Meredith Arkwookerum

I was born in Aurukun during the mission days in 1958. I did my early schooling at Aurukun school and my secondary schooling at Charters Towers and Warrick. After finishing school, I attended a Women’s Conference in Darwin with an elder from Aurukun. As a young adult I worked the Aurukun Mission office as an office assistant and later at Aurukun Community Incorporate on the checkout in the shop. I eventually went to work as teacher aide in Aurukun and in Pormpuraaw. I did my teachers aide training at TAFE in Cairns.  I have undertaken tertiary studies at Batchelor University in the Northern Territory. I am a linguist and speak two first nation languages as well as English.   I have one daughter, six grandchildren and six great grandchildren. Family is very important to me.

I love dancing. My father was a clan leader for the Wanam clan group. My father was an important man and traveling to Fiji and other places performing traditional dance where he got to dance with other groups of First Nations people. My father taught me to dance. When I am dancing, I am happy and proud.  I am an elder and continue to dance and pass our traditional dances on to our young people.

Art brings me happiness. It is my cultural identity, where I belong. I draw on my cultural totems and stories when making my art. I like to create pieces that reflect our culture and bring happiness.

I enjoy coming to our art centre to work with other artists and share our ideas. We are supportive of each other creations and work as a team. We work in an appropriately cultural way with respect, love and care while sharing our ideas.

Winner best emerging artist Cairns Indigenous Art Fair 2020