'Malkari' - Short Film (Lockhart River, QLD)

Added by Desert Pea Media

Description Desert Pea Media is very proud to announce a new collaboration with the Kuku Ya'u community in remote Lockhart River on the East Coast of Cape York in Far Northern Queensland.

'Malkari' (Kuku Ya'u word from traditional dance) was created as part of a larger multi-arts project spanning 14 days in Lockhart River in September 2019. An outcome of a unique, collaborative creative process with Desert Pea Media artists, local young people, community members, Elders, and local services. This was made possible by an innovative and groundbreaking partnership with FNQ Primary Health Network.

This production, along with another short film and a song/music video were created over 14 days in August 2019 - an outcome of of a unique, collaborative creative process with Desert Pea Media artists, local Indigenous young people, community members, Elders, and local health services.

Focusing on the story of senior Kuku Ya'u Knowledge Holder - Father Brian Claudie, 'Malkari' is a celebration of cultural identity. The film focuses on the traditions of ceremony and song/dance, which are a foundational element of cultural identity for Kuku Ya'u people.

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 being 'fair dinkum' and 'not gammon' and critically thinking about how to create positive change for yourself, for each other and for our communities :)

The overall purpose of the project was to facilitate an important, inter-generational conversation about social and emotional well-being for Indigenous young people in 5 communities around FNQ (Kuranda, Bowen, Palm Island, Thursday Island & Lockhart River). The project is called 'Break It Down - Community Conversations Around Well-being' - funded by North Queensland Primary Health Network.

The connections created during this project with the community, the young people and Father Brian Claudie are friendships that the DPM team highly value and respect, and we feel honored to learn, share and create with the Lockhart River Kuku Ya'u community. These projects not only uplift and inspire audiences and community members, but everybody involved.

These projects not only uplift and inspire participants and community members, but are profoundly impactful experiences for our Creative Team, our core family and audiences all over the world. It is a deep honour for us to learn, share and create with all of you amazing mob around this beautiful country.

Special thanks to Father Brian Claudie, Steve and Karen Mills, Paddy Hobson and staff at Lockhart River School for all of your incredible support, and staff at The Greenhoose for making us feel so welcome.

CREDITS
Mitch O’Hearn – Co-Writer/Co-Director/Co-Producer/DOP/Editor, Toby Finlayson - Co-Writer/Co-Director/Producer, Coedie McCarthy - Co-Facilitator, Coedie McCarthy - Co-Facilitator/Co-Writer, Josh Nicholas - Sound Engineer/ Sound Design, Daniel Glossop – Audio Engineer/Co-Facilitator, Grace Newell - Production Coordinator/Photographer, Ash Camm - Business Manager – Project Manager – Belle Arnold