First Peoples.
Patrick Greene
CEO Museums Victoria, Melbourne.
Telling the story of Victoria’s First Peoples – 38 Aboriginal language and cultural groups still
thriving today – is a new major long-term exhibition that will be the most comprehensive of
its kind to date.
More than three years in the making, First Peoples, presented by Bunjilaka Aboriginal
Cultural Centre at Melbourne Museum, approaches its story through the key ideas of
diversity, continuity and connection.
“The way we are telling this story – through languages and voices, moving and still images,
immersive multimedia and strong community connections – allows objects and their context
come to life,” says Bunjilaka Manager Caroline Martin. “This is a new way of presenting the
continuing story of Aboriginal Victoria, one that highlights complexity, diversity and unique
local narratives.”
“Collaboratively developing and co-curating with museum staff has been a reference group of
cultural and language experts, the First Peoples Yulendj group. Their role in First Peoples
has been vital – in providing cultural leadership, advocacy, support and access to the wealth
of knowledge embedded in communities.”
First Peoples is presented in four main sections: Wominjeka, welcoming and introducing
visitors to their virtual human guide, “the messenger”; Our Story, telling some of the history
of pre- and post-contact through stories and experiences Victoria-wide; Many Nations,
bringing together almost 500 artefacts from across Australia to show the complexity of First
Peoples’ economy, society and culture, and Generations, which includes hundreds of images
and more than 40 hours of film footage of Victorian Aboriginal people aged eight to 72
speaking about themselves, their community and culture.
A highlight of First Peoples is Creation Cinema, an immersive light and sound experience
focusing on the importance of Bunjil, the wedge-tailed eagle, as the creator for the First
Peoples across most of Victoria. Visually arresting, the cinema is housed in a massive
wooden sculpture of Bunjil’s nest, designed by artist Glenn Romanis.
“The cinema will be a truly beautiful sight outside, and a breathtaking experience inside,”
says Martin. “On entering the exhibition, we want visitors to reflect on the deep symbolism
and resonance of Bunjil, who represents culture, the law, the land and the people.”
Following the cinema is Our Story, which highlights details of how Aboriginal people lived
in Victoria before and during European settlement. Among pre-settlement stories is that of
mirnong (yam daisy), a staple food collected by women. A 19th-century Boonwurrung
digging stick and a basket for collecting and transporting mirnong will be displayed,
accompanied by audio of a mirnong song, plant samples and information on how
communities are again collecting mirnong along local creeks in Melbourne.
The permanent settlements of the Gunditjmara in south-western Victoria and their trading
economy around kooyang (“eels” in the Gunditjmara family of languages) are highlighted in
a display including a traditional woven eel trap created by elder Eileen Alberts and her
daughter Jody-Ann Agnew.
“As with all communities we’ve worked alongside in developing First Peoples, the kooyang
story is a continuing one,” says Lead Curator, Genevieve Grieves. “Our visitors struggle to
understand contemporary Aboriginal identity but there are many examples throughout the
exhibition of how cultures have survived and flourish in the contemporary landscape.”
Among the exhibition’s unexpected elements is a display of children’s toys in Many Nations
that encourages younger visitors to interact in grinding ochre, making music and learning
about marngrook (football), through a hands-on activity table.
“First Peoples illustrates the complex web of social, cultural and economic ties that operated
in south-east Australia before Europeans arrived. Visitors are often surprised when they learn
about the complexity of Indigenous cultures, in comparison to stereotypes that are sometimes
a barrier to engagement. We are creating a space that is accessible, dynamic and exciting and
we want all visitors to feel welcome to come and share in the stories of Victoria’s First
Peoples.”
“The journey of developing this exhibition has been a profound experience for everyone
involved,” says Martin. “While the story we’re telling is at times difficult and tragic, it is
ultimately uplifting – how the First Peoples have triumphed over adversity, and how we are
still here and continuing to thrive in the 21st century.”
The exhibition First Peoples has been announced Overall Winner at the 26th annual
American Alliance of Museums (AAM) Excellence in Exhibitions Competition. This
international distinction follows awards for Best Exhibition and Best Project nationwide at
the Museums and Galleries National Award announced last weekend.
Museum Victoria is constantly finding new and interesting ways for visitors of all ages to
engage with our collections and exhibitions. We are truly delighted with this national and
international recognition for First Peoples – THE destination for everyone to learn about
Aboriginal Victoria.
First Peoples has just open as a new major long-term exhibition in Bunjilaka Aboriginal
Cultural Centre at Melbourne Museum.
First Peoples is a shared endeavour of Museum Victoria and the Victorian Aboriginal
community.
The First Peoples Yulendj Group of Elders and community representatives have brought their
knowledge, stories, culture, objects and images to guide the exhibition's development.
This is the text of the video which welcome visitors at the beginning of the exhibition:
“We walk this land every day
Near you, next to you
And yet, we are not close
You do not know what we know
See what we see
Feel what we feel
But, this can change
You can share our culture
Hear our stories
Know the joy in our hearts
The pride
The strength
With a single word we can connect
Wominjeka
Welcome.”
http://museumvictoria.com.au/bunjilaka/videos/wominjeka/