INDIGENOUS PEOPLE RECONCILE WITH THE DUTCH AFTER 400 YEARS
Published Friday, 12 October, 2007 at 11:00 AM
Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
The Wik people of Aurukun in Far North Queensland will reconcile with the Dutch by presenting Ceremonial Law Poles to the Netherlands Government.
Minister for Trade John Mickel said as a gift of reconciliation of the first contact by the Dutch on Australian shores, the Wik peoples will make the presentation to the Dutch after hostilities broke out between the European explorers and local Aborigines more than four hundred years ago.
Mr Mickel welcomed the reconciliatory gesture today saying artists and senior custodians of Wik cultural traditions indicated their wish to make a ceremonial presentation.
“In 1606, the Dutch crew of the ship, Duyfken, landed at Cape Keerweer on the west coast of Cape York, only to be driven away at spear point by Wik warriors of the region,” he said.
“More Dutch explorers later arrived at the Cape, again resulting in bloodshed and the incident is remembered, through song and ceremony, of the Wik language-speaking peoples of West Cape York, and has been handed down the generations as the “turn back” story.
“The Aurukun-Wik artists are acknowledged masters of an internationally recognised sculptural tradition which uses media such as wood, natural ochres and acrylic paint.”
Mr Mickel said the State Government through Queensland Indigenous Arts Marketing and Export Agency (QIAMEA) is assisting a group of Wik artists to officially present two sets of traditional Law Poles on October 19 to the people of The Netherlands at the Aboriginal Art Museum Utrecht, near The Hague.
“The inclusion of the carved Law Poles, made from the cottonwood tree, in the museum’s collection, will not only allow art lovers to enjoy these magnificent works of art, but also provide an opportunity for Queensland Aboriginal artists to step onto the world stage,” he said.
To coincide with the October 19 - 23 celebration, QIAMEA has produced brochures and a DVD to showcase and promote Indigenous art from the Cape York region in the Netherlands.
Media contact: Chris Brown 3237 1944 or Elouise Campion on 3237 1125
Minister for Trade John Mickel said as a gift of reconciliation of the first contact by the Dutch on Australian shores, the Wik peoples will make the presentation to the Dutch after hostilities broke out between the European explorers and local Aborigines more than four hundred years ago.
Mr Mickel welcomed the reconciliatory gesture today saying artists and senior custodians of Wik cultural traditions indicated their wish to make a ceremonial presentation.
“In 1606, the Dutch crew of the ship, Duyfken, landed at Cape Keerweer on the west coast of Cape York, only to be driven away at spear point by Wik warriors of the region,” he said.
“More Dutch explorers later arrived at the Cape, again resulting in bloodshed and the incident is remembered, through song and ceremony, of the Wik language-speaking peoples of West Cape York, and has been handed down the generations as the “turn back” story.
“The Aurukun-Wik artists are acknowledged masters of an internationally recognised sculptural tradition which uses media such as wood, natural ochres and acrylic paint.”
Mr Mickel said the State Government through Queensland Indigenous Arts Marketing and Export Agency (QIAMEA) is assisting a group of Wik artists to officially present two sets of traditional Law Poles on October 19 to the people of The Netherlands at the Aboriginal Art Museum Utrecht, near The Hague.
“The inclusion of the carved Law Poles, made from the cottonwood tree, in the museum’s collection, will not only allow art lovers to enjoy these magnificent works of art, but also provide an opportunity for Queensland Aboriginal artists to step onto the world stage,” he said.
To coincide with the October 19 - 23 celebration, QIAMEA has produced brochures and a DVD to showcase and promote Indigenous art from the Cape York region in the Netherlands.
Media contact: Chris Brown 3237 1944 or Elouise Campion on 3237 1125