Dear Son

Using the letters as a frame, Dear Son will tell personal stories which speak to a bigger narrative of the positioning of First Nations men since colonisation. The concept of the series is timely. In 2022, policeman Zachary Rolfe was acquitted by an all non-Indigenous jury for the murder of a young First Nations man Kumanjayi Walker in Yuendumu. Half an hour from the courtroom, a 19 year old First Nations man was shot at six times by police. The torment of powerlessness for so many First Nations men is still graphically and violently apparent.

Dear Son is fuelled by love and compassion. Audiences will experience how history shapes and sometimes distorts our lives now and into the future. Some of the most damaging historical blows will be explored through archive, powerful graphics, and concise, objective historical notes to punctuate the film. Through the men’s narratives, audiences will see their resolve to work through past trauma to make life better for the next generation.

To create a refreshingly honest, open, difficult and joyful inter-generational conversation between diverse First Nations men. This conversation will flow onto the broad audiences of First Nations Australian individuals and families who engage with the series on topics at the heart of discrimination and dysfunction for First Nations men. Working with Impact Partners, the film will link to relevant support services and/or identify gaps in support services to be addressed.

Dear Son can drive real change on how First Nations men and youth deal with discrimination and the legacy of intergenerational trauma. This will be achieved firstly through creating open and honest dialogue in homes and communities around the core experiences of First Nations fathers and sons in Australia. And secondly, providing information and links for those seeking culturally relevant and safe support services.

The film will be an advocacy tool to lobby state and federal government for funding that supports community groups, services and businesses like Kings Narrative, tailored to assist First Nations men and youth in culturally safe and effective ways.

Dear Son will promote positive reinforcement of cultural identities within the First Nations communities, as well as contribute to improved visibility of the experiences of First Nations men and youth.

Tamarind Tree Pictures is the most trusted and experienced First Nations owned and operated production company in Garramilla, Darwin, with established relationships across a broad range of First Nations groups. We are excited to be collaborating with the author of Dear Son, Thomas Mayo, in his role as Co-producer/Co-writer of the program.

Torres Strait Islander, Thomas Mayo was born and raised in Larrakia country, Garramilla, Darwin. He has close ties with the local community as well as with First Nations communities and individuals across Australia through his extensive work advocating for the Uluru Statement of the Heart, at both a grassroots level and through mainstream media. Thomas has strong established relationships with the contributing authors to Dear Son who are pivotal to this screen adaptation.

The doco will demonstrate culturally-safe, open and honest dialogue amongst diverse First Nations men on emotionally-charged issues and family matters.

The primary action we are seeking is individual and community engagement, both in person and online, with the issues raised in the film. And of equal importance, we aim to promote personal dialogue between father and son, acknowledging the past together and strengthening relationships through love and trust, just as the featured men do in their letters onscreen.

It is hoped the film will invoke deeper respect and understanding of First Nations men in the general public and the media.