2026 Yumi Olgeta Cultural Exchange Quilt Project: Crafting a more inclusive democracy
Description
The Final workshop:
Yumi Olgeta: Crafting a More Inclusive Democracy!
Join us for a special and celebratory final workshop as we complete our second Yumi Olgeta: Crafting a More Inclusive Democracy quilt. We warmly invite you, and anyone you would like to bring, to share in this exciting finale of our collective journey toward healing and greater understanding.
For those who joined us last year with the Ni-Vanuatu Women’s HandiKraft kastom weavers, you will now see their beautiful woven border displayed, which will be incorporated into the quilt.
Lead craftivist Helen Fraser will guide participants in completing a finished tree, eel or colonial building motif during this hands-on workshop.
Completed motifs can be donated to help finalise our second community quilt. Helen will also showcase the quilt’s current progress as we work towards our goal of completing the project by the end of June 2026, when all individual motifs will be brought together into a unified artwork.
If you have completed or unfinished motifs, please bring them along on the day. This project is a living, inclusive narrative that grows through community stories and ongoing participation. If you haven’t finished your block but still wish to contribute, you can send it in later to Helen Fraser, P O Box 36, Gisborne 3437, Australia. If it arrives too late for this quilt, it will be included in our third quilt. Every donated block will find a place, and we deeply appreciate your continued support.
On the day, Aboriginal weaver Aunty Karleen Green will make a deeply personal final contribution, sharing her own family Blackbirding story through kastom weaving as a lasting element of the quilt.
We are honoured to welcome historian Dr Dashiell Moore (University of Sydney), who will provide a brief historical context, speaking about Benjamin Boyd, Boydtown and early Pacific labour recruitment, helping situate community memory within Australia’s broader national story.
Supported by the City of Sydney Creative Grants Program, the Vanuatu Government and Multicultural NSW, the project is presented by Australian South Sea Islanders (Port Jackson) in partnership with the Chau Chak Wing Museum, University of Sydney. Together we are creating a collaborative cultural artwork that honours shared histories, creativity, connection and understanding.
We look forward to sharing this meaningful moment with you.
Our 2nd Quilt
watch highlight video from the last workshophttps://youtube.com/shorts/lcmm9V4hZXc?feature=share
Workshop 3: FACE-TO-FACE
Date/Day: 14th March 2026, Saturday / Afternoon
Time: 12 noon til 3:00 pm
Venue: Chau Chak Wing Museum, USYD,
Location (map) - Chau Chak Wing Museum, University of Sydney, University Place, directly across from the Great Hall and Quadrangle lawns. Click HERE for directions:
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GUEST SPEAKER:
Dr Dashiell Moore is an ARC DECRA Fellow in English at the University of Sydney whose research focuses on world literature, island studies and postcolonial history across Australia and Oceania. His current work examines colonial labour systems and the “archipelago” connections linking convictism, indenture and Pacific mobility, helping reinterpret how Australia remembers plantation labour and displacement.
In his presentation, he will discuss Sydney's involvement in blackbirding and how it was represented then and since.
He will focus particularly on the history surrounding Benjamin (Ben) Boyd and Boydtown, where Pacific Islanders were brought to Australia in the 1840s as labourers, an early precursor to the later blackbirding trade affecting Australian South Sea Islander ancestors. Moore’s research offersa historical context that centres ASSI memory, recognition and truth-telling within Australia’s national story.
MEET YOUR CRAFTIVISTS
Stitching for Change: Helen Fraser Leads Yumi Olgeta in Crafting a More Inclusive Democracy Through Art and Awareness!
More about Artist Helen Fraser
Weaving Heritage: Aunty Karleen Green Inspires Through Aboriginal Traditional Weaving Workshops, Preserving Culture and Knowledge Across Generations!
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Why You Should Join Us:
"Be a part of something great that leaves your mark on the world in a powerful statement! We can't change the past, but we can unite as one into the future"
- Craft Connections: Engage in hands-on embroidery/quilting sessions led by expert instructors, learn about Ni Vanuatu traditional pandanus and Aboriginal weaving techniques, with an option to share your own skills with others.
- Explore Our History: Dive into the shared narrative of Blackbirding, enriched by the voices of those who lived through this pivotal era that shaped the sugar industry in Australia.
- Build Community: Experience the joy of collaboration as you meet new friends and neighbours, all united by a common goal of storytelling and artistry.
- Celebrate Diversity: This project is a melting pot of cultures, including Australian South Sea Islander, Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, Indian, Chinese, Ni Vanuatu, and Pacific and broader communities, all coming together in a spirit of inclusivity and respect.
- Gain Insight: Participate in open dialogues that honour the lived experiences of those affected by forced migration, fostering understanding and healing within our community.
- Breaking Bread Together: Sharing light refreshments during our workshops is more than just a meal; it’s a ritual of connection that fosters relationships that extend beyond the quilting project.
- Musical Moments: Immerse yourself in the rhythm of our community as local artists serenade us with their songs. The melodies will enhance our shared meals, creating an atmosphere that uplifts our spirits and strengthens our bonds.
Download free instruction booklet:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bDAg5_hs84j65HXPwluPGGAZxQS9W71I/view?usp=sharing
Empowering Change: Waskam Emelda Davis, Trailblazing Founder of Australian South Sea Islanders (Port Jackson), Champions Community Voices and Social Justice!
Read bios via the link below and ....
Say hello to your national board for ....
AUSTRALIAN SOUTH SEA ISLANDERS
Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity
