Bush Babies Tees - Giving Back
Bush Babies is a series of contemporary Aboriginal artworks painted by my mother in 1996 depicting some of Australia's most unique animals, which we turned into special tees.
It breaks my heart to know my totem Gindaja (gin-duh-ja in the Yidinji language), the cassowary, is endangered. In Aboriginal culture, it is our responsibility to care for and protect our totems. That is why it delights me to relaunch the Bush Babies series, so together, we can save our totems and treasured friends for generations to come.
Giving back: A portion of profits from the Bush Babies tees is donated to Rainforest Rescue and Australian Conservation Foundation to support their recovery programs.
Rainforest Rescue is partnered with Girrigun Aboriginal Corporation, helping my family members (Jirrbal) protect Gundoy (goon-doy), the cassowary and traditional lands. And, the Australian Conservation Foundation is doing incredible work to save the platypus.
I am excited our Giving Back values align with the NAIDOC 2021 theme Heal Country. Not only is Country the lifeline to our culture and identity, but it is also the lifeline for our Bush Babies to survive.
The Artist
Delphine Sarago is a descendant of the Wadjanbarra Yidinji and Jirrbal peoples, known as the Rainforest People of Far North Queensland.
The mulit-talented Delphine paints her art, signed ‘Gigorou’ (meaning beauty, referring to a woman) and has been exhibited nationally. As an illustrator of vibrant children’s storybooks, she received an award from Black Ink Press for traditional dreamtime stories Nana’s Land and Djomi Dream Child.
“The majority of my work depicts Aboriginal people in everyday life, from hunting, playing or sitting around the camp site telling stories. The life of my people is very simple but important. I like to refer to us as ‘keepers of the land’.
Understanding what nature has to offer us if we take care of our land, Country and planet inspires me to capture nature and my people in my artwork. Although my work is expressed through contemporary mediums, it possess traditional symbolism – acknowledging the past and present – that is instilled in Aboriginal culture and the way we live today,” Delphine Sarago.
