A colloboration of brands and artists in photography, styling and makeup came together for this wonderful shoot with a bundjalung elder!
Deidre Currie a bundjalung elder with blood ties on her grandmothers side born in Innisfail, only to return to bundjalung nation where she lives today. Deidre has as shared culture, and had her own dance group, and sp passionate about keeping her culture alive. Deidre has four children, two in spirit, two daughters and two grandsons that Deidre supports and is very hands on with. A survivor of domestic violence and breast cancer having had a mastectomy, Deidre is still a beacon of light, love and gererously shares her culture.
Co-leading a group Kids Caring for Country in song dance, language and ceremony for the past 13yrs, co-hosting Kinship festival keeps Deidre busy and fulfilled. I have connected with Deidre at Kids Caring for Country and have completed my training in Bunyarrabugalma-Movement and Mindfulness which has been created by the educators, Elders and parents of kids caring for country and Guyahyn Aboriginal Early Childhood Project for the purpose of healing trauma, reconnecting community with language, country and culture and improving health and wellbeing It is voiced by Deidre Currie and late Uncle Magpie and I teach often alongside Deidre. We have a free session once a fortnight on a friday at Ambrose park Pottsville for anyone espeacially those flood affected.Recently we were both gifted a scholarship in We Al-li which provides a culturally informed Trauma Integrated Approach to training for individuals, families, communities and organisations, the perfect add on for the work we do.
I asked Deidre her hopes for the future.
" I hope my children and grandchildren make good decisions, that they make peace without too much trauma and choose good people and find a good flow, connecting with the strength from our ancestors this may be impossible but this is my dream for the futrure."
How is it different for you now than it was 30 years ago?
"We now have more of a voice and we can get into more places, now things are starting to get better and our voices are falling on the right ears so we can have others join with us. I certainly feel more empowered these days.
How did it feel like to have your makeup done and to do a photoshoot on the sacred Mount Wollumbin? It was wonderful I felt like a person, not a mother or a community leader but me Deidre. It is the first time I have had my make up done and its the first time in 30yrs I have worn makeup and it felt so good to be with the woman relaxing on country so peaceful.
Kayla Finlayson the woman behind the lens answered some questions of her process. What was your inspiration for the shoot? The intention was to honour the raw beauty and power in feminine First Nations solidarity, kinship and culture on sacred country and to give back to elders on the front line. Collaboration is always at the centre of our work and the sisterhood. I had a waking dream after visiting a waterhole under Wulambiny Momoli on Ngarakwal country in summer’s overgrown and wild months. The vision was a feminine First Nations Elder, emerging from the shadows of the man-made dam wall and its overgrowth. I was recommended to connect with Aunty Deidre, a very special member of our community. It was later when I relocated to somewhere very close to the waterhole that I met Eve, a Wiradjuri woman and mother, yoga instructor and wellness entrepreneur. She connected me with Deidre and was the centre piece of the cultural lineage theme having birthed her son Azihe 2 years prior, a couple of Kms lower down the same stream. Eve made things happen and weaved in her skin medicine s e s a s a sun and moon imbued skin care together with offerings from Ere Perez natural make-up to create a very lush pamper session with Deidre, the wonderful Brigitte – make-up artist and shoot assistant, herself with Jarjum Azihe and I, under the tall Quandongs. What is your process when helping models relax in front of the camera? My process when helping models relax is through embodiment. Giving permission to release tensions and masks all together, find their breath, find their comfortability within their body and invite them to connect with the Earth to recharge authentically and to play. Telling really bad jokes also helps! Where can we find you? You can find me on Instagram @wildazuracreative or email me direct to wildazuracreative@proton.me
Brigitte Serhan the lady behind the makeup and styling artistry shared a few words of her pocess. " My inspiration is that I love seeing people feel beautiful in their own skin, I like to enhance their own features by keeping the makeup fresh and natural.
I was also excited to meet Deidre as Eve had told me how wonderful she was, and she is :)
Im contactable on 0405065773 @brigitteserhan
Skincare by @s.e.a.s.a.sunandmoon
Makeup by Ere Perez
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