Feature

Madjitil moorna + djinda

Madjitil Moorna means "magical sounds of movement in the bush" it was a name chosen by Karl Mourach an aboriginal elder and "spiritual heart" of the choir.

The choir was first formed in 2006 as the result of a Zig Zag Community Arts Inc. project, however it was unable to sustain itself. Catalyst has given the the choir an opportunity to successfully reignite the spark, gaining over 100 participants from a range of culturally diverse backgrounds, including; Russian, Japanese, Turkish, Polish , British, Aboriginal and Tores Strait Islander. With Indigenous singers representing Noongar, Yamatji, Malgana and Murri cultures.

Led by award winning musicians Della Rae Morrison , Jessi Lloyd and coordinator Jo Randall, this choir and dance project involved indigenous and non indigenous people of all ages learning songs with a focus on Aboriginal languages. The 85 singers (42 whom performed) made up Madjitil Moorna and 21 of their children made the Djinda (Little Stars). Over 10 weeks the choir rehearsed 10 new songs, in the last 4 weeks of the project the Djinda attended Aboriginal dance workshops in the adjacent room with Peter Nelson and Lee West.

The Djinda performed their dance while the choir sang " Yil Lullay' at the 2007 Zig Zag Community Festival (pictured above)

Artist Zofia Palczak held silk scarf painting workshops for the Choir , who hand painted yellow scarfs that became part of their uniform at performances.

'Singers took on various roles including promotion, book-keeping, venue management and suppers and felt a great sense of ownership and empowerment as a result'

(Jo Randall)

During this Catalyst project the choir was invited to perform eight times including;NAIDOC Celebrations, A CD Launch, Government House and for Womens Health (pictured left)

The main objectives of the project were to:

• promote Aboriginal Culture in a Unique way.
  
• Create an opportunity for Indigenous and non - indigenous people to come together and break down the barriers
  
• Encourage Aboriginal people to take pride in their cultural heritage.
• Provide an opportunity to improve the self esteem of people in the Kalamunda area , through performing in the Zig Zag Communiiy Festival.

‘Madjitil Moorna is very much about what we bring to it...and that's why I love it so much. I also want my daughter to learn about music in a more spiritual sense and connect to the deeper meaning of it's power’

(Tracie Redding)

‘If more Aboriginal and Wadjila[white] people had the opportunity to sing together it would go some way towards healing the past and looking to a shared future in which Aboriginal people can feel pride, not shame, in their culture, language and music’

(Marie Jacquier)

‘Singing is one of the most non invasive, healing ways of communication... A unique way of learning a little bit of language and meeting extraordinary, caring people. ’

(Participant)

Della Rae Morrison is currently putting her skills in Community Arts into practice, working with CAN WA on the 'Voices of the Wheatbelt' project. This Community Arts Project has an indigenous and regional focus. Spanning 6 months, encompassing people of all ages and cultural backgrounds in the regional towns of Kellerberrin, Tammin, Quairading and Merredin. Della is one of the key artists facilitating workshops, using photography and other mediums like music and song-writing to capture and bring forth the voices of people in Wheatbelt Towns. CAN WA hopes this project will begin the process of breaking down barriers between Indigenous and non indigenous people in regional areas.