Benalla - Lotpatj Natjan Danak Sculpture Walk
Lotjpatj Natjan Danak is a creation of cultural works that represent Ancestors; totems and special places; spirituality; ceremonies and cultural practices; histories and knowledge systems; ecology and seasons; plants; insects; birds and animals; rivers; creeks; sky stories and ancient creations.
These works have been created by 15 Yorta Yorta artists to share stories of their living culture.
This is an all-abilities walk across a flat gravel path.
Walk distance: 950m on a loop path
Time to walk: 15 minutes at an easy walking pace
Download Sculpture Walk Brochure
Artworks
1. Rainbow Serpent by Ollie Patton
This is the story told to me by my family about the Rainbow Serpent which started off from the mountains in Victoria and travelled all the way down to South Australia. He was the Creator of the rivers, creeks and lakes. On his way he made indentations on the land so when it rained it followed the indentations and so created the rivers and lakes . On its way it gave life to the land and to the people and animals. His name is Dunatpan in the Yorta Yorta language.
2. Walkabout Family by Joey Beckhurst
The walkabout family is about men and women's business around Lake Mokoan (Winton Wetlands). Boomer is representing our men gathering for men's business. It is also representing them hunting and gathering food for their tribes. Doe is representing our women gathering for women's business and it is also representing them gathering plants and seeds for their tribe's food.
3. dhuma nhanha woka biganga (wise woman of the land possum skin cloak) by Treahna Hamm
Across the wetlands, possum skin cloaks were worn by traditional Yorta Yorta people from infancy to old people, as today.
The designs represent cultural knowledge passed from one generation to the next - stories based deeply on spiritual and cultural connection to country, community, sky, water, wildlife in realms far above and below the surface.
The light within the interior of the possum skin cloak symbolises this strong bond Yorta Yorta people feel from the souls of our feet expanding deep into the sky where stories of our creation ancestors have informed our identity and relationships to our clan, totems, community and landscape.
The possum cloak is dedicated to 'mother creator and spirit' who has fed and guided my people as we walk our ancestor's paths upon this woka (land) of the wetlands.
4. Burnanga by Glennys Briggs
Burnanga (Cod) is an iconic fish from Dungula (Murray) River and it is told in a Yorta Yorta Dreamtime story that the mighty Burnanga was one of the creation beings who created Dungula.
5. Connection by Keneisha Howell
I'm so excited to be part of this project, it has helped me further connect to my country and the animals we share this space with. It has also helped me expand on the styles of art that I do. Before working on this project I would mostly photograph families and events but after working on this it has me thinking about what else I can do in the future.
6. Bunyman wokin mukuga (made from country reeds) by Denise Morgan-Bulled
I weave because it is my way of connecting to a craft that was done for survival by my Yorta Yorta ancestors. I also weave for the calmness it gives me, and the happiness I feel upon completing a basket. When possible I use one of the rushes that grows in our bushland, but recently I have had to use other types of material to weave with.
Our Elders used what Mother Nature provided for them. All material used was from the surrounding area. The amount of material used was monitored, only what you needed, what taken from the land. The lands health is significant, not only for the lands survival but also the peoples.
I want to continue this craft and knowledge about the material used from the land, and pass it on and have weavers for generations to come.
7. Youth of the Yorta Yorta People by Jack Anselmi
The long neck turtle is our totem. I've been sculpting and carving wood for a long time. I bring the wood to life, changing it to tell a story.
8. Yorta Yorta by Coree Thorpe
This artwork that I've designed for the Winton Wetlands Project is a representation of YORTA YORTA Country. The Dungala and Kaiela rivers that flow through our country have sustained Yorta Yorta people for thousands of generations and is so important to our mob.
9. Animals of the Wetlands by Amy Briggs, Cynthia Hardie, Laurel Robinson
The artwork of these three respected Elders is transformed into a floor piece showing some of the animals who call the Winton Wetlands home.
10. Galnyen yakurrurndla yenbena (come and respect family ancestors) by Treahna Hamm
Galnyen yakurrumdja yenbena - come and respect family ancestors
11. Duduroa Dhargal by Tamara Murray
The turtle is a totem of my people. This large sculpture overlooking the water represents the history, present and future of the Yorta Yorta people.
Each shell segment is engraved with a different image, showing the many different stories and experiences of our ancestors that have led us to be the proud people we are today.
12. Mia Mia by Jesse Cooper
I researched the Mia Mia by speaking to elders about what materials our ancestors would have used in the area. I also went back in my memory remembering how my father (Wally Cooper) taught me how to make Mia Mias when I was a kid in the bush.
This project is very special to me as I can thank my elders for their teaching through my welding trade.
The Mia Mia to me represents a place of family gathering , shelter and a safe place.
I would like people using the Mia Mia to feel a sense of connection to the land as us aboriginal people do.
13. Yakapna by Vera Cooper
These pieces are called Yakapna, meaning family in Yorta Yorta language.
14. Journey of Love by Cilla Atkinson
The lizard represents a spiritual journey of love and protection for its young. The connection to land and country is signified by the markings fo the mother. Then passed down to continue the journey.
Photos:
Location
652 Lake Mokoan Road, Winton North 3673 Map
Web Links
→ wintonwetlands.org.au/sculpturewalk
