Three Exhibitions at Godinymayin

Back in 2019, Rembarrnga, Dalabon, and Mayili elders invited women
caring for Country from across the Territory to meet
at Bawurrbarnda in central Arnhem Land. There, women from 32 ranger
groups came together and articulated a shared vision: We are strong
Indigenous women of the Northern Territory. We stand united as one
strong voice. We commit to a network that gives equal power to the
rights of all our women. Strong Women means Healthy Country.
Today this network is known as Strong Women for Healthy Country and
is proudly hosted by Mimal Land Management. It continues to grow in
size and in May 2021 over 260 women from across the Territory met at
Banatjarl on Jawoyn Country for the second Strong Women for Healthy
Country Forum.
While there the women connected with one another and affirmed a
commitment to a collective vision of strong and strategic advocacy,
collaboration, communication and governance. The images in this
Godinymayin exhibition, Healing Country and Community, are all
photographs taken at that landmark gathering.
This gallery project began only a few months ago, when Banatjarl
cultural advisor Miliwanga Wurrben and network coordinator Kate van
Wezel made a visit to Godinymayin. They met new chief executive Eric
Holowacz and began discussing plans for the centre's upcoming
International Women's Day exhibitions. After learning more about
Strong Women for Healthy Country, Holowacz suggested an exhibition
of photographs to fit Godinymayin's new Laneway Gallery—and that led
to the documentary work of photographer Renae Saxby you see here.
In this exhibition, Saxby distills the beauty and power of the gathering
held at Banatjarl, where women travelled from far and wide to share
experiences, creative conversations, and intercultural exchange.
Through the photographer’s intuitive eye and lens, we get a close look
at an important gathering—and meetings filled with honest brave
conversation, art therapy, weaving, and healing spaces.