Thursday 4 July 2019
6 – 8.30pm

Join us to explore the connections that link underwater songlines to fresh water and salt water stories. Understand the meaning behind sea rights custodianship and join the discussion with local community members to learn about their intrinsic connection to the sea. 

 

Speakers

Brett Leavy hails from the Kooma people from country between St George and the Cunnamulla region, on the NSW / Queensland border.

Brett is passionately interested in his culture, history and community, listening to and recording the stories of knowledge holders and gathering oral histories of First Nations people across Australia. 

Using computer technology to merge traditional knowledge gathering techniques, Aboriginal culture, language and artefacts with 3D virtual worldscapes, Brett has built Virtual Warrane II: Sacred Tracks of the Gadigal, exhibited at Customs House in Circular Quay, Sydney. This exhibit gives an accurate recreation of the life in the Sydney Cove area of the Gadigal people before 1788. Users can explore the land and harbour and interact to gather knowledge and share oral histories and dreamtime stories.

Through his digital mapping and virtual worlds, he aims to showcase the deep-seated connection of Indigenous peoples to their land, recreate the lifestyle of First Nations people within their respective Native Title boundaries, promote the care and protection of native flora and fauna as well as share knowledge of bush food and medicines.

Brett has developed the Barani and Cadigal Wangal websites for City of Sydney Council and was a representative on behalf of Oceania for the World Indigenous Association at the United Nations Forum on Internet Communication Technologies. He's currently on the board of the Australian Indigenous Communications Association.