Tasmanian Aboriginal community’s connection to Sea Country showcased in landmark Maritime Centre exhibition

Callan Morse Published September 11, 2024 at 12.00pm (AWST)

history

Devonport's Bass Strait Maritime Centre is set to unveil the Our First Mariners – Sea Country People exhibition on Thursday. (Image: Bob Idon)

A landmark exhibition showcasing the maritime history of Tasmania's Aboriginal community is set to be unveiled in the state's north west.

The Our First Mariners – Sea Country People exhibition, launching at Devonport's Bass Strait Maritime Centre this week, highlights the profound connection between Tasmania's First Nations people and surrounding waterways.

Offering visitors an immersive look into the rich seafaring traditions of Tasmanian Aboriginal culture, the exhibition also provides an educational opportunity for visitors to deepen their understanding of the Tasmania's palawa and pakana peoples' enduring relationship with the state's marine environment.

The exhibition features a paperbark ningher (canoe) handcrafted by Uncle Rex Greeno, a master canoe maker and respected Tasmanian Aboriginal Elder, the piece sharing generations of boat-building knowledge and the innovation and expertise of Tasmania's earliest maritime communities.

A handcrafted canoe by Uncle Rex Greeno features in the exhibition. (Image: National Museum of Australia)

Also included in the exhibition are two traditional shell necklaces made by the esteemed Aunty Lola Greeno, a Tasmanian cultural practitioner renowned for preserving First Nations artistry through traditional techniques.

A personal narrative of Aboriginal maritime life through a short film featuring Dave mangenner Gough can also be viewed by visitors to the Maritime Centre's newest permanent exhibition.

The film includes Gough, a local Aboriginal Elder, recounting his family's connection with the Mersey River and Bass Strait.

A film featuring cultural practitioner Dave mangenner Gough's family connection to the Mersey River and Bass Strait features in the new exhibition. (Image: Paul Scambler/The Advocate)

Bass Strait Maritime Centre museum coordinator, Joanna Gair spearheaded the project. She said it was an honour to present Our First Mariners to the community.

"This exhibition is a tribute to the deep and enduring bond between the Tasmanian Aboriginal community and the maritime environment," Gair said.

"We are proud to exhibit these pieces, they form an essential part of our shared history and identity."

The exhibition was made possible through the support of Sydney's National Maritime Museum, the Devonport City Council and TasPorts.

The official public launch of Our First Mariners – Sea Country People will take place on Thursday 12 September and will be open for public viewing from Friday 13 September.