Indigenous award category
Introduced last year, the Indigenous Award recognises an outstanding Indigenous project that aims to prevent or raise awareness of domestic and family violence within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
2008 Winner: Myalla Yarning Circle
For: "Myalla Boobaghun" Big Talking Women
Produced by using local Indigenous singers, song writers and musicians, the 'Myalla Boobaghun' CD uses music as a powerful medium to encourage positive change in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community.
The aim of this CD is to reduce violence and abuse in the local Indigenous community by instilling pride, and helping to heal Indigenous women, men and children.
Written by Indigenous women, each song has a clear message, using stories which have affected the women personally. Two songs are specifically about domestic and family violence. No More Loving Murri Way and Niya (me).
All the women that sing or have written songs for the CD are Indigenous Women with two being Elders in the community. There are traditional Indigenous songs with the language of the Jarrawoir people from Dalby and surrounding area as well as language from the Gungurri people from Mitchell, South West Queensland.
Indigenous women from various areas around South West Queensland, who have strong family connections with other towns in the South West including Cunnamulla, Charleville, Mitchell, Dalby, St George, Roma, Toowoomba, Chinchilla, Miles and Cherbourg have been involved in the CD. The women on this CD believe that "if we change at least one person's view on violence we will be happy women".
This CD has the potential to have a significant effect on Indigenous Women and children. As this CD will be played by many Indigenous women in their own homes across South West Queensland, the Myalla Yarning Circle hope to give them courage to make a difference for themselves and their children.