MURRABIT GUNYAH WOKA
Cultural Immersion on Yorta Yorta country with Dylan Charles

In Aboriginal cultural traditions, knowledge is sacred and is passed on in whispers.

Murrabit Gunyah Woka means to whisper and educate on country.

This cultural immersion with Yorta Yorta artist and cultural educator Dylan Charles, is a rare opportunity to walk alongside and learn about the traditional ways of life of his ancestors, the Yorta Yorta people.

The session is for the broader community and visitors to the region to connect with and learn about local First Peoples history and traditional knowledge of country.

Participants will also be introduced to Kaiela Arts gallery and studio and have a unique opportunity to experience and learn about art in the Southern Eastern regions of Australia.

Included in the experience:

Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony
Cultural education walk along the lake and river (approximately 1km along an accessible path)
Kaiela Arts gallery talk

Please note this cultural immersion is not suitable for children under 18 years of age as some sensitive topics and history will be discussed.

About Dylan 'Djunda' Charles
Dylan J Charles is a proud Yorta Yorta/ Boonwurrung / Wurundjeri/ Pangerang man. Dylan started painting over 7 years ago at an Aboriginal men’s cultural healing centre located in Gippsland on Gunai Kurnai Country called ‘Wulgunggo Ngalu’.

He went on to study visual arts at GOTAFE Shepparton completing Certificate in Visual Arts and is now a key artist at Kaiela Arts, as well being employed as a Cultural Heritage Field Officer for Yorta Yorta Nations Aboriginal Corporation.

Dylan's style of painting has evolved from contemporary Aboriginal art to a more traditional style that represents the Yorta Yorta people and features the ‘raak’ cross hatching style and ‘x-ray’ linear design.

Dylan has spent signficant time with elders on his Country studying the true history and traditional knowledge of the Yorta Yorta people. He is an emerging ‘painter keeper’ and ‘passer of sacred knowledge’ a ‘storyteller’ and ‘historian of the traditional life’ with a dillybag of important sacred knowledge to pass on to future generations.

Header image: Dylan Charles
Photography: Max Orter