Norm Yackaduna
Norm Yackaduna
Kwat KWAT, MOIRA, WURUNDJERI
We got to know Uncle Norm Stewart really well last year when we were visiting Yorta Yorta Country to film and celebrate the 2023 NAIDOC theme: For Our Elders.
Uncle Norm Stewart (Kent Kwat, Moira & Wurundjeri) was an Elder who welcomed us into his home to capture his stories and photograph him and his family.
He is an amazing artist that goes by the name Norm Yackaduna.
After sharing his art and stories with us, we were excited by the opportunity to worth together further.
We continued to work with Uncle Norm and his family to produce one of his self portraits into a puzzle - Sovereignty Never Ceded.
We are very proud to have this partnership.Puzzles available now.
Sovereignty Never Ceded
Norm Yackaduna
Sovereignty Never Ceded (Self Portrait)
My painting depicts sovereignty over our traditional land through the lines that represents sky, earth and water. The figures are painted in the style of my great great grandfather Yackaduna in which our people are doing corroboree and teaching song lines.
The designs on the chair represents the possum skin cloaks that were worn.
The background tells the story of Dhungala (Murray River) system and the kidneys (Moira lakes and Barmah lakes). The three rivers meet at the junction known as Echuca, which means meeting of the waters.
The painted face connects me to my tribe Kwat Kwat.
