As the original inhabitants of Australia, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people form the core of our cultural identity. Despite this, Indigenous Australians are considered one of the most vulnerable groups in society.
In 2010, CCAB (CorporateConnect.AB) was established by the David Liddiard Group to close the gap in Indigenous disadvantage and increase the economic independence of communities. One of the key focuses is to increase the amount of Indigenous-owned business products in corporate supply chains – helping to boost community employment rates.
One of CCAB’s developmental strategies is the ‘Coffee Cup Initiative’ – an effort to raise awareness and understanding of Indigenous culture and contemporary issues by using an everyday object. The initiative sees disposable coffee cups printed with Indigenous designs as a conversation starter to spread the word about supplier diversity and encourage corporations to engage with Indigenous business and communities.
Part of the Sustain Indigenous range includes designs by artist Russell ‘Yilamara’ Brown.
Brown is a contemporary Indigenous artist whose family is connected to the Roper Gulf area of the Northern Territory. During WW2 his family was taken from their Country to the Emerald River Mission and later relocated to Mulgoa Mission on the outskirts of Sydney, where they eventually settled on the Upper North Shore. His art style was passed down to him from his family and consists of their lived experiences and cultural heritage.
Today, only 120 of the estimated 250 original Indigenous Australian language groups are still spoken. Preserving culture is a key aspect of today’s Indigenous art and one Brown is passionate about.
“Language is intrinsic to our being, it is the basis of one’s stories, Songlines, the place where we fit within our group and community, our connection to Country and our identity,” he says. “Preserving, reviving and strengthening our culture and language through art is essential to our identity and wellbeing.”
