WAC40/25 – KIA DOWELL

– 80 x 100 cm

Kia has strong family connections to many areas across Gija daam. Her grandmother, M. Thomas (dec), and grandfather, S. Thomas (dec), were part of a generation of leaders, law and culture teachers, businesspeople, healers and strong fighters for justice. Throughout Kia’s life, she has stepped into different roles and, through those roles, found ways to connect with the spirit of those she was taught by and those who helped her understand her role in family, community, culture and Country.

One place Kia is connected to is the Daiwul Ngarrangarni (Barramundi Dreaming), located at the place commonly known as Argyle Diamond Mine. She joined the Board of Gelganyem in 2017 and, as Chair and female Director for the Tiltuwam daam, has focused on ensuring the voices, concerns, rights, and interests of Traditional Owners and Country are acknowledged by mining giant, Rio Tinto. This piece focuses on the power of seeds to heal Country.

As part of the restoration and rehabilitation of the mining lease, Gelganyem works closely with Traditional Owners through their Land Management business – to understand how Country was used before mining, to make sure the right mix of seed is collected at the right time of the year and to make sure traditional ecological knowledge is incorporated in every step of the process.

Each colour represents the different species, and the texture represents the different types of seed chosen for different reasons – medicine, food, shelter, tools, art, spiritual or ceremonial. The seeds may return to Country as seedlings or as part of a seed mix to help increase biodiversity and support the return of an ecosystem that helps bring life back