Marngo Designing Futures
Moondani Toombadool Centre, Marcus Lee Designs, Koorie Heritage Trust, Zakpage Storytelling, Gisborne Secondary College, Upper Yarra Secondary College, Koorie Girls Academy, Cultivator, Melbourne Indigenous Transition School, Australia Chamber Orchestra, SBS, ABC, Warmun Art Centre, Nglangangpum School, Purnululu Independent School, Worawa Aboriginal College and Gunnai, Wiradjuri, Gunditjmara and Yorta Yorta fashion designer Lyn Al Young.
Marngo is a culture-centred education program that sought to connect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people with with the world of creative arts, design and media Through the development of a place-based curriculum that centralises First Nations narratives, voices and perspectives, Marngo is underpinned by an Indigenous-led co-creation approach to enable participants to shape their own involvement and assert their own identities whilst realising forms of collective agency.
By providing opportunities for the sharing and acquisition of Indigenous knowledge in a two-way learning framework that emphasises self-determination, co-creation and shared insights, participants develop creative confidence, belonging, pride, self esteem, leadership and problem-solving skills in a culturally safe space for learning. The Marngo program has been delivered in school settings in line with local mental health and wellbeing priorities, and in a camp format, on the lands of the Mutthi Mutthi, Paakantji and Ngyiampaa people at Mungo National Park and Gija Country in the East Kimberley. Since 2015, over 200 students have participated in the program.
In the Woiwurrung language of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation in Victoria, the term ‘Marngo’ means ‘over there’ or ‘in the future’. Working with Marcus Lee, a descendent of the Karajarri people of North Western Australia and Director of Marcus Lee Design, a symbol of a bogong moth was chosen to visually represent the programme, as it was seen as reflecting the stories and histories that encapsulate the programme’s aspirations, particularly its focus on self-determination, personal growth, wellbeing, resilience and transformation.
Made with Wadi Wadi Walbanga woman and filmmaker Alison Page, the participatory documentary short film communicates the project’s heartfelt aspirations was acquired by SBS | NITV in 2017.
