Totems
A First Nations-led Kids Collaboration that asks children: What do you want the kids of Australia to know about this place?
Totems is an interactive experience that is being developed to tour schools around the country, particularly in regional and remote areas. It focuses on animals and stories from different places and communities.
The story so far
Totems is led by two Polyglot artists: First Nations writer Blayne Welsh, a Wailwan man, and designer and puppet-maker Tamara Rewse. In 2024, we are excited to bring the project to Blayne’s Wailwan Country, working with the students and educators of Warren Central School, Warraan Widji Arts, and the local community to develop Totems further.
Totems is an interactive experience that is being developed to tour schools around the country, particularly in regional and remote areas. It focuses on animals and stories from different places and communities, and asks children: What do you want the kids of Australia to know about this place? Using local totems or moieties, the story is formed by the community, working with Blayne as writing lead, and Tamara as creative maker lead, with both artists facilitating and deeply engaging with children in the re-telling. Totems is envisioned as an eventual three-part performance, weaving the stories from three communities into a performance that shares First Nations culture with students across Australia.
Across 2022-2023, we worked in partnership with Kinchela Boys Home Aboriginal Corporation in Kempsey NSW, and local schools in Kempsey, to develop the project. In 2023, Blayne and Tamara, together with local First Nations artist Colleena Smith, delivered 17 creative workshops on Dunghutti Country at Kempsey South Public School, collaborating with children to develop characters, stories, narrative arc and a script. In September, a public performance was held, engaging all students and educators at the school. It featured the story of a giant praying mantis, known as Gurrigiyn in Dunghutti. Many families and community members attended to watch and celebrate with the students, educators and artists.
In July 2024, Blayne and Tamara returned to Kempsey, working with students to share their incredible creations, including a huge Gurrigiyn in the local NAIDOC Week Parade.
In 2024, we were grateful for the opportunity to take Totems to Blayne’s Wailwan Country for the next iteration of its development, collaborating with Warren Central School and Warraan Widji Arts. Through in-school workshops with Blayne and Tamara encompassing drawing, making with simple materials, and creative play to inform story, the primary students developed a large-scale performance celebrating local totem, the Dhigarrbila (echidna).
In November, a full audience of family, staff and community members gathered in the school hall. 90 students performed, proudly sharing the stories, characters, costumes and puppets they had created: Giidjaa (ants), Guduu (Murray cod), fisherman, Maliyan (Wedgetail eagle), a snake, two Mayi (large human figures), and of course many Dhigarrbilas. The performance was followed by morning tea, catered by the school canteen with support from secondary hospitality students.
Totems is assisted by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body, and the Malcolm Robertson Foundation.
