iyarn’s Connection with First Nation Voices
iyarn was inspired by First Nation’s practices around connection, mindfulness and wellbeing. We aim to keep an ongoing dialogue with First Nations people and groups, including leaders in the community.
Hear from some of the First Nation voices we’ve sat down with via the videos below, as they talk about connection and much more.
Professor Len Collard
Len is a Noongar elder, professor and Australian Research Council chief investigator at the School of Indigenous Studies University of Western Australia.
Len is a Whadjuk/Balardong Noongar, the traditional owners of the Perth region of Western Australia. He has a background in literature and communications. His research includes Noongar interpretive histories and Noongar theoretical and practical research models.
In 2011 Len commenced a three-year study of Noongar place names and intends to create a public website of 25,000 Noongar words for different places around the South West of Western Australia. In 2014 he announced his project to create the world’s first online Aboriginal encyclopaedia, Noongarpedia, to preserve the endangered Noongar language.
Len has been part of the Indigenous Communities Education and Awareness Foundation (ICEA) as an ICEA Classic patron, since its establishment in 2011.
See more over at the podcast or check out the video below:
Scott Wilson
Scott Wilson is a Gooniyandi person from Muladja community and a Gadgerong man from Kununurra. His parents moved to Broome which allowed him to grow up on Yawuru country in Western Australia.
In 2006, Scott was sent to Hale boarding school in Perth to complete his secondary education. At the age of 16 he represented Australia with the National Indigenous football team in a tour to Papua New Guinea with the AFL. In 2010, he was awarded Indigenous Youth of the Year, and went on to study at the University of Western Australia. In 2015, he graduated with his bachelor’s degree majoring in Anthropology completing work placements with the Native Title agency, KRED Enterprises connecting with communities across the Kimberley.
After graduating in 2016, Scott helped implement an early childhood program called “Our Mob as First Educators Program” in Broome. In 2017, he became an operator for FMG to understand the mining industry. In 2018, he was awarded a graduate program with Prime Minister and Cabinet, working with the Behavioural Economics Team of The Australian Government.
He now lives in Sydney working with various youth organisations, such as Aurora Education Foundation, Year 13, and Headspace as an Advocate for Australian Youth Mental Health. Scott has a passion for creativity and storytelling and wants to produce content. He is currently balancing work with his own company, called Ice Cream Productions. His company is currently developing a web series, an Aboriginal Superhero universe and a cartoon series, alongside managing company events.
See more over at the podcast or check out the video below.
More Information
We continue to work with members of First Nations communities via our First Nations Advisory Group. Read more over at About Us.
