Anangu Way

Storytelling is the thread that weaves First Nations culture together here in Australia. It is the way in which history has been recorded, knowledge has been shared on Country, creation and tradition and culture is kept alive. Stories help us make meaning of the world.

Stories create space for recovery and resistance for First Nations people. They are research and a record that continues to uphold the strength of the culture. Anangu Way shares the story of the traditional practice of the Spinifex people. Here at Cundeelee father passes the knowledge onto his son on how to make a traditional woomera. Story is a way for Indigenous children and adults in the community to feel proud of who they are. Stories connect generations and they create a sense of togetherness in a community (Portman & Garrett, 2006).

The knowledge shared through stories is for the collective good of the people and the Country. They are not just a way to talk about personal life or as a form of entertainment. Stories are the form of modern day news. Records of human life, events, observations, knowledge recorded orally. It is a significant pedagogic practice used by First Nation Australians as educators. The story in this film, like culture camps, are ways for intergenerational knowledge transmission to be share. Similarly, to allow a wider Australian audience to be witness to the deep connection with Country and “that you gotta look after it” (Lydon 2024).

Stories don’t stand alone in a vacuum. They are witnessed by a listener, by a collective. Whilst the underlying message does not change, stories have transformative effects. Maintaining connection to Country is difficult in the face of challenges such as the legacies of colonisation and the pressures to live in urban settings which threatens the loss of cultural practices. However, when hearing stories we witness the past and by hearing it we uphold its connection with the present and shape it for the future (Felman & Laub, 1992). Anangu Way is an opportunity to reflect and uphold the processes of the Spinifex people, their knowledge, connection to Country and value it in the modern world.

Stories help individuals and communities meet the challenges of life which are dynamic and evolving. Storytelling through different mediums like film and short stories allow connection and creation of new stories to meet the needs of current and future generations. The process of recording can change a story and that is why story sovereignty for future generations is critical. Anangu Way is filmed by an all First Nations team which is critical in ensuring stories are recorded accurately and maintained ownership over.

Stories are intended to be passed on. They provide spiritual connections and allow us to make meaning of the world around us. Indigenous legends teach of morals, lessons and events and this can allow people to connect with the deepest parts of themselves. Resistance to storytelling and the prevention of these practices have led to an imbalance where western society has a weak relationship with Country, community and spirit (Iseke 2013). Anangu Way offers the transformative opportunity to listen, learn and take part in reconnecting with ancestral knowledge through a complex past, to find balance and continue the journey to sustain and celebrate the Spinifex peoples peaceful way of life.

Anangu Way will celebrate and foster within viewers an understanding of the importance of and respect of Country. It will capture the importance of storytelling for intergenerational knowledge transmission and showcase many positive examples of connection between father and son, other family groups, communities and future generations.
● Country is everything. We have to look after Country, it has a lot to teach us.
● Practices and knowledge of the old people must be shared between generations.
● Being on Country with family is vitally important for Spinifex people.
● The Spinifex people lived peacefully, connected to the land and to each other.
● Spinifex people have a deep respect and understanding of Country that has allowed them to survive a harsh environment, this knowledge must be shared.

● Give Country a voice through elevating the work of Indigenous NGOs advocating the importance of Country and how we have to look after it by offering the film as a tool to educate white Australians on the issue
● Celebrate the peaceful and connected culture of the Spinifex people by driving greater support for knowledge sharing opportunities and culture camps in Tjuntjuntjara
● Contribute to intergenerational knowledge transmission and story sovereignty by creating a cultural record for current and future generations to connect with Spinifex cultural practices
● Support efforts to change mindsets around storytelling

Tace Stevens is the daughter of Lydon Stevens, and sister of Keenan Stevens. This is an intimate family story that Tace is guiding.

Crowd Fund campaign
Depending on the funds needed to cover the camps cost, we could create a crowdfund campaign for viewers to donate through the website towards the culture camps. Donating to this program will enable Anangu men to learn how to create woomeras and provide economic support for them to dedicate the time to learn and reconnect to Anangu culture.