Our First Teachers Exhibit

Visit the Muswellbrook Library this July and August to view our NAIDOC exhibit kindly curated and created by Natasha Kellett and Rosslyn Thomson. This exhibition features contemporary Aboriginal art and tools which have been collected and created. This exhibit will be displayed at the Muswellbrook Library throughout the month of July and August.

The exhibition is called ‘Our First Teaches’ as knowledge is passed down by our ancestors and is also embedded in our veins as blood memory. It is also about truth-telling and understanding our shared history is a vital stage towards healing our future.

This year’s NAIDOC theme is Heal Country, this means embracing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples cultural knowledge, traditions, values, understanding of Country and to be respected equally by all Australians.

Tash and Roz are sisters who are proud descendants of the Gomeroi people, who have grown up on Wonnarua Country and are active members of their community.

Most of the work displayed has been hand crafted by Tash such as the stone tools, naturally tanned animal skins, bush medicines, wooden tools and a Gunyah (hut/ shelter). Roz created the woven baskets, rope and jewellery using traditional and contemporary materials. Some techniques used have been from blood memory but both sister have been guided and mentored by Aunty Daniella Chedzey (Aunty D) a proud Ngiyampaa Wangaaypuwan woman of the Pilaarrkiyalu Pilar tree Mayi, and also a registered traditional owner for Mount Grenfell.

Tash and Roz were honoured to be a part of the Unsettled exhibition at the Australian Museum in Sydney.