Two Worlds by Tagai Buway

Added by Desert Pea Media

Description This production was written, recorded and filmed over 5 days as a collaboration with Desert Pea Media and young people from Thursday Island in the Torres Straits.

Part of an ongoing mentoring program - a partnership between Desert Pea Media, Smugglers of Light Foundation, UN Ltd, Tagai State College and APRA. 'Two Worlds' is long - awaited second production from Tagai Buway, who also featured on DPM's debut album 'Song Nation Volume 1'.

The crew from Thursday Island are also part of the DPM All-Stars - a hand picked group of Indigenous young people that came to Sydney to write and record a song about the UN Declaration of Human Rights for Indigenous People in partnership with UNICEF and performed at the 2014 Yabun Festival on Australia Day.

This song was written collaboratively with staff from Tagai State College on Thursday Island, local young people and elders, Toby Finlayson, Aunty Gail Mabo and Joel 'Roc West' Westlake from Desert Pea Media.

The story was developed around the concept of living in two worlds - traditional and contemporary. The participants identified the importance of pride, spirit and strength that comes from traditional islander culture, and the vitality of life on the islands. It is only through knowledge and understanding that young TSI people can survive in this rapidly changing contemporary culture.

And survive they will. As sure as the sun will rise.

This project was written, recorded and filmed in four days by Desert Pea Media artists, and co-written/ directed/ performed by students from Mian School in Dubbo, which runs alternative education programs for disengaged young people. They're the Last Chance Crew.

Attendance rates for Indigenous young people in Central West NSW are alarmingly lower than non-Indigenous students, and this program sought to create dialogue around these issues.

What prevents Indigenous young people engaging at school? Where does it come from? What does it mean for their future? How can it change? Will it change? Whose choice is it? What are YOU gunna do?