Coomie Crew - 'Where The Eagle Roams'

Desert Pea Media is very proud to announce a new release from the Barkindji community of Coomealla/Dareton in Central West NSW. This production brought together an incredible group of community members, Elders and young people enrolled at Coomealla High School, to create an important conversation about mental health, suicide and wellbeing.

This project was part of an ongoing DPM project series called ‘Break It Down – Conversations around Mental Health’ funded by Western NSW Primary Health Network. The program looks to create awareness and conversation around wellbeing – breaking down stigmas of mental health, yarning, debriefing and connecting community with local health services.

‘Where The Eagle Roams' was created in November 2018, the result of a five-day Desert Pea Media storytelling workshop. Co-written by, and starring, an incredibly talented group of Indigenous young people enrolled at Coomealla High School, community members and local Elders - with support from DPM staff and local services.

Desert Pea Media projects involve a dialogue-based storytelling process that encourages participants to analyse 'the real', 'the ideal' and 'the bridge'. In simple terms this means critically thinking about how to create positive change for yourself, for each other and for our communities.

This project featured the musical direction and production of DPM producer Josh Nicholas (aka Hazy).

Special thanks to Project Manager and our new brother Jaharlyn Mitchell and Rarnie Spencer from Coomealla Health Aboriginal Corporation (CHAC). Huge thanks to John Jackson from Mallee Family Care, also to Kylie Mitchell, Simone Spencer, Pip Neagle and the staff Coomealla High. Special thanks to Aunty Geraldine King and Aunty Rose Reid, also Damion Kennedy and the legends at Barkindji Maraura Elders Environmental Team (BMEET) and all the community members for making us feel welcome on Barkindji Country, sharing your stories and collaborating on such an important and inspiring project.

CREDITS

Coomealla High School Students – Co-Writers/ Performers Toby Finlayson - Director/Co-Writer/DOP/Drone Pilot Josh Nicholas - Music Producer/Co-Writer/Drone Pilot/Facilitator David Nicholas - Audio Mixing, Darren Ziesing - Audio Mastering, Holly Doust-Robinson - Production Co-ordinator/Photographer, Genevieve Kaiser – 2nd Camera/Editor/Grading/Graphics Peter Abrahams – Mentor/Facilitator Rachel Rowe - Producer/Business Manager

CONTRIBUTORS

Kayla Hall, Dion Harris, Aurora Gleeson, Daniel Hunt, Brayden Johnson, Alex Mitchell, Jason Mitchell, Karl Carroll, Jaiden Johnson, Briley Etrich, Greg Mckellar, Laurel Andrews
Tyler Johnson, Jemma Clifford, Karneisha Taylor, Grace Williams Rigby, Lois Taylor, Linda Hunter, Lindsay Kennedy, Jaharlyn Mitchell, Aunty Mary Mitchell.

LYRICS

We come from - Coomealla it’s the Barkindji Crew
Out in the bush we get in trouble coz there’s nothing to do
Makin our lives into something brand new
We all stand tall, and there’s nothing that you can do

Belong to red dirt country, where the rivers meet
Move your feet from Namatjira Avenue to Tapio St
Shake a leg on the back streets, hot concrete
My black feet, show respect when the elders speak

Pooncarie Settlement to Coomie Mish
Tharlta is kangaroo, parntu for fish
Keep it tradish, my people at a stand still
Massacre, trauma, buried at the sand hill

This my land still, and we still true
We still fight despite all of the pain that we been through
The grief too, but bra there’s nothing we can’t do
We black, strong and proud, get it through your thartu (head)

CHORUS

I go with the sun and the moon
Gotta follow my dreams, but I’ll be back soon
Where the eagle roams, that’s where I go.
Yo – follow ya ancestors to get back home

Everybody got a knife in the back, we all carry these bags of stone
I take one step forward then it’s three steps back, remember that you’re never alone
Suicide is on my mind - it’s taking up my time - this depression kickin’ in from behind
Gotta stop this violence, gotta break this silence, but this anger and judgement is clouding my mind.

Violence, disrespect, wanna run away
Don’t belong, don’t really wanna connect
If I don’t, I’m lost, I lose myself
I lose this culture I need to protect

Get it into your head, and stopping hating (yep)
No matter which opportunities I’m takin bred
Where my relations (check) from the start of creation (yea)
Come together – we one nation yet?