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by ABC Radio NationalAwaye! means 'listen up' in the Arrernte language of central Australia. It is produced and presented by Aboriginal broadcasters and is Australia's only national Indigenous arts and culture program. It covers music (from the yidaki and gumleaf to techno), arts, spirituality, politics, dance, literature and theatre. Awaye! is also a showcase for features and documentaries produced by indigenous people overseas, including Maori, Polynesian, native American and South African broadcasters.
Recent podcasts
2007-09-22 More Than Meets The Eye: Wayne Quilliam
21/09/2007
Wayne Quilliam used to see the world through the eyes of a young Navy man. Now, he travels the world as a professional photographer, and to say that he has a very varied portfolion would be an understatement. Currently, Wayne's photo-documentary style photographs are on show at Gallery 15W in Melbourne in a provocative show called 'More Than Meets The Eye'. The pictures in 'More Than Meets The Eye' have emerged out of the many trips that Wayne has made to remote communities. Wayne says it's the first time he has shown photographs from communities that are not all pleasing to the eye. For example, one of the photos is of an old Aboriginal woman sheltering in the shell of a rusted-out vehicle wreck and, as Wayne says, 'her dark sunken eyes have the thousand-yard stare of a woman who has experienced too much of life's traumas...' Apart from his work in remote communities, Wayne does shoots for Indigenous publications, the corporate sector and government bodies. He's also busy taking photographs for men's magazines and the like. There aren't many Indigenous professional photographers working in Australia but Wayne says that is set to change with the enormous talent around in the 'visual' area. Joyce Clague Joyce Clague is a Yagal woman who grew up on the mission on Ullagundahi Island in the Clarence River. She spoke traditional language as a child but went to a segregated primary school that taught little of the 'three Rs'. She remembers going to high school in Maclean and knowing nothing about algebra and very little English. Joyce Clague left the North Coast to study nursing and got involved in campaigns for black rights. She was a tireless worker for the 1967 Referendum and supported the Tent Embassy in the 1970s.
2007-09-15 The Urban Dingo - Lin Onus
14/09/2007
This week, a special tribute program to Lin Onus, one of our most important urban Indigenous artists. Born William McClintock Onus in 1948, to a Yorta Yorta father and a Scottish mother, Lin's work spanned three decades from the 1970s. It has been described as a combination of photo-realism and traditional Aboriginal imagery and it hangs in many public galleries and private collections throughout the world. In his art, Lin adapted the skills he learned as a spraypainter, and was also influenced by artists from North East Arnhem Land, with whom he shared a special relationship. Lin Onus died suddenly in 1996 and was taken back to his father's country in Cummeragunga. Six years ago, a major retrospective of his work toured the country. At the time, Awaye!'s Ursula Raymond produced this program, which includes interviews with his family, friends and colleagues -- as well as a speech Lin gave to the National Press Club in 1993.
2007-09-08 Maupower
07/09/2007
We meet Torres Strait superstar, the rapper Patrick Mau, who's the grandson of our oldest winner of an ARIA award, Uncle Seaman Dan. Patrick Mau, or Maupower, had a great start in the entertainment business. When he was a boy, he used to go to many of Seaman Dan's gigs, taking note of how his grandfather really 'worked' a crowd. Maupower lives on Horn Island but travels extensively for his musical engagements. This year, Patrick is also an Action Partner in the Oxfam International Youth Partnerships project. Also today, we revisit Dulcie Flowers, who was brought up in Cairns within a loving family following Torres Strait strict traditional culture. Dulcie Flowers went on to become a nurse, working for decades to improve the health of Indigenous people. In 1971, Dulcie was one of the founders of the trailblazing Aboriginal Medical Service in Redfern
2007-09-01 Under The Act
31/08/2007
This week, AWAYE! is right on site in the southern Queensland community of Cherbourg, meeting the locals and exploring historic landmarks. Cherbourg started life more than a century ago as one of the first settlements under the draconian Aboriginals Protection Act. Today, mighty challenges -- and hope -- exist side by side. Daniel Browning and Producer Matthew Leonard spent several days in Cherbourg, enjoying the hospitality of both elders and members of the younger generation to bring you 'Under The Act'.
2007-08-25 Ken Colbung speaks from the heart
24/08/2007
At age 75, Noongar elder Ken Colbung looks back on a life full of gut-wrenching challenges, human rights campaigns, spiritualism and adventure. The artist Christine Christophersen talks about the universal themes of truth and justice in her latest work and we present an accapella performance from Emma Donovan, arguably one of the finest voices in popular music today. Please note that due to copyright restrictions the music in this program is not available for download.
