'Maar-Koodjal Yorga -7 Women'

The 2018 theme for NAIDOC week 'Because of her, we can' afforded the perfect opportunity to engage seven female Noongar artists to create unique artworks to decorate the recently installed 'Boorna Baronga' Cultural Reflection Space on ECU's Joondalup campus.
The artists, Turid Calgaret, Wendy Hayden, Cassie Jetta, Francine Kickett, Esther McDowell (aka Yabini Kickett), Deborah Newenham and Melissa Spillman, all Noongar 'yorgas' (women) from the South Western region of Western Australia, were given the task of representing in images the diverse cultural aspects of each of the fourteen regions/language groups that make up the Noongar nation.
The artists designs were transferred onto the wooden poles representing each region, which were then skillfully carved into the timber surface by WA sculptor Thomas de Munk Kerkmeer.
The dramatic unveiling of the artists works installed on Edith Cowan University's Joondalup campus on the 29 June kicked off the celebration of NAIDOC week for 2018.