Mediacontact:CassidyRichens,0405485288,62931443orcassidy.richens@tuggeranongarts.com.au

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M E D I A R E L E A S E 28 June 2016

Footprints on Our Land: Aunty Agnes, Ngunnawal E lder The generosity of senior Ngunnawal Elder Aunty Agnes Shea gives strength and life to Australia’s ongoing journey towards Reconciliation. Footprints on Our Land is a documentary film exploring the life and legacy of Ngunnawal Elder Aunty Agnes Shea. The film has been made over the course of several months by highly respected Australian documentary filmmaker Pat Fiske, of Bower Bird Films, beginning with Aunty Agnes’s Welcome to Country at the Citizenship Ceremony on Australia Day this year.

Produced by Tuggeranong Community Arts Association and made in collaboration with emerging Indigenous filmmaker Nevanka McKeon, local cinematographers, Aunty Agnes’s family and the ACT Indigenous community, Footsteps on Our Land celebrates Aunty Agnes as a survivor, warrior and advocate for her people.

The premiere screening for cast, crew, family, friends and invited Indigenous guests will be held at the Tuggeranong Arts Centre on Saturday 16 July. A public screening will be held on Friday 29 July.

At age 84, Aunty Agnes tirelessly performs welcome to country ceremonies across Canberra almost every day.

Loved and respected by Indigenous and non-Indigenous people alike, she is a major figure in the reconciliation movement in the ACT. Among her accomplishments are membership of the United Ngunnawal Elders Council and her role in the establishment of the Ngunnawal Bush Healing Farm.

Ranging from her life as a girl on Oak Hill and Hollywood missions in Yass to the present day, the film captures Aunty Agnes’ life as a survivor of racism, a caring mother and grandmother and a stalwart of her community. Through the life of this generous woman we see a microcosm of the ongoing Australian journey towards Reconciliation.

Tuggeranong Arts Centre produced the film, with the support of the ACT Government, to recognise and celebrate Indigenous culture in the ACT, and particularly in Tuggeranong, where Aunty Agnes lives and where the Healing Farm will open during 2016. Tuggeranong Arts Centre CEO Rauny Worm says it’s an important role of the arts to tell the stories that matter to our community and creatively share them. “We see this as an essential part of our work at Tuggeranong Arts Centre. “Pat Fiske has a longstanding dedication to telling Indigenous Australian stories, through her documentation of the work of Fred Hollows and films such as River of No Return about the Aboriginal woman Frances Daingangan. We were thrilled to be able to work together. ” Ms Worm said. Producer Pat Fiske says she was instantly impressed with Aunty Agnes’s story. “Despite the difficulties of her early life she is accepting, gracious and calm. There is absolutely no bitterness there, she’s an inspiration for all”. “I think this film will inspire audiences and give them a better understanding about our First Nations People,” Ms Fiske said. RADIO IN STUDIO (LIVE OR PRE-RECORD): Fr iday 15th July between 12PM – 4.30PM. Interview Filmmaker Pat Fiske, TAC CEO Rauny Worm and Ngunnawal Elder Aunty Agnes Shea and her Granddaughter Selina Walker. Find out why TAC wanted to make this film about the film making process and challenges and form Aunty Agnes herself. MEDIA CALLOUT: 2:30PM Saturday 16th July. Photo and interviews with: Filmmaker Pat Fiske, Emerging Filmmaker Nevakna McKeon, TAC CEO Rauny Worm, Ngunnawal Elder Aunty Agnes Shea, and other cast and crew in the documentary.