Celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, identity and knowledge systems

Join us as we host a live webinar on Tuesday 28 November and Tuesday 12 December 2023, from 5.00 - 6.00 pm, where we present a series of insightful talks that celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, identity, and knowledge systems. This online program is a collaborative effort between the NSW Judicial Commission, the Law Society of NSW, and the NSW Bar Association.

The talk will allow authors, researchers, creators, innovators, artists, knowledge holders, and storytellers to share their unique perspectives and experiences. This webinar offers an exceptional opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the cultural insights and experiences of First Nations people across a wide range of disciplines.

Speaker

Tammi Gissell | Tuesday 28 November 2023

Born out the back of Bourke in North-West NSW, Tammi Gissell is a Muruwarri and Wiradjuri performer, performance theorist and researcher currently in the role of Collections Coordinator, First Nations at The Powerhouse Museum in Sydney, NSW. Before this, Tammi led the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Assessment Team for the Collection, Relocation and Digitisation Project for the new Powerhouse Parramatta.

Tammi holds a Bachelor of Performance: Theory and Practice (Honours) from the University of Western Sydney (UWS), where she was inducted into the Golden Key International Honour Society for achievements in performance theory in 2004 and later graduated Deans' Medallist and Reconciliation Scholar in 2005.

Tammi has presented research to the World Dance Congress, Our Dance Democracy in the UK, the Sydney Science Festival, and the DanScience & BOLD Festivals in Canberra. Tammi is working with NAISDA Dance College to create their archive and Research Centre. 

Speaker

Blak Douglas | Tuesday 12 December 2023

Born Adam Douglas Hill in Blacktown, Western Sydney to a Dhungatti Aboriginal father and Caucasian mother, Blak was trained in illustration and photography. Blak became self-practiced in painting with a style influenced by the study of graphic design, and politicised in relation to social justice. In describing himself, Blak says I'm a contemporary artist with proud Dhungatti Aboriginal origins. My works are culturally and politically charged with a sense of irony & hint of sarcasm. 

Blak Douglas won the Archibald Prize 2022 for portrait of artist Karla Dickens in the Lismore floods titled Moby Dickens. With his win Douglas becomes the second Aboriginal artist to win the Archibald Prize in 101 years after Western Aranda artist Vincent Namatjira won in 2020. Moby Dickens is the first time a portrait of an Aboriginal woman has won the prize. 

Douglas was also a finalist in the Wynne Prize in 2009. Douglas' works are held in the collections of the Art Gallery of New South Wales, the National Gallery of Australia, the National Museum, the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art, City of Sydney and the Australia Council for the Arts. 

A classically trained Yidaki player he has performed nationally and internationally accompanying the likes of Christine Anu, Jessica Mauboy, and Peter Sculthorpe. Major events have included Australian Idol, the Deadlys, the Rugby World Cup opening ceremony, and the welcome for Nelson Mandela.