A respected indigenous elder once gave Ken Duncan a precious key to understanding people: “If you really want to know someone, you need to walk a while with them.”
Ken Duncan first visited the remote Ikuntji community near Haasts Bluff in central Australia in 2000. He soon realised that these people – especially the youth – had little access to the technology most artists take for granted. Wantin
g to help, Ken launched an initiative called Walk a While. Its mission is to walk alongside the indigenous people of central Australia, using the creative arts as common ground, to provide youth with equipment and skills so they are empowered to tell their stories. We often tend to look to government to bring about unity and reconciliation, but that only increases the likelihood of the process becoming polarised and more bureaucratic. Politics won’t bring unity to our nation – it will only happen through people who demonstrate and drive reconciliation. It will be a great day when we all learn to walk a while together in this beautiful country we call home. Initially Walk a While focused on photography, video and music and, with contribution from some of Australia’s finest artists, the project quickly gained momentum. Central to the plan is to show our indigenous friends how a living can be made from the arts. This way, they will begin to see wider choices for their future and free themselves from the cycle of government aid, which erodes identity and self-respect. Until now, Walk a While teams have been taking their own equipment when visiting the community. But when the team leaves, so does the technology. The immediate goal is to secure a permanent building for an Arts Centre, to house instructors and equipment and to provide a base for training in a variety of creative arts, including photography, cinematography, music, website development and design. There are people ready to man the centre and generous suppliers prepared to donate equipment, technology and software. Walk a While is now listed in the Australian Register of Cultural Organisations and is able to receive tax-deductible donations for its core objects – establishing and running a centre for creative arts. The organisation is extremely thankful for the commitment of the Honourable Alison Anderson, MLA, and her chief adviser, Kelvin McCann, who are helping Walk a While secure its permanent home.
