Protecting Country
PROJECT
Trailer
Full Feature
COPYRIGHT
Oethica Group Productions acknowledges copyright as both a civil right and enduring declaration of ownership for clients, partners, and their respective cultural groups. This copyright may be assigned or enforced in the form of restrictions to the access, distribution, and download of content, including requests for time-constrained embargo or password assignment.
According to the Australian Copyright Council, the expressions which have been made as a result of participation in co-production which have taken form in this project as photographs, film, and derivative of other digital media are automatically assigned the copyright to those subjects involved. To learn more about copyright as it pertains to the restrictions of use of any /all of the Protecting Country project please refer to our Copyright Policy on this website.
OVERVIEW
The Protecting Country project was initiated by Bruce Hammond, Director of Envirologix Pty. Ltd. in Cheltenham, South Australia, an Aboriginal Australian man of the Tanganekald people of the Ngarrindjeri nation, in South Australia with ties to the coast in the Lower South East of South Australia and the central desert regions of Finke and Alice Springs, Australia in discussion with Dr Alexander Hayes of Oethica Group Productions (Ngikalikarra Media) in November 2015. Through extensive consultation and upon mutual agreement, the project was conducted under the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and pro bono service.
The main objective of the Protecting Country project was to produce a documentary film regarding the story of Adnyamathanha people who collectively voiced their dissent at the plans of the South Australian Government in collusion with large international corporates who sought to build a world scale nuclear dump on the ancestral lands, project managed and reportable through Oethica Group Productions. The main outcomes of the Protecting Country project are as follows:
Consultation with a widely dispersed range of Aboriginal nations in Australia;
Production of a documentary film regarding the main challenges of the Adnyamathanha people;
Promotion and screening of the documentary across differing networks, community venues and public interest groups.
TYPE
Partnership - This project was predominantly self-funded with a minor (but greatly appreciated) injection of funds from sponsorship and generous in-kind support.
Oethica Group Productions uses the term ‘project’ to define business-related activities (including commercial in confidence agreements) which have a profit motive or pro-bono (derivative of the Latin term “pro bono publico”) which means ‘for the public good’, an ethical provision of services on a free or significantly reduced fee basis, with no expectation of a commercial return, mindful we do not act in any legal capacity as paralegal either.
In each and every project, in every case, Oethica Group Productions invests professional acumen, intellectual property and significant amounts of time in listening to achieve the project objectives and outcomes.
CONSENT
Oethica Group Productions seeks or obtains consent to conduct activities such as recording film or audio for productions in three (3) main forms; Subjects, Creators or Contributors.
In each case, all activities which require legal consent are the sole responsibility of the producer (“Producer’), with every effort made by Oethica Group Productions to retain and supply these to the Producer in both an enduring analogue or digital format. Oethica Group Productions abides by by-laws governing the privacy of an individual's inclusion in a project, seeking consent at the appropriate point of contact, production drafting and prior to the public release or publication of content in consultation with the Producer and/or Cultural Advisor.
Each and every subject was provided with an opportunity to be involved in the co-production and final approval of the film prior to full public release. All further reproductions, distribution, and future works derivative of the original creations for the Protecting Country project are protected under an Attribution 4.0 International (CC-BY) license, as described and agreed upon with each subject.
SCOPE
Oethica Group Productions uses the term ‘scope’ in the context of consultation and agreements as broadly defining business-related activities in production and desired outcomes of those activities. Activities agreed upon and project managed by Oethica Group Productions in this project was focused on the production of a feature-length documentary film featuring Elders and Traditional Custodians in the Aboriginal communities of the Adnyamathanha people in the Flinders Ranges, South Australia who were protesting a proposed nuclear dump on their Country.
Key subjects in the film include the late Tauto Sansbury, Regina McKenzie, Ty Butler, Stephen Atkinson, Mia Knight, Sharpie Coulthard, Clarence Coulthard, Steven Harrison, Vince Coulthard, James Butler, Karina Lester, and Bruce Hammond. The mining of uranium and the nuclear debate in Australia continues to divide communities and devastate the Australian environment. Nuclear tests in the 1950s and the 1960’s have catastrophically affected Aboriginal nations and communities across South Australia. This film brings those voices forward which popular news and media negate as well as provide anyone who interacts with this journey an opportunity to provide feedback to the Ngikalikarra Media team.
The documentary film was taken on a screening road trip across Australia which took 14 days to complete, travelling over 7741 kilometers through some of the most remote regions of Australia.
TEAM
Bruce Hammond
Cultural Advisor
Bruce is an Aboriginal man with ties to the coast in the Lower South East of South Australia and the central desert regions of Finke and Alice Springs. Bruce has a long history of asserting his birthrights to connect and protect Country, a passionate advocate for Aboriginal land rights, and Justice. Bruce was responsible for all consultations with Aboriginal communities, media contacts, and public relations.
Magali McDuffie
Researcher and Filmmaker
Magali is a world-acclaimed filmmaker, researcher, and academic. In this project Magali was responsible for engaging communities through film, co-editing the film, and production upon the project journey film and photo footage.
Alexander Hayes
Producer / Photographer
Alexander led the project team with logistical planning, management and facilitation of project events, sponsorship, media announcements from Canberra through to Broome with the assistance of the communities and the lead contacts from each location. Hayes also contributed to the editing and co-production of the film, screening and online showcasing of the final productions. Hayes was accompanied by photographer Liam Wille on the secondary road trip, documenting community consultation and other footage photographs for the final cut of the documentary film.
Liam Wille
Photographer
Liam travelled with the project team for the duration of the second trip from Canberra, Australia to Broome, Australia documenting community consultations, public forums, environment and other project documentation. Liam is an acclaimed photographer with a very bright future in his chosen field. View Liam's amazing photographs at https://500px.com/liam_wille
BUDGET
OGP INVESTMENTS
A sum total of $18,000 AUD was invested in the project by Oethica Group Productions covering vehicle hire, fuel, accommodation, and insurances over a two trip period.
SPONSORSHIP
A call for sponsorship flyer was developed by Alexander which resulted in a sum total of $2,020 AUD raised through Facebook with the generosity of individuals including Isabelle Boreham, Dilys Norrish, James Osinga, Nola Crocket, Stephan Ridgway, Julie Collereda, Deb Melaleuca, Christopher Simpson, Ingvar & Chrystle Wille, Sunshine Connelly, Steven Atkinson, Will Kirtland.
The project team also raised $1,350 AUD in sum total (cash) and were also afforded free accommodation, meals, and other hospitality on the trip from Canberra as far as Coober Pedy, South Australia.
Download the Call for Sponsorship prospectus here - PDF 467 KB
IN-KIND SUPPORT
The Protecting Country project was also supported by numerous Family groups, small business, cooperatives, communities, and nations including:
Canberra Cooperative - Venue, media promotion, catering, audio, and screening equipment;
Wiradjuri Language Centre - Condobolin, NSW Australia - Venue, media promotion, catering, audio, screening equipment, and accommodation;
Glenelg Art Gallery - Glenelg, South Australia - Funds;
Stokers Siding Community - Venue, audio, and screening equipment;
Hay Shire Council - Media promotion and flyer dissemination;
National Parks Canberra - Head Office, Weston, Canberra ACT Australia - Venue, audio, screening equipment;
Mildura Mallee District Aboriginal Services - Mildura, Victoria Australia - Venue, audio and screening equipment;
The Joinery - Adelaide, South Australia - Venue, media promotion, audio and screening equipment;
Hawker Memorial Hospital - Hawker, South Australia - Venue, media promotion, audio and screening equipment;
Iga Warta Community - Neppabunna, South Australia - Accommodation;
Bungala Aboriginal Corporation - Port Augusta, South Australia - Venue, media promotion, audio and screening equipment;
Umeewarra Media Association - Port Augusta, South Australia - Venue, media promotion;
Goolarabooloo Community - Broome, Western Australia - Venue, media promotion, audio, and screening equipment.
Special thanks go to Bruce Hammond for managing the journey, connecting us with Australian Aboriginal communities right across Australia, and supporting the journey from afar;
Jono - for hosting the Canberra viewing;
Rue Wiradjuri for her support and encouragement to get this film out onto country;
Roxley Foley for his inspirational speech during the Canberra screening at the Co-op about Country and the importance of protecting it for future generations;
Ally Coe - General Manager from the Wiradjuri Condobolin Corporation Ltd. for hosting, supporting, and connecting us with the Wiradjuri community in Condobolin, NSW;
Kirstyn Thronder - from the Shire of Hay, NSW for hosting and disseminating the film to the many Aboriginal Land Councils in the Wheatbelt region of NSW;
Winch Family - Tom and Patsy Winch in Balranald for hosting, receiving, and helping our journey in Balranald NSW.
DELIVERABLES
Project management within Oethica Group Productions involves extensive consultation with different parties and subjects prior, during, and in the conclusion of the main production periods of a project. We also consider that the enduring rights of those involved in projects are respectfully considered through our assertions of attribution or direct copyright.
Project deliverables are therefore those aims and objectives we sought to accomplish through our project engagement in the context of the Protecting Country project including;
Community Consultation - Widespread community consultation regarding the premise and conduct of the project conducted as face-to-face meetings, online web conferencing, teleconferencing, social media feedback, surveys, and questionnaires;
Cultural Advisory Group - Establish and maintain a Cultural Advisory group that informs the appropriate means by which to achieve the objectives of the project as deliverables;
Project Role Assignment - Clearly agreed on roles and responsibilities of individuals as a project team;
Project Management - Clearly assigned tasks and management of related tasks including negotiated milestones with key project stakeholders;
Documentary Film - In a participatory mode an engagement with a wide and diverse representation of stakeholders from Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities with a focus on the ‘Know Nuclear’ campaign of the South Australian Government and the ensuing fallout across South Australian communities in proximity to the proposed site;
Website - Inclusions in the Ngikalikarra Media (Later Oethica Group Productions) website of digital media regarding the project journey, itinerary, and related documentation;
Internship - The supervision of a young photographer, Liam Wille, who traveled with Alexander Hayes across Australia and documented the journey and interactions with the public and key stakeholders;
Media - Press release and social media inclusions promoting the project parameters, updates from the various communities visited, and screening events from the project journey;
Sponsorship - Raising project funds from philanthropic sources to support the project journey, promotion, and advice as the project team made its way from Canberra, ACT Australia through to Broome, Western Australia.
COMMUNICATIONS
The sheer magnitude of this project which spanned two years of negotiations and mixed-level communications was centered around listening. A range of technologies were employed to connect people across distances and often requiring ‘message stick’ connections between Aboriginal communities as the film was screened in the second stage of the project.
The web conferencing tool Google Hagouts which spits out an MP4 recording directly into Youtube was employed for promotional messaging as was Vimeo used as the main base for the finished documentary. Skype proved reliable for impromptu meetings between project stakeholders and where the connection was low we switched over to teleconferencing. A great deal of stage 2 was out of telecommunications coverage so photography which was later shared on Facebook proved to be the most useful way of updating sponsors, communities, and organizations.
DETAILS
The ‘Protecting Country’ documentary was composed of two main stages for production. The main film footage was recorded by Magali McDuffie on the first trip in September 2016, with additional footage recorded by Alexander Hayes during Stage 2 in July 2017 which included a review of the draft film by the featured subjects. The final editing of the film was completed in Broome, Western Australia.
Featured Subjects
Stage 1
In consultation with Cultural Advisor, Bruce Hammond the original plan was to seek and gain permission to travel to Aboriginal communities in South Australia such as Nepabunna, Iga Warta, Maree, Wilpena Pound, William Creek, Oodnadatta, Coober Pedy, Marla, Alice Springs, Yuendumu, and into the Tanami. The focus of such activity was to gain footage with key Aboriginal Elders and Traditional Custodians including the late Yami Lester, a blinded ardent anti-nuclear campaigner.
Alexander Hayes and Magali McDuffie set out from Canberra ACT Australia in late September 2016, traveling across the Hay Plains into Adelaide to consult with Cultural Advisor, Bruce Hammond. Whilst in Adelaide the team met with both supporters and campaigners against the proposed nuclear dump, attended rallies, and conducted interviews with featured subjects. The eventful trip from Adelaide to the Iga Warta Aboriginal community high up in the Flinders Ranges involved driving through rain, high winds, hail, and sleet in one of the largest weather systems in 100 years.
Stage 2
In late June 2017, Alexander Hayes began planning with the photographer, Liam Wille on a screening road trip across Australia envisaged taking 14 days to complete and traveling over 7741 kilometers through some of the most remote regions of Australia. The road trip commenced on the 17th of July 2017 departing from Canberra, Australia featuring private and public screenings in the cities and towns of Canberra, Condobolin, Hay, Balranald, Mildura, Adelaide, Hawker, Nepabunna, and Iga Warta.
We had intended on traveling through Maree, William Creek, Oodnadatta, Coober Pedy, Marla, Alice Springs, Yuendumu, Tanami, Halls Creek, Fitzroy Crossing, Derby, and through to Broome, Western Australia. Whilst we were in Iga Warta we heard the news that Yami Lester OAM, the late Father of Karina Lester who features in the film had sadly passed away. No further screenings occurred with respect of sorry business for all Aboriginal communities until we had reached the Coconut Wells Community near Broome, Western Australia.
Stage 3
With an invitation from Aunty Jackie McDonald, Aboriginal Elder and Traditional Custodian of the Bunjalung nation a public screening of the Protecting Country film was conducted on Friday 26th January 2018 at the Stokers Siding Community Hall, NSW Australia.
Screenings
The following screenings were conducted with the support of those establishments listed;
6 July 2017 - Wille Household, ACT Canberra Australia
11 July 2017 - McDuffie Household, ACT Canberra, Australia
12 July 2017 - National Parks Head Office, Weston, Canberra ACT
12 July 2017 - Ellie Gilbert residence, Kingsley ACT
16 July 2017 - ANU Food Co-op & Cafe - 3 Kingsley St, Canberra ACT 2601 - 6:30 PM
17th July 2017 - Condobolin, Wiradjuri Studies Centre, Condobolin NSW - 1:00 PM
18th July - Winch Family residence, Balranald - 5:30 PM
19th July 2017 - Mildura Mallee District Aboriginal Services, Mildura - 1:00 PM
20th July 2017 - Adelaide - 'The Joinery', 111 Franklin St, Adelaide SA 5000 7:30 PM
21st July 2017 - Port Augusta, South Australia
22nd July 2017 - Hawker, South Australia
23rd July 2017 - Iga Warta Community, South Australia
23rd July 2017 - Nepabunna Community, South Australia
24th July 2017 - Bungala Aboriginal Corporation, Port Augusta, South Australia
24th July 2017 - Umeewarra Aboriginal Media Association, Port Augusta, South Australia
18th August 2017 - Coconut Wells Community, Broome, Western Australia
26th January 2018 - Stokers Siding Community Hall, NSW Auatralia.
Screening of the 'Protecting Country' film at Coconut Wells, Broome, WA on the 18th August 2017
PROJECT OUTCOMES
Photo by Alexander Hayes - Final project journey detailing route from Canberra, ACT to Broome,
Western Australia - total of kilometres travelled - 7,741 kilometres.
Awards
The Protecting Country documentary film project brought together many different Aboriginal nations, leaders, and Traditional Custodians. The project importantly also provided many non-Aboriginal people across the world with an insight into why Aboriginal people in Australia categorically (with noted exceptions) state that nuclear waste dumps are a further disrespect to an already tragic legacy of how traditional peoples are treated in Australia.
The Protecting Country film has been viewed tens of thousands of times in situ and has won a number of awards including selection and screening at the Native Spirit Festival in London, the United Kingdom in 2019. The ‘Protecting Country’ film was selected for screening at the 13th Native Spirit Indigenous Film Festival - Launch Day - UNESCO IYIL2019 Brunei Gallery Theatre, SOAS Russell Square, London, the United Kingdom to be screened on Saturday, 12 October 2019 between 17:00 to 21:30 (BST).
Native Spirit was established in 2005 and is the UK's first Independent organization promoting contemporary Indigenous Cinema, Media & Artists with Year-round events, an annual Film Festival starting 12th October in London, and a sister festival in Taiwan (November).
The founder of Native Spirit Foundation, Freddy Treuquil, Mapuche leader states:
“All the [activists] have come to the conclusion that one objective of making video, radio, and television is for the other culture to know us. It is necessary to create a bridge to share our culture in an educational form, without losing our identity.” - Native Spirit website.
The Protecting Country Film was also selected and screened at the 10th International Uranium Film Festival in Rio De Janeiro at the Modern Art Museum Cinema in Mam Rio on May 21st through to the 31st May 2020. Oethica Group Productions had intended to be present at however due to COVID-19 restrictions this was not possible.
We also noted that Kim Mavromatis is listed on the same program:
“… Australia, 2019, Director Kim Mavromatis, Documentary, 10 min, English - People of the Flinders Ranges Speak Out (Graziers, Tourism operators, Adnyamathanha and Nukunu people, residents, business owners, and doctor) to Protect the Flinders, their communities, and future generations from Radioactive Nuclear Waste Dumps. If climate change is the defining issue of our time, then the nuclear waste is the hangover. Why on earth would the Federal government want to dump nuclear waste in the Flinders Ranges, on a floodplain, in a seismically active region, bordered by natural springs, in an iconic tourism destination? Filmmaker Kim Mavromatis is living in South Australia near the proposed nuclear waste dump sites. “
Download the Program - PDF 160KBs
The Protecting Country documentary was also selected and screened at the Global Extraction Film Festival in 2020.
LISTINGS
The Protecting Country documentary film continues to be made accessible and is now listed in a number of free-to-web resource sites promoting like-kind initiatives including;
KEY LINKS
Interview Excerpts
Excerpt Interview - Regina McKenzie
Excerpt Interview - Vince Coulthard
Excerpt Interview - Karina Lester
Excerpt Interview - Bruce Hammond
Excerpt Interview - Tauto Sansbury
Excerpt Interview - Sharpie Coulthard
Film Trailer
Trailer - Protecting Country in Vimeo
Feature Film
Full Feature - Ngikalikarra Media
ATTRIBUTION
Cultural attribution is noted for all contributions to the Protecting Country project and ensuing connections that continue to grow as a result of this important historical narrative across First Nations in a global context. All communications in this regard must be directed to Bruce Hammond, Cultural Advisor and Producer for the Protecting Country documentary.
Attribution for photography used in both film and promotional collateral is given to Alexander Hayes, co-Producer, co-Editor, and Manager of the Protecting Country project. Key photos for the project can be viewed at Oethica Group Productions Flickr account, also licensed as CC BY Attribution Sharealike.
Photography attribution is also credited to Liam Wille, who documented the entire project journey for stage 2, published via 500PX .
