There are four sides to this football, each representing important aspects of our survival:
SHIELD – Represents our people’s strength in keeping our culture and pride alive despite all the obstacles we and our ancestors have faced.
STARS – Used by Aboriginal people to navigate through the land. The stars also hold dreamtime stories. I believe they are also our ancestors watching over us.
WATER – IS LIFE. The animals and our mob drank from waterholes, swam in creeks, lakes and waterfalls, travelled/journeyed on canoes through rivers and on ocean water. Clean water is critical for our health and the land.
LAND – The Original people/ancestors lived in balance and harmony with the land for thousands of years, travelling long distances on foot, hunting and gathering for their tribes. They always gave respect to the land so that the land in return looked after us.
When we feel confused or detached we can always sit and heal ourselves on the land beneath us, reconnecting with our ancestors and nature. The land lets us know that we’re not alone. It gives us power, guidance, grounding, reassurance. The land has always and will always be here for us. It is the true medicine.
Meikim Cole
Meikim Cole, also known as Mim, is a Larrakia, Wardaman and Karajarri multi-talented, self-taught artist from Darwin, NT. Mim has been creating art since her teens, drawing on the talent and experience of her large artistic family, especially her mother, Danella Lee. Her practice holds a strong connectivity to identity, family, country, nature and Community. Mim enjoys pushing the boundaries of her arts practice using a vibrant colour palette and creating movement expression in each painting, and in her design business Mimmim.