Quandamooka People Recognised at Redlands

On 3 June 2015, Redland City Mayor Karen Williams, Redland Council, and the Quandamooka Elders officially unveiled the Quandamooka Statement of Recognition during National Reconciliation Week. This important ceremony, conducted in front of a quorum of elected Councillors and an enthusiastic group of community members, occurred on the anniversary of the Mabo High Court decision that overturned the pre-supposed concept of terra nullius in Australia.

As a result of a very special partnership project between Redland City Council and the Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation (QYAC), this statement, comprising two engraved and laser-cut aluminium panels over two metres in height, r ecognises the Quandamooka People’s enduring connection to their traditional lands, winds and waters – Quandamooka Country. As QYAC Chairperson Dr Valerie Cooms suggests, “Through words and through art, the Statement of Recognition captures the bond between our people and this land – a bond intrinsic to our culture and identity.” The statement also follows on from the native title consent determination on 4 July 2011, an historic recognition of the Quandamooka People by the Australian legal system, when Quandamooka People were recognised as the Traditional Owners of this area.

Commenting on the finished artwork located at the front of the Redland City Council Cleveland Administration Building, Mayor Williams affirms:

The two panels tell a powerful story of the Quandamooka People’s connection to the Redlands, stretching back tens of thousands of years (and) …. is testament to what can be achieved in the spirit of reconciliation and respect. It is Council’s vision to continue working with the Traditional Owners to promote and celebrate their heritage, as well as the culture still thriving in Quandamooka Country today. 

This recognition has resulted in negotiated Indigenous Land Use Agreements (ILUAs) with the Redland City Council to establish how rights and interests will be exercised on the ground.

CREATIVEMOVE was engaged by QYAC to deliver this project that recognises the unique attributes of Quandamooka culture and celebrates the artistic talent of the community. QYAC also saw this commission as an opportunity to undertake a professional development activity in public art for the Salt Water Murris Quandamooka artists. Consequently CREATIVEMOVE set in train an expression-of-interest process for local artists, with an advisory group chaired by QYAC CEO, Cameron Costello, to enact a public art commission.

 The advisory group unanimously recommended that Sandra Delaney, a Quandamooka woman from Minjerribah who is an artist and storyteller, be commissioned for the project. Sandra expresses her connection to country through contemporary artworks informed by knowledge passed on by Elders. Her artworks aim to communicate the beauty that exists in Quandamooka lands and waters. Sandra’s eventual designs and her contribution to the substantive text of the statement demonstrate her deep and influential cultural knowledge and respect for Elders and community. As Sandra suggests in her artist statement:

These artwork panels celebrate the Statement of Recognition between the Quandamooka people and Redland City Council, highlighting its spirit of reconciliation. The two circles in the left panel represent the partnership between the Quandamooka people and the Council. The overlapping shared space emphasises the foundations of respect, acknowledgement, commitment, friendship and peace. Women’s and men’s roles within Quandamooka culture are indicated by the grannies’ use of woven baskets (upper panel) and the grandfathers’ use of fishing nets (lower panel). Significantly, both panels’ borders feature ‘message sticks’, which were used to seal and ratify sacred peaceful ceremonial agreements between groups in South-East Queensland. Surrounding the textual statement is Kabul the carpet snake, the Ancestral being of the Quandamooka people, which ensures the cultural obligation of looking after Quandamooka country. 

 The unveiling ceremony was enriched by a dynamic performance by the Quandamooka Dancers and a very special water blessing conducted by Aunty Joan Hendriks and QYAC CEO Cameron Costello, with water decanted from the culturally significant spring at One Mile. The event was also commemorated with the signing of exchange gifts. These gifts comprised two replica canvasses of the Statement of Recognition, signed by both Mayor Williams and Dr Cooms, during the ceremony.

 The artwork is installed at the entrance of the Redland City Council administration building, corner of Bloomfield and Middle Streets, Cleveland.

 CREATIVEMOVE was honoured to be a part of this project, and would like to congratulate Sandra Delaney and both Redland City Council and the QYAC on this remarkable achievement. The Statement would also not have been realised without the tireless efforts of Leanne Tu’ipulotu, Manager, Strengthening Communities, Redland City Council. We would also like to offer our sincere thanks to the advisory group members, as well as Avril Quaill, (Arts Queensland) and Stephanie Lindquist (Director, Redland Art Gallery). Our thanks also to Salt Water Murris Quandamooka, Delvene Cockatoo-Collins and Cathy Bowman, Brisbane Signs and Engravings, The Artificial, and Brisbane Digital Images for their contributions.

Link to media release on Redland City Council website

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