Elders Digital Stories: Maintaining oral histories

Elders Digital Stories involved young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men and women from BoysTown’s Stepin Up Program in creating a DVD documenting the stories of highly respected Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders – Uncle Steve Mam, Aunty Bertha Stewart, Uncle Norm Clarke, and Aunty Lenise Schloss.

The project aimed to encourage intergenerational dialogue, maintain traditional storytelling and oral histories as well as offering Indigenous young people skills in photography, visual arts, sound and video production.

Additionally, young people gained self-confidence and a stronger understanding of their cultural identity by building relationships with the Elders.

Elders Digital Stories was coordinated by SpeakOut Connect and funded by Arts Queensland, The Foundation for Young Australians, Youth Arts Queensland and Pam Byde Bequest.

SpeakOut acknowledges the support of Boystown, Kuril Dhagun Indigenous Knowledge Centre, Yugambeh Community Centre and the Aboriginal and Islander Medical Service.