Our Place, Our Species provides a demonstration model for best practice community and youth engagement. This comprehensive guide produced by Inspiring Australia demonstrated how the CORRIDOR project convenor of the Orange Cowra Cabonne Science Hub engaged artists to work with scientists and First Nations knowledge holders to create unique community with youth engagement experiences that increased awareness of biodiversity issues read about our program and testimonials below.
GUIDE ‘Our Place Our Species’ HERE
CONNECTING WITH THE BIODIVERSITY AND SPECIES OF THE WILD PLACES WE LOVE and program report Our place our species here
As regional NSW continues to recover from the devastating fires of 2019-2020 and experiences extreme weather events, in 2022 in partnership with the NSW Office for Regional Youth, Inspiring Australia NSW will trial a pilot program with four of its NSW Regional Science Hubs to deliver community programs designed to build community connections and raise awareness of threatened species issues. Our Place, Our Species will engage communities with the why and how of species preservation and the critical value of healthy ecosystems to planetary health and wellbeing, creating increased awareness of biodiversity issues through cross-cultural and First Nations knowledge, art, and science engagement.
With a particular focus on youth engagement, Our Place, Our Species will deliver fun and engaging activities for young people aged 14 -17yrs during NSW school holiday periods and also provide general community events. Each pilot project will provide opportunities for young people to be mentored by scientists and/or arts and participate in governance and decision-making. In Our Place, Our Species, our objective is to create a framework for developing collaborative engagement experiences that use science and art to inspire community members to help to secure the future of Australia’s precious threatened species by getting to know the wildlife, plants, and ecology of their local places including through Indigenous Ecological Knowledge
HOLIDAY PROGRAM FOR YOUTH - 2022 - OUR PLACE, OUR SPECIES - wyangala H20
Place based learning was key to the program strategy and outcome delivered by twelve science and arts professionals presenting ornithology, traditional ecological knowledge, plant pathology, soundscape and multi-arts. Key learning outcomes were centred around natural ecologies, steered through cultural frameworks, science presentations, creative making and demonstrations
Over eighty attendees were engaged during July, September, October 2022, digital audiences post workshops exceeded 3000+.
Youth attendees learnt about threatened, endangered + vulnerable bird species and habitat currently listed in the Central West NSW. Attendees gained environmental and cultural awareness skills, in addition they developed social networks through group exchange and place based creative learning.
The program addressed cultural, experimental, sustainable, and environmental issues relative to culture and the environment. The location was well aligned to facilitate First Nation cultural workshops which included presentations and demonstrations in fire management, cultural systems and values, grass harvesting and weaving. Attendees gathered organic material during field studies, learnt about mycology and vulnerable bird species whilst designing ephemeral sculptures in outdoor locations.
JULY - 13th-14th-15th
TUTORS: Aleshia Lonsdale, Greg Ingram, Jaq Davies, Dr. Jordan Bailey, Jayden Gunn, Anna Glynn, and Peter Dalmazzo. Welcome ceremony - George Coe - Wiradjuri community - Cowra
SEPTEMBER - 24th-25th - BOOKINGS GO HERE
TUTORS: Steven Cavanagh, Jaq Davies, Heather Vallance
OCTOBER - 4th-5th - BOOKINGS GO HERE
TUTORS: Genevieve Carrol, Bill Moseley, Heather Vallance, First Nation Traditional Ecological Knowledge experts TBD.
Influenced by 1960’s pop artist - Claes Oldenburg, Genevieve and Bill created an invigorating two day immersive workshop learning about endangered bird species of the Central West NSW. Participants developed ideas through drawing, wet collodion photography culminating with an outcome of collective performance and sculpture.
Students learnt to scale up drawings into large sculptures, creating an immersive environment that reflected natural and man made habitats ideated as abstract concepts through multiple viewpoints.
VIEW VIDEO CLICK ON IMAGE BELOW from Wyangala July holiday program
TESTIMONIALS:
“The program was very enjoyable because I found the workshops interesting, and enjoyed listening and learning from the experts on site. The nature of the course being in a remote area was really refreshing as well. I also really appreciated and enjoyed the First Nations aspect of the course I found it very informative and thought it added another dimension to the workshop. I found it surprising how impactful soundscapes can be on a piece and wish to pursue that in my own work. I also found it surprising how many birds are endangered when listening to Jayden during his talk.”
“I plan to keep weaving at home now that I’ve been taught the basics. I’ll also try to reach some of my friends about it, because I find it really interesting - ”
“The Birds and habitat workshop was very enjoyable because we learnt new skills and gained knowledge that is essential in looking after and caring for the birds in our area. The most surprising thing we discovered was that if we block out sounds of the busy world we can hear amazing sounds of nature. We enjoyed discussing individual bird calls whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.”
“So fortunate to have such high quality experiences in regional NSW. I attended this event with my family: partner and two teenage sons and everyone was totally engaged. We didn’t even have to leave our home town to get this amazing experience. The Dr of Fungi [Dr Jordan Bailey] really knows how to hold an audience and I will be following up with some of the information she shared with my own students . Jaq Davies was brilliant … she gave us a creative task that allowed us to experiment , you could have heard a pin drop … everyone was focused . I will definitely be doing more of these workshops . Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.”
“The event was enjoyable because all the presenters had a wealth of knowledge and they were very engaging! The ‘Bila Galari- Lachlan river’ was considered a female very interesting Aboriginal Spirituality. I would like to do more weaving presented by Aleisha and some more cool burns.”
“A unique and innovative experience, where the theme “Our place, Our Species” perfectly encapsulated the broad range of topics offered in the workshops, which were delivered by inspiring experts who generously shared knowledge in a most beautiful landscape. An immersive and authentic program, thoughtfully curated to balance information with experiences on nature, science, First Nations traditional knowledge and culture, and art-making. Great to be able to share a meal together with the presenters and participants, to further explore and discuss ideas. And the food was delicious!.”
PRESENTERS - WYANGALA H20 - HOLIDAY PROGRAM:
George Coe - Welcome and smoking ceremony
Anna Glynn and Peter Dalmazzo - Soundscape workshop
Aleshia Lonsdale - Cultural Weaving workshop
Greg Ingram and Doug Sutherland - Cultural Burning workshop
Jayden Gunn - Endangered Bird and habitat field walks and presentation
Dr. Jordan Bailey - Mycology and Wood Wide Web Presentation
Jaq Davies - Multi-disciplinary arts including ephemeral sculpture workshop
Steven Cavanagh - Cyanotype workshop
Genevieve Carroll - Experimental drawing, painting, assemblage, installation
Bill Moseley - Tin Type photography
Heather Vallance - Grass identification and drawing
Gerade McGill, Theanna Peters, Matthew Carney volunteers
Phoebe Cowdery - Creative Producer
Supported by: Office of Youth, Inspiring Australia, Orange Cowra Cabonne Science Hub, the CORRIDOR project, Birdlife Australia, LLS Orange, ArtsOut West, DPI Orange - Herbarium and Mycology Dept, Create NSW