influence of his grandmother.

So when he accepted the 2015 National NAIDOC Youth of the Year Award in Adelaide this month, he dedicated it to Maluo Tamwoy.

“Nan has passed on now, but I can picture her sitting there with a smile and know in my heart that she would be proud,” Chris said.

At just 19 years of age, Chris already has a long list of musical achievements. He has opened for John Butler Trio at the Byron Bay Blues Festival, performed at the NRL Indigenous All-Stars game earlier this year, appeared on NITV, JJJ and ABC Radio, and he’s just released his first EP.

Surrounding himself with good people and concentrating on thinking positive is what Chris said has really helped him succeed.

“At the end of the day, you’re in control of your own walk,” Chris said.

“Once you can handle your mind, master the way you think and get positivity in there most of the time, then the results of everything will be positive actions.”

Chris is also making a name for himself as a supporter of reconciliation.

In 2013, an incident in his neighbourhood in Logan, Queensland, was widely publicised as race-riots. In response, Chris joined other Indigenous youth to form the Logan First Nations Youth Assembly with the aim is to tackle the negative portrayal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people. Chris is also co-chair of the reconciliation group, Logan Youth Arm.

“Until people can focus on changing issues from what happened in the past to today’s issues and focus on making changes now, or making changes for the future, that’s when reconciliation will happen and we can move forward together as a nation,” Chris said.

“Sometimes we’ve just got to focus on the colour of the blood that comes out of our skin; that we’re all human together. Once you can get that thought into your head, your actions are always going to be that you can move forward without worrying about who’s black, who’s white or who’s polkadot.”

Equality is at the core of reconciliation according to Chris, as is learning about and celebrating other cultures.

“NAIDOC is a learning and celebrating week for me, when everyone comes together to showcase their talents, their culture, their traditional languages, and we can all reconcile by learning about each other,” Chris said.

“Always tell people that you’re proud of where you come from but always make sure that you’re making the other person feel welcome too, that they deserve to be in this place and live in this moment with you.”