Australian First Nations singer songwriters Dr. Shellie Morris and Uncle Kutcha Edwards convey stories and songs like pebbles in a pond, rippling outward, creating connections across cultures and generations. As children, each suffered cultural isolation born of colonisation. But instead of anger and bitterness, the duo delivers messages of love, peace, freedom and justice. As individuals they have won accolades for their music and artivism representing their nation’s marginalised people. Uncle Kutcha is a survivor of the Stolen Generations, akin to Canada’s ’60s scoop. He was taken from his parents at 18 months old and spent years in government care. Edwards found solace in music. It became his vocation, first in Indigenous rock bands in the ’90s, then as a solo artist. He’s an award-winning song-keeper who has gained acclaim for sharing accounts of his life experience as well as tales of his people, the Mutti Mutti, relating their struggles and their relationship with the land. Dr Shellie Morris, who was adopted at an early age, rediscovered her Yanyuwa and Wardaman First Nations roots as a young adult. She is renowned for her poignant storytelling, infectious humour and unwavering dedication to healing through music. She creates and performs music in more than 20 First languages, many of which are considered “sleeping” or on the brink of being lost. Together they swap stories in a performance that entertains, enlightens and touches the soul in a musical partnership that stirs hope of reconciliation and truth telling.

- Eric Rosenbaum