Mark Smith and Dr Charmaine Green’s short but potent video about Aboriginal help building Geraldton Cathedral

A Yamatji mother and son have collaborated in a new video linked to an exhibition travelling across regional WA, aimed at preserving culture and sharing stories for future generations.

The Alternative Archive video celebrates inter-generational storytelling with two local artists, mother and son Badimaya-Wajarri woman Dr Charmaine Green and Wajarri-Badimaya-Maori man Mark Smith, who discuss the importance of sharing information between families.

The video talks about challenging the myths surrounding architect Monsignor John Hawes and seeks to acknowledge Aboriginal people who assisted in building edifices across the Mid West, including the St Francis Xavier Cathedral.

The ART ON THE MOVE video is tied to the touring exhibition The Alternative Archives, which features artwork from Smith and Dr Green titled Unravelling Archives 1.

The Alternative Archive exhibition was held in Geraldton during NAIDOC Week until September 4 last year, exposing more than 200 regional artists in WA.

Smith said his mother was a library of knowledge and it was important families shared their history for future generations.

“Your uncle, aunty, pop or nana, they’re archives themselves,” he said.

Smith said he didn’t know why, but the Cathedral was built on an old Aboriginal reserve and “Yamatji mob were involved in the construction of it”.

“The video is showing that our Yamatji mob are visible and were present throughout the time and still are now,” he said.

Smith said he was working on future art projects with his mother during regular meets.

“I’m not in the same sort of league as her, but I’m doing some work now, other paintings and stuff. We talk most mornings and catch up for coffees every second or third day,” he said.

The exhibition travels around the State and is currently in Kalgoorlie. To view the video, visit the ART ON THE MOVE Facebook page.