First Nations
Program
Four Winds has made a commitment to the culture and knowledge of the Djiringanj People of the Yuin Nation
Our engagement with our Yuin community has blossomed with the appointment of a First Nations Creative Director, Cheryl Davison, and the incredible trajectory of the Djinama Yilaga Choir.
Over the coming years we will be further supporting a First Nations-led process through Cheryl to develop targeted programs for our First Nations community.
Djinama Yilaga
Djinama Yilaga is an intergenerational Yuin choir, establish in 2019 and created in Cheryl Davison’s capacity as Four Winds Aboriginal Creative Producer. Djinama Yilaga perform songs in Dhurga language and is led by renowned Walbunga/Ngarigo artist, Cheryl Davison.
Yuin people were often multi-lingual, speaking and understanding languages of neighbouring and visiting groups. Dhurga was spoken and understood by many within the 13 tribes of the Yuin Nation. It was the dominant tongue of the Walbunga people of the Broulee region and the Brindja Yuin people of Moruya.
The choir emerged as a mechanism to revitalise language through song, following a unique pedagogy established by Westpac scholar, Dr Lou Bennett AM. The community led project, supported by Dr Lou Bennett was initially funded by the National Museum of Australia and Four Winds, Bermagui.
The choir has gone from strength to strength and is continually requested to perform at local and national events. In 2021 they performed at the Easter Four Winds Festival to great acclaim, and to a sold-out show at the National Museum of Australia.
