Roebourne youth leading the way…
Roebourne in the Pilbara region of Western Australia is a long way from anywhere but three of its young people are busy connecting Indigenous youth throughout the country through digital technology.
Roebourne in the Pilbara region of Western Australia is a long way from anywhere but three of its young people are busy connecting Indigenous youth throughout the country through digital technology.
Nathaniel Edwins, Dannette and Woedin Wilson, participants in the Yijala Yala Project, are telling the story of Roebourne’s culture and history through music, iPad applications, film, theatre and games.
As part of the Yijala Yala Project, Dannette, Nathaniel and Woedin were involved in the production of NEOMAD, an interactive digital comic made for ipad that showcases traditional connections to country.
The kids drew praise for their hard work colouring and producing the comic and received Australian Government support to attend the recent National Remote Indigenous Media Festival in Ntaria.
According to twelve year-old Dannette, the Festival was a busy and exciting time for the three of them.
“We’ve been running workshops for the Ntaria kids on Photoshop skills and creating and drawing your own characters,” Dannette said.
“I’m really getting close to the Ntaria mob and it’s good to see them improve their editing skills so quickly. After the Festival we’ll keep emailing the Ntaria mob to keep them excited about designing their own comics.
“I’m looking forward to getting into a university graphic design course and then working with other Aboriginal kids after that,” she said.
Thirteen year-old Nathaniel has also been heavily involved in the production of another Yijala Yala Project, free online game called Love Punks, showing the player the world of Roebourne and its lifestyle through a series of animations.
Nathaniel says that they have been getting a lot of positive feedback from young Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people around the country for both Love Punks and NEOMADS.
“It’s amazing to hear from kids around the country telling us how much they play Love Punks and it’s great that it’s Roebourne kids who are leading the way in designing fun games,” Nathaniel said.
Nathaniel also hopes to become a graphic designer, making cartoons for the big screen. Until then, he is looking forward to travelling to more remote communities to teach other kids graphic design skills.
“Hopefully we can get kids from all over Australia making games and sharing their ideas,” Nathaniel said.
Find out more
The Yijala Yala Project is run by Big hART, a not-for-profit organisation that works with artists and communities to run projects that empower communities to change through the arts.
The Australian Government supports capacity development in Indigenous media, recently supporting the National Remote Indigenous Media Festival in Ntaria (Hermannsburg) and providing ten scholarships from remote communities to attend the Festival, learn new skills and gaining experience in the broader industry.
The National Remote Indigenous Media Festival was organised by the Indigenous Remote Communications Association (IRCA), the peak body representing the media and communications interests of remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities throughout Australia.