1996, 1997 and 1999

In NAIDOC Week 1996, the Koori Arts Project Team at the City of Port Phillip led by Maree Clarke, Kimba Thompson, Len Tregonning, Lee Clarke, Sonja Hodge and Maree Moffatt coordinated the We Iri, We Homeborn Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Festival. Consisting of a series of exhibitions across five venues in Melbourne, the festival was the largest display of Victorian-based emerging and established Indigenous artists’ works at that time.

In the lead up to the festival, Maree Clarke and Jacqui Geia travelled across the state, dropping off arts supplies to Indigenous artists and returning a few months later with Kimba, Len and Lee to collect the work.

When they asked for a truck to pick up the work, they received the response: ‘What do you need a two-tonne truck for? There’s no Aboriginal art in Victoria.’ Over 500 artworks from over 100 artists were collected by the team, requiring a three-tonne truck.

We Iri, We Homeborn demonstrated the volume of work being made by the Koorie community and the diversity of practice. According to Maree, ‘It was groundbreaking and really put Victorian Aboriginal art on the map’, launching the careers of the community’s most prolific artists.

The festival occurred again in 1997 and 1999 and its legacy includes different Koorie festivals and events in the City of Port Phillip, such as the Yaluk-ut Weelam Ngargee Festival, evolving with a musical focus.

‘The festival opened up Pandora’s box, in a way that if no one was to travel that whole six days and go to every community, yarn to everybody, or do it two, three times over, there wouldn’t have been that connection to be able to.’

—Kimba Thompson

Exhibited in Collective Movements:

We Iri, We Homeborn Aboriginal and Torres Strait

Islander Arts Festival printed material:

1996 poster
Artwork: Donna Brown
Port Phillip City Collection, Melbourne

1996, 1997 and 1999 catalogues
Cover artwork 1996 and 1999: Donna Brown Cover artwork 1997: Destiny Deacon Collection of Kimba Thompson

We Iri, We Homeborn 1967–1997: 30 Years On flyer Cover artwork: Destiny Deacon
Port Phillip City Collection, Melbourne

1999 pamphlet
Cover artwork: Donna Brown
Port Phillip City Collection, Melbourne

Video:

Kimba Thompson
We Iri, We Homeborn (We of This Land) 1996 VHS tape transferred to digital video; 29 minutes Courtesy of Sista Girl Productions

Selected press coverage:

Jane Bossence, ‘Aboriginal Art by the Truckload’, Emerald Hill Times, 3 July 1996
Newspaper Collection, State Library Victoria

Zelda Cawthorne, ‘Koori Kaleidoscope’, The Herald Sun, 4 July 1996 Newspaper Collection, State Library Victoria

‘Council’s NAIDOC Team’, Community Update: The Official Newsletter of the City of Port Phillip, June 1996
Collection of Kimba Thompson

Michael Harden, ‘Artists Boldly Show the Way to Reconciliation’, The Melbourne Review, 25 June 1997
Collection of Kimba Thompson

‘Pictures Capture “Untrue” Colonial View’, The Australian, 4 July 1996 Collection of Kimba Thompson

‘I’m still amazed that the original concept for “We Iri We Homeborn” was dreamt up and ideas for it brainstormed in the beer gardens of the Peacock Hotel. I remember feeling so young and confident, that we could do anything we set our minds on. If it wasn’t for the city of Port Phillip it possibly would not have happened. I remember feeling such a sense of pride when all of the exhibitions were up, showcasing the diversity of artworks and practice in the community, emerging and established.’

—Sonja Hodge