Edna Wangallay Ambrym, Eat of Country, Heal from Country - Gathering III

Edna Wangallay Ambrym, Eat of Country, Heal from Country - Gathering IIIOur elders taught us skills to live from and off the land. They had extensive knowledge of the flora and fauna around them, and this knowledge sustained them for over 65,000 years. This work honours the way our old people lived, eating from Country, not from packets. It reflects the deep knowledge passed through generations: food was gathered, hunted, shared, and respected. Today, our health suffers from too much takeaway and disconnection. This

with frame (canvas 28

The breaking of the spear symbolizes the first act of reconciliation in Australian history

made a fire

We’d go up the sandpit

One of the most essential laws dictates that the Kalaw must never be pointed at anyone

Through her creations

other times

I watch them go along the swamp

Through my art

The unique fusion of both cultures is exciting and representative of a growing movement in in Far North Queensland

Preserving our oral history is vital for ensuring these cherished traditions inspire future generations and are never forgotten

If they are in the lagoons for too long