Cultural Exchange

Sharing Stories brought together the Noongar people of Kellerberrin and the Narasirato Pan Pipers of the Solomon Islands in an exchange of traditional music, dance and shared experiences of their connection to the land.

A significant amount of community consultation was undertaken by Frank Walsh, CAN WA’s Indigenous Art and Cultural Development Manager, took place prior to this exchange to ensure that the Indigenous community of Kellerberrin were encouraged and empowered throughout this project. Different family groups came together to attend meetings at the Kellerberrin Aboriginal Progress Association Building. Local Noongar people decided on the venue, banquet, performers, additional activities like the art and photography displays, bush tours and transport for the community.

Sharing Cultures was a two day project involving workshops and performances by the Solomon Islander, Narasirato Pan Pipers at Kellerberrin District High School. 190 students participated in the performance joining in with the clapping, dancing routines that accompanied the music and performance.

Four groups of students also had the opportunity to participate in a workshop with the Islanders, exploring their culture, instruments, music and dance.

In the evening, the Gya Gnoop Kobori and Njaki-Njaki dancers performed with the Narasirato Pan Pipers in a wonderful display of culture, dance and music. A banquet of traditional Noongar dishes prepared by local Kellerberrin women, and was shared with the dancers, Solomon Islanders, Noongar community of Kellerberrin and Noongar elders from bordering communities.

The following day the Solomon Islanders were taken on a local tour hosted by the Noongar community, sharing in historic and sacred landscapes of Kellerberrin. Djurin Reserve, a sacred area of bushland that is significant to local people and Sharks Mouth, a huge granite rock, were part of the sights and experiences on this tour.

Reynold McIntosh presented the Narasirato pan pipers with a beautiful didgeridoo, which he hand painted as a special gift. This gift began a series of lessons to teach the men how to play this wind instrument, so vastly different from their own. This cross cultural performance and the sharing of stories between the Solomon Islanders and the Noongar Community was a huge success and both groups hope they have another opportunity to connect in the future.

Take me back to Sharing Stories funding.