Murrudha: Sovereign walks - tracking cultural actions through art, Country, language, and music - Track #14

Murrudha: Sovereign Walks – Track #14 is the fourteenth outcome associated with the ANU Indigenous Health and Wellbeing Grand Challenge project "Murrudha: Sovereign Walks – tracking cultural actions through art, Country, language and music".

Murrudha: Sovereign Walks – Track #14  has been led by Professor Brenda L Croft (School of Art and Design, College of Arts and Social Sciences) and Professor Jamie Pittock (Fenner School of Environment and Society, College of Systems and Society) since 2020. This project collaborates the First Nations communities of Dhurga-Yuin, Ngambri, Meneroo-Ngarigo, Ngunnawal, High Country, Walgalu, Wiradyuri from Brungle, Canberra, Cowra, Gundagai, La Perouse, South Coast, Sydney, Tumut, Yass, Young and surrounding regions.

A key element of Murrudha: Sovereign Walks – Track #14  is honouring the sovereign walk by Wiradyuri walamira (clevermen) Nangar (c. 1848–1927) also known as Jimmy Clements, and Ooloogan (c. 1840–1928) also known as George John Noble and Marvellous, who together undertook a three-day, 93-mile (150-kilometre) trek from Brungle Station (also known as Brungle Community) across the Brindabella Range to Canberra in early May 1927.

Departing from Brungle Community, nestled between Gundagai and Tumut on Walgalu/Wiradyuri Country, the two walamira journeyed across the mountain range in order to be present for the official opening of the new federal Parliament House on 9 and 10 May on Ngambri/Ngunawal homelands in the recently established national capital, Canberra. Contemporary press clippings acknowledge their participation as defending their sovereign rights to their traditional Country.

Thus far, the Murrudha team and First Nations community members have undertaken two test walks determining Nangar and Ooloogan’s route, with a final test walk undertaken for the 99th anniversary in May 2026.

Murrudha: Sovereign Walks – Track #14 will showcase creative-led research in progress from 2020 to 2026, including audio-visual documentation of annual outcomes over the past six years, alongside creative works by a number of First Nations and non-Indigenous artists associated with the project throughout that time. Public programs will include artist, project lead and community participants presentations, including a performance by Djinama Yilaga.

Watch the Audio Visual Documentation from the exhibition below.

Murrudha: Sovereign Walks Projects 2020

• Murrudha: Sovereign walks - tracking cultural actions through art, Country, language, and music - Track #14 video pitch for ANU Indigenous Health and Wellbeing Grand Challenges Scheme
• Aunty Bronwyn Penrith (Wiradyuri) Naabámi photoshoot, ANU School of Art and Design Photostudio, 2019
• Dr Aunty Matilda House (Ngambri/Wiradyuri), video pitch extended statement
• First Test Walk, Brungle to Uriarra/ACT Border, 15 – 19 November 2020. Participants: Brungle, Ngambri/Kambri community members – Shane Herrington, Marli Hartshorn, Wayne Freeman, Will Freeman; ANU – Professor Ray Lovett, Professor Brenda L Croft, Dave Johnston, Sam Provost, Aidan Hartshorn, Emily Fishpool, Maeve Powell; and Billy Tompkins
• Interviews with Bugang Bila Rangers (formerly Brungle Tumut Local Aboriginal Land Council Rangers), Final Brungle to Canberra Test Walk 8 May 2026. Rangers: Christabelle, Daniel Thomas Little, Megan Considine, Nathaniel Jackson, Ruben Russell, Uncle Rodney Penrith

First Nations Community Workshops - Murrudha: Sovereign Walks (Track #4)

School of Music ANU, 20 – 22 November 2023

• Oral Histories: Ooloogan (George John Noble family) Participants: Cheryl Spencer and Wendy Bunn, 20-23 November 2023
• The High Country Language of Southeastern Australia: Historical Sources Dr Harold Koch, 22 November 2023
• Oral Histories:Nangar (Jimmy Clements family) Participants: Dr Lois Peeler AM and Professor Julie Andrews OAM, 20-23 November 2023
• Healing Country Through Wolgalu/Wiradyuri-led Land Management Participants: Associate Professor Lisa Slater (University of Wollongong), Megan Considine and Jarrah Bousfield (Brungle Tumut Local Aboriginal Land Council Rangers, NSW Department of Climate Changes, Energy, Environment and Water, NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure), 21 November 2023
• Oral Histories Participants: Aunty Sue Bulger and Aunty Soni Piper, 20-23 November 2023
• Scientific Perspective on Feral Horses in Kosciuszko National Park Professor Jamie Pittock, 22 November 2023

Joint Symposium 

Murrudha: Sovereign Walks (Track #3) 
and 
Still in my mind: Gurindji location, experience and visuality

• Introduction Paul Girrawah House, Professor Brenda L Croft, Drill Hall Gallery ANU, 13 December 2022
• Plenary session – Sovereign actions, diverse reflections, past & present. Participants: Dr Lois Peeler AM, Jim Everett-puralia meenamatta, Professor Valerie Cooms (ANU), Dr Aunty Matilda House, Drill Hall Gallery ANU, 13 December 2022
• Brungle Community – Cultural Continuity and connections. Dr Jilda Andrews, Dean Freeman, Aunty Phyllis Freeman, Dr Lois Peeler AM, Aunty Bronwyn Penrith, Aunty Sue Bulger, Aunty Coral Bulger, Drill Hall Gallery ANU, 13 December 2022
• Caring for Country, Culture, Collections & People – Ancestral obligations. Professor Jamie Pittock, Leah House, Aidan Hartshorn, Dean Freeman, Dr Jilda Andrews, Shane Herrington, Drill Hall Gallery ANU, 13 December 2022
• Q + A with Kev Carmody and others: Oral history storytelling through song and language. Professor Brenda L Croft, Brenda Gifford, Will Kepa, Kev Carmody, ANU School of Music, 14 December 2022
• Collaborative partnerships: Artists, art centres, communities, universities – creative-led research. Professor Brenda L Croft, Ishmahl Peltharre Palmer, Justin Paddy Japarta, Timothy Donald Japarta, Penny Smith, Manager, Karungkarni Art and Culture Centre, Professor Felicity Meakins (UQ), Daniel Kngwarray Palmer, Drill Hall Gallery ANU, 14 December 2022
• 1966 – 2022 Recollection from the Walk-Off journey to now – freedom? Professor Brenda L Croft, Kerry Gibbs, Dr Lyn Riddett, Dr Hannah Middleton, Maurie Ryan Japarta, Josie Crawshaw, Drill Hall Gallery ANU, 14 December 2022
• Closing overview Professor Brenda L Croft, Professor Felicity Meakins (UQ), Penny Smith, Karungkarni Art and Culture, Drill Hall Gallery ANU, 14 December 2022 

Murrudha: Sovereign Walks Projects 2024-26

• Murrudha: Sovereign Walks – Track #5
• Naabámi (thou shall/will see): Barangaroo (army of me) public programs, NAIDOC Week, Embassy of Australia, Washington DC, USA, 9 July 2024
  • Honouring Ancestors – Elders and Rising Leaders Participants: Ian Gerard, Minister Counsellor Strategic Communications, Professor Brenda L Croft, Dr Aunty Matilda House, Aunty Bronwyn Penrith, Sasha Croft, Leah House.
  • Djinama Yilaga Participants: Iris White, Maria Walker, Michelle Davison; Ngarra Burria Composer/Musician Brenda Gifford.
• Murrudha: Sovereign Walks – Track #13. FUTURE COUNTRY: Country Road + NGV First Nations Commissions 2026. Paul Girrawah House (artist), Professor Brenda L Croft (mentor), with support from National Gallery of Victoria, Strathnairn Arts, artsACT, Alex Kosmas.
• Murrudha: Sovereign Walks – Track #10. ON COUNTRY: Photography from Australia, in ARLES Les Rencontres de la Photographie, France, July - September 2025. Participants: ANU - Professor Brenda L Croft, Paul Girrawah House, Will Kepa, Monika Duggan, Terry Cleary; Djinama Yilaga – Iris Walker, Cheryl Davison, Michelle Davison, Kobi Davison, Maria Walker; NGA - Shane Nelson, 8 July 2025.