City welcomes award for Indigenous leader

The City of Sydney has congratulated Wiradjuri curator Emily McDaniel for winning an inaugural Committee for Sydney award for up and coming leaders. The Sydney Awards celebrate people whose efforts make the city special and were announced today.

Emily McDaniel was nominated by the City for Yananurala, a new nine-kilometre walk highlighting Sydney’s Aboriginal history and culture through the use of curated artworks and installations from Woolloomooloo to Pirrama (Pyrmont).

“Emily has curated a powerful and evocative journey along the harbour foreshore that brings a rich diversity of Aboriginal voices and stories to life, and to the fore,” Lord Mayor Clover Moore said.

“Her sensitive, thoughtful curation ensures Yananurala respectfully celebrates in a visible and tangible way the history and presence here of the world’s oldest living culture.

“The result will be a transformative experience for locals and visitors, featuring public art and installations at significant harbourside locations to tell a story of culture, strength, survival and continuity.

“We look forward to continuing to work with local Indigenous communities and businesses and hearing the many important stories that will inform this exciting project as it is developed over the coming years.”

Yananurala translates to Walking on Country and will share these Aboriginal perspectives and stories through a series of artworks and installations. Signposts will be installed in coming months, with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and designers invited to create the first series of audio and text-based installations early next year.

Guided by the City’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander panel, the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council has also provided advice and support on the walk’s planned projects. NSW Government agencies and cultural institutions will assist in its implementation.

Yananurala is part of the public art component of the City’s Eora Journey curated by Hetti Perkins to honour the heritage and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the public domain.

Read more about Yananurala and listen to Emily McDaniel describe the walk here. Visit sydneybarani.com.au for more on the Aboriginal history of Sydney.

For media enquiries or images, phone Roxanne Macara (0438 554 640) or Diana Kosanovic (0448 005 718) or email [email protected]

For interviews with Lord Mayor Clover Moore contact Trisha Croaker (0418397462).