NEWMAN'S NEXT GENERATION FINDS ITS VOICE WITH BARKAA AND DALLAS WOODS
By Lynnese O’Donoghue
Young people in Newman have written songs, recorded music and stepped in front of the camera during a powerful creative program led by Newman Women’s Shelter and supported by acclaimed First Nations artists BARKAA and Dallas Woods.
Barkaa performing for the youth of Newman
Music, laughter and big dreams filled Newman as young people came together for the NAIDOC Next Gen program — an initiative giving local children the chance to create, perform and tell their own stories.
Delivered by Newman Women’s Shelter, the program included songwriting, recording, music video production and creative workshops, before culminating in a community celebration featuring Malyangapa and Barkindji rapper BARKAA and Wyndham-born artist Dallas Woods.
For Newman Women’s Shelter chief executive Arina Aiona, the program was about much more than entertainment.
It was about helping young people recognise their talents, build confidence and imagine a future beyond the challenges they may currently face.
“When we look at the young people, especially those who aren’t attending school, they’re talented, they’re skilled, they love music, they’re creative,” Ms Aiona said.
“They can dance, they can sing and all they want is a chance to be heard and seen.”
Arina Aiona yarning with Ngaarda Media about the event and all the efforts for her team at NWS.
Building positive memories
Ms Aiona has worked in community services for more than four decades and previously spent seven years working with a remote Aboriginal community.
She said early intervention and prevention were essential to strengthening families and supporting children before they reached a crisis point.
Newman Women’s Shelter is a specialist family and domestic violence service providing crisis accommodation, transitional housing and family support.
It also delivers the Martu Night Patrol every night of the year, youth mentoring and school holiday activities, emergency food relief and home deliveries for Elders and other residents unable to reach its community programs.
Ms Aiona said creative events were another important part of that work because they gave children opportunities to build positive memories while bringing families and cultures together.
“This sort of event helps build bridges between the different groups and different cultures,” she said.
“It’s going to build on the children’s happy memory banks, and their parents are incredibly proud.”
The shelter holds a major youth event every two years, with the team needing time to recover from the enormous effort involved in organising each program.
But seeing young people discover what they are capable of makes that work worthwhile.
“We get to engage with a lot of young people and show them, ‘This is your potential. This is what can happen,’” Ms Aiona said.
“All they want is a chance to be heard and seen.” — Arina Aiona
Kids of Newman enjoying the show
BARKAA encourages young people to dream big
BARKAA travelled to Newman after hearing that local children wanted her to join them and help create a song.
She said working directly with community and encouraging young people was one of the most meaningful parts of being an artist.
“I love rap and I love big festivals, but being able to do community shows and be with mob is everything,” she said.
“Being able to give back and plant seeds in the babies — being able to show them they can be whatever they want to be.
“If they want to be rappers, singers or filmmakers, they can do it.”
Barkaa performing for the kids in Nyuburu Town (Newman)
BARKAA said programs such as Next Gen gave young First Nations people something she would have valued while growing up — the chance to see themselves represented in music and other creative industries.
She said young people often approached her after performances and told her they wanted to follow in her footsteps.
“I always say to them, ‘Babies, you’re going to be better than me. I hope you’re better than me,’” she said.
“We’re kicking down the doors for these kids because you can’t be what you can’t see.”
BARKAA also treated the Ngardaa Media’s audience to an acappella preview of new music, delivering a verse celebrating Country, family, Elders and resilience.
Barkaa with Ngaarda Media’s Broadcaster, Lynnese O’Donoghue
“Being able to give back and plant seeds in the babies is everything.” — BARKAA
A young BARKAA fan takes the stage
Nikia said his favourite moment came when BARKAA performed her track King Brown, sparking a boys-versus-girls dancing competition.
“The best thing was when I saw BARKAA,” he said.
“Everyone started dancing. We all got in a line for a boys-versus-girls dancing competition.”
Nikia said he had been excited to see the award-winning rapper perform for the first time and ran straight to the event when he heard she would be appearing.
“I didn’t worry about anything else,” he said.
“I came over here, sat down and enjoyed the music.”
He said bringing major artists to Newman gave young people something positive and exciting to be part of.
“It’s good that they brought her here so the kids can come down, sit down and watch,” he said.
Nikia also took part in the creative workshops, where young people were able to write lyrics, record songs and produce a music video.
He said being involved made him feel good and gave him the chance to enjoy himself with other young people.
After dancing alongside Dallas Woods and watching BARKAA perform, Nikia said he was now thinking about becoming a rapper and performer himself.
“I’m singing next,” he said.
“I came over here, sat down and enjoyed the music.” — Nikia Ryder
Creative freedom and honest storytelling
For Dallas Woods, returning to regional Western Australia and working with young people who shared similar experiences to his own was deeply personal.
The East Kimberley artist said he understood what it was like to grow up outside a major city with limited access to professional equipment, mentors and creative opportunities.
He said the Next Gen program brought those resources directly to the young people who needed them.
“I was very lucky to be part of programs like this when I was younger,” Woods said.
Dallas Woods, Wyndham-Born Artist
“I know what type of inspiration it gives to the kids.”
Woods said creative spaces gave young people freedom — not only to perform, but to write about their experiences and speak in their own voices.
“It’s being able to tell their story and not have anyone talk for them,” he said.
“They can express themselves in whatever capacity they want to.
“They can create something they can look back on and be proud of.”
Woods has spent about 16 years working with young people alongside his music career.
He said community work continued to motivate him and reminded him why he became an artist.
“Because of my success, I’m able to give back and make sure the road is a little bit easier for the next generation,” he said.
His advice to young people beginning their creative journey was simple: give it a go, ask questions and do not wait for opportunities to arrive.
“Always remember that you are amazing the way you are — strong, Black and deadly,” Woods said.
“Always look in the mirror and see absolute magic.” — Dallas Woods
Dallas Woods hyping the kids up to dance battle and show off their moves
A whole-community effort
Ms Aiona said Newman Women’s Shelter could not create lasting change alone.
She said services, businesses, families and community organisations needed to communicate, share resources and focus on the bigger picture.
“If you want to bring about change and build a strong, safe community, then you need to be working together,” she said.
The Next Gen program demonstrated what could happen when community support, professional artists and young people’s creativity came together.
Barkaa, Malyangapa and Barkindji rapper
For the children taking part, it was an opportunity to write, record, perform and be celebrated.
For Newman Women’s Shelter, it was another step towards its larger goal of building stronger families and a safer, more connected community.
Ms Aiona said young people should never allow difficult circumstances to define their future.
“When it gets really tough and you think, ‘Is this my life? Is this it?’ — it’s not,” she said.
“Always be true to your dreams, stand up for yourself and have the courage to take that first step.”