Blak & Bright First Nations Literary Festival acknowledges the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation as the traditional custodians of the sacred lands on which we work. We pay our respects to the people of the Kulin Nations and all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders, past present and future.
We recognise all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as the first storytellers; and that knowledge transfer through storytelling is imbedded in the very DNA of this Country.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this website may contain images, voices or names of deceased persons in photographs, film, audio recordings or printed material.
Herb Patten (Ganai-Kurnai, Yorta Yorta and Wiradjuri) is a painter and gum leaf player. He is widely known throughout Australia as a professional gum leaf player and has released two CDs – How to Play the Gumleaf and Born an Aussie Son.
Patten has a Diploma in Visual Art and his painting, Five Shields, which consists of five separate objects, is in the collection of the National Gallery of Victoria.
