Aboriginal Elders have been Yarning Online OnCountry as part of a creative project that provided a culturally safe place for sharing knowledge, stories and skills, while aiming to improve Elders’ health and wellbeing by minimizing the impacts of social isolation.
COVID-19 forced us all to devise new ways of working – and gathering.
Opportunities to gather in person, were drastically limited due to COVID-19 restrictions. This creative project aimed to promote wellness, and relieve anxiety, depression and loneliness. And supported the maintenance of Elders’ connectedness to people and place, with stories and memories.
The activities of the project, which ran for 17 weeks (August to November 2020) were facilitated by Elders who shared the skills, traditional practices and stories of Country. They were supported by specialist artists and OnCountry Coordinators.
Yarning Circles, Deadly Feeds and Campfire Yarns used weaving, artmaking, and bush tucker preparing/cooking led by individual Elders, to share skills and knowledge.
Taragara is glad that at the completion of this project, Elders in Bourke planned to continue meeting and weaving … and that there are plans for future projects!
Yarning Online OnCountry News and Media
Elders to develop new project with environmental and cultural benefits, Yarning Online OnCountry
Bourke Elders Yarning Online OnCountry
‘Yarning Online OnCountry’ was created in partnership between Community and Taragara Aboriginal Corporation. This project was supported by the University of New England and by the NSW Government through Create NSW.
Special thanks to local business partners Maranguka Community Hub, Bourke Aboriginal Health Service and Morralls Bakery, Bourke.
Taragara 