Ntaria plays host to Australia’s Indigenous media organisations

Nearly 200 people from Indigenous media organisations across Australia recently converged on the central desert community of Ntaria (Hermannsburg) for the 15^th annual Remote Indigenous Media Festival.

Supported by the Australian Government, the Festival was an opportunity for media veterans and newcomers alike to share insights into the industry and brush up on skills in workshops run by experts like ARIA award-winning musician Warren H. Williams.

As part of the Australian Government’s sponsorship, 10 scholarship holders from four remote media organisations attended the festival, and all were eager to return home to pass on their new skills and knowledge to their communities.

Joel Mamarika from Youth Radio Umbakumba in Groote Eylandt was one of the scholarship recipients and thought the Festival not only helped him but his whole community.

“Umbakumba is so small and remote that Radio Umbakumba is the only contact many community members have with the outside world, so all the media skills I’ve learnt here will benefit everyone in Umbakumba,” Joel said.

Joel also took over the CAAMA mobile radio studio one morning to broadcast his show across the Northern Territory, moving between English and his native Anindilyakwa language to give listeners an insight into the issues facing Wanindiliyakwa youth.

Joel also later heard that the broadcast was well received back in Umbakumba.

“My mum rang to tell me everyone in Umbakumba was listening to me and were all really excited I was making our community famous,” Joel said.

Joel’s work with Youth Radio Umbakumba was recognised at the annual Remote Media Awards held on the Festival’s closing night, when he won the award for TEABBA region’s “Best Emerging Radio Talent”.

Other major winners included:

• The Preston Memorial Award for Lifetime Achievement was awarded to Annette Victor of the PAKAM network. Annette has been a regular radio broadcaster for many years on the PAKAM radio network from Beagle Bay and Ardyaloon, as well as a video producer and an active Board member with PAKAM, IRCA and ICTV.
• The Mr McKenzie Award for Outstanding Contribution to Remote Indigenous Television was awarded to Noeli Roberts of Ngaanyatjarra Media for his contribution over 30 years to the production of video content in the Ngaanyatjarra lands of Western Australia.
• The new NITV Spirit Award went to PAW Media for ‘First Contact’ a short animated oral history film by Maxwell Tasman, Shane White and Jason Woods.
• The John Macumba Indigenous Community Media Operator of the Year Award was won by Noel Heenan, PAW Media network.
• The Steve McGregor Award for Best Emerging Talent went to Louisa Anson, Erub Arts, Torres Strait Islands.
• The Mr Garawirrtja Memorial Award for Contribution to Media, Entertainment and the Arts was awarded to legendary musician Warren H. Williams, one of the first BRACS broadcasters with the CAAMA network.

Awards were also presented for Best Emerging Radio Talent and Radio Operator of the year for each of the eight RIMO regions.

ICTV presented the annual Video and Content Awards, including radio, music, and online content. More than 124 entries were received for the 23 award categories.

Winning entries included Dangers of Burning Country by Central Land Council / Tri State Waru Committee and Sky High from Batchelor Institute’s Indigenous Media Unit.

The ICTV Best Culture Video winner was Kurrarlkatjanu from Pilbara and Kimberley Aboriginal Media (PAKAM).

Lajamanu film-maker Shane White won the craft award for Best Visual Recording (Sponsored by ProAV Solutions) for The Hunter's Story (supported by WYDAC).