The First Peoples' Project

Some wonderful things have been happening for participants in The First Peoples' Project this year.

We started the year with an artist exchange between USA and Australia. An artist from Bairnsdale spent 5 weeks working at the A:shiwi Elementary School in New Mexico, USA and then a Zuni artist spent 7 weeks in Australia working with students involved in the project.

Lahna, a student at Nowa Nowa Primary School, Australia said:

"It¹s been fantastic! At school this week a visitor called Milford Nahohai. He has come all the way from Zuni in New Mexico, USA. Milford showed us photos of where he lives. He told us about all the photos, it was great. He told us some of his stories from his ancestors. They were fabulous! Milford taught us some of his language it was interesting. Milford was showing us how to make dragonflies out of corn husk and some made it out of clay. Some of the kids made cornflower pots, knives, forks and spoons. The other kids made picture frames and brooches. Then Milford fired them. The pottery looks fantastic. The pottery looks great painted. Thank you Milford I had such a deadly time with you!"

In February, the Australian postal authority, Australia Post, issued a stamp edition called Art X-change featuring the artwork of Australian students in the project. Each student was presented with a framed copy of their stamped envelope at a special ceremony organized by Australia Post.

In March, the Victorian State Museum held a month long exhibition of 52 pieces of art featuring all the schools world-wide who are part of The First Peoples' Project. At a special launch of the exhibition in the state capital, Melbourne, students, Celeste Ryan, Cassie Anderson and Tiffany Ryan, spoke about the project to more than 300 people.

You can find out more about the project from the project web site: http://www.iearn.org.au/fp

Virginia King, I*EARN Australia Management Team and First Peoples' Project co-ordinator, Australia