B-Town Warriors - 'My Generation'

Desert Pea Media is very proud to announce the fifth and final release from the B-Town Warriors for 2018 - 'My Generation'.
This song was created in October via a 5 day Desert Pea Media storytelling workshop. Co-written by, and starring an incredibly talented group of young Indigenous people enrolled at Bourke High School - with support from DPM staff, local elders and community members.
Desert Pea Media projects involve a dialogue-based storytelling process that encouraged participants to analyze 'the real', 'the ideal' and 'the bridge'. In simple terms this means critically thinking about how to create positive change for yourself, for each other and for our communities.
The B-Town Warriors were born out of a project in 2016 that resulted in a song and music video 'People of the Red Sunset'. The music video attracted an alarming level of support, hundreds of thousands of views, and was added to spot rotation on Triple J. The legend Dom Alessio from Home N Hosed then premiered their follow-up tracks - 'Dreams' and 'Thundercloud' in 2017.
A partnership with the good people at The Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation has seen DPM deliver a total of five projects in Bourke in 2017, and this song is the grand finale.
'My Generation' is a call to arms. A call to country. In a context where mental health is at crisis point for young Indigenous Australians, and the pressures of living in two worlds are bigger than ever.
With support from the elders of five nations, The B-Town Warriors are challenging ALL of us to participate in positive change. Walk the river. Connect.
This song is an invitation born of warmth, respect and inclusion. The oldest culture on earth welcoming people to country with a sense of genuine calm and generosity.
Desert Pea Media believes that the B-Town Warriors, and the community of Bourke are a stunning example of humanity. Let their stories uplift and inspire, and be a lesson for us all.
This project featured the expert musical direction and production of acclaimed musician and and songwriter Carlo Santone (Blue King Brown, Nattali Rize) who has directed all B-Town Warriors productions. We thank you brother for you vision and hard work.
Special thanks to Aunty Ellen Doolan and her partner Russell - to Andrew Ryder, Shirlee Rowland and Joan Dickson from Bourke High, and especially to the Nyaampa, Wonkamurra, Murrawarri and Paakantji people. Big love to all you mob, and thanks again for having us on country.
Lyrics
Calling on my generation
Calling all my people, my relations
Singing with the wind of four nations
Songlines of the first creation
We from the north to the south to east to the west
Four winds,Four tribes one country what we represent
Bourke cousin, yep we showing respect
Ancestors, old people that we laid to rest
Massacre at Myall creak, living on wild meat
Corroboree at Innaminka, dancing in bare feet
From the Mission in Bre, Started working at 13
Sun up to sun down, In 40 degress - For free
In 67 white man gave us the vote
Even though the same white man came here on a boat
What a joke! they even tried to take the lingo we spoke
But they didn’t know our spirt spinning in the gum leaf smoke
Learn my story and my song and my triddition from the past
Sitting round the fire camp fire listening yarns
keeping it real keepin it going from the start
Story of my ancestors written in the stars
My generation got addicted to the screen
forgot my connection got my dreaming from tv
Its like we lost hope, swapped it for grog and dope
Grife, loss and traumer like a slippery slop
Don’t forget what you are worth
You gotta take pride in the place of ur birth
Despite all the trouble and hurt
You represent the oldest culture on earth
To keep it real you got to 1 - Take your time to listen to old people and 2 - Strengthen your mind
3 - you gotta walk along the rivers and creeks in bare feet, Coz the truth is in my country is me
4 this is something you can never ignore respect for your own self cuz that’s sacred lore
So stay black with a Swagger and keep it in step
Coz BT Dub on the mic and the futures looking better - yep
We stick together ready set, we connected looking fresh
while there’s breath in my chest then my culture’s never dead.
CREDITS
Young people in Bourke, NSW - Co-Directors/ Co-Writers/ Performers
Toby Finlayson - Director/ Writer/ DOP/ Editor
Carlo Santone - Music Producer/ Music Director
Josh Nicholas - Recording Engineer/ Sound Recordist/ Mentor
Roy Weiland - Colour Grading/ Motion Graphics
David Nicholas - Audio Mixing
Nicky Akehurst - Second Camera/ Production Assistant/ Stills
Tony Mantz - Audio Mastering
Jules Lawson - Producer / DPM Business Manager
Bill Blaikie - Elder/ Consultant/ Lighting Director/ Mentor
Don Finlayson - Elder/ Psychologist/ Consultant