Tiffany Jones: It’s an activist act to use those texts as well … it’s where that knowledge is and where knowledge is heading, it makes ideas accessible to more people and changes the valuing process in academia.
Andrew Farrell: As a student and academic fellow I am doing my thesis by publication. While an odd path, it has given me a lot of insight into academic research. I am also doing a thesis by publication to test how I can potentially make my work more accessible as the community is largely outside of the academy. I wish to find some way to produce my work where the community is. It is not uncommon to see Indigenous LGBTIQ+ content produced online in Queer news sites, social media, and Indigenous media such as Koorimail and IndigenousX, so we need to follow the community and see what the community uses to depict themselves.
Tiffany Jones: We’ve taken so much of your time but is there anything else you wanted to say?
Andrew Farrell: I think what I wanted to emphasise is the support underpinning what I do. I think that it is important to have allies who function as ‘accomplices’; people who take risks, who use whatever is afforded them to lend a hand to others.
At Macquarie I have been given a space to expand Indigenous Queer Studies through the Indigenous Studies Department which is led by Professor Bronwyn Carlson. She has been a mentor to me for many years now. Her vision for Indigenous Studies and research is to open it up to diverse Indigenous perspectives. She wants to see Indigenous Studies expand into new and exciting territories. We have this in common.
I am ready to explore all that this future has in store. I know there will be backlash and future challenges but I also know that I have the support to be unapologetically Queer and Aboriginal.
References
Farrell, A. (2014). Archiving the Aboriginal Rainbow. Accessed on 4.1.17. Retrieved from: https://indigblackgold.wordpress.com/
Farrell, A. (2015). ‘Can You See Me? Queer Margins in Aboriginal Communities’, Journal of Global Indigeneity, 1(1). Accessed on 15.1.16. Retrieved from: http://ro.uow.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1010&context=jgi
Farrell, A. (2016). Lipstick Clapsticks: A yarn and a Kiki with an Aboriginal drag queen. AlterNative, 12(5). pp.574-585.
Farrell, A. (2017). Archiving the Aboriginal Rainbow: Building an Aboriginal LGBTIQ Portal. Australasian Journal of Information Systems, 21(1). pp.2-14.
Andrew Farrell is an Indigenous Early Career Academic Fellow in the Department for Indigenous Studies, Macquarie University. Andrew is a Wodi Wodi descendant from Jerrinja Aboriginal community on the South Coast of NSW. Their research is multidisciplinary with a focus on Aboriginal LGBTIQ gender and sexualities, media and online studies, and drag performance. Andrew is also undertaking a PhD project titled Aboriginal LGBTIQ peoples online. You can find their online blog at https://indigblackgold.wordpress.com/
GREETING CARD 1. ASHLEY SIEVWRIGHT
THE PRINCE OF REDFERN
BEE CRUSE
An idea sparks, awakening a slow burning flame …
Late in the warm month of February 2017 was the week-long Mardi Gras of the black fella persuasion; a safe space for us mob to come and socialise, party and be recognised in the queer scene of Sydney in the week leading up to Mardi Gras itself. All the black queers with their glitter beards and sequin dresses with fabulous wigs took over Redfern in style!
My first experience of Koori Gras was celebrated with my family; Aunty Kim, Aunty Lizzy and cousin Meriki. My fabulous cousin was fresh off the plane back from London (I was cheering because it meant not being ‘the only queer in the village’ at family bbqs!), and her mum had invited me out to party with them. ‘For this new black, queer week’, she described it.
It was Opening Night at 107 for Koori Gras; Exhibition and Performance. A whole week of black, LGBTQI, rainbow, beautiful peoples! As an up and coming baby dyke from the Western Suburbs trying to make a name in Redfern—mmhmm, yes please—I was so there!
I remember Aunty Kim in her bob-cut, pink wig, stylin’ up with Aunty Lizzy. I was in my all black, lesbian uniform look (as usual) and the night was ours! I hadn’t seen Aunty Kim dance like that in ages.
Over the week we saw black, queer history in the exhibition space at 107, conversed about several issues facing our communities over a shared a meal at Black Point, partied hard all week (I remember Meriki peeling me off her couch after Opening Night). We made some lifelong friends amongst all the razzle dazzle. Being with my beautiful family gave me the strength to get out there and meet new people, I had the confidence to be 100% myself in a public space … that’s a rare feeling!
In a time of ‘diversity’ and people being ‘politically correct’ there still are groups in society that face immense discrimination and prejudice because of who they are, especially the Indigenous and LGBTQI communities. But I tell you what … I was in amongst our black, queer peoples that week, and I’d never felt so connected and free in my life!
I digress. The real highlight of Koori Gras was Friday night’s ‘Black Nulla’, a fabulous spectacle for all black rainbow children everywhere! In the spirit of the night, I felt so connected to all my brothers and sisters.
Then, for the first time in my life, my eyes witnessed a whole line up of black Drag Queenz. A marvellous array of Black Royalty taking over the joint:
Nova Gina
Destiny Haz Arrived
Miss Ellaneous
Nanna Miss Koori, and
Lacey Donovan.
It was enthralling. From the wigs, makeup and costumes, to the attitude, glamour and pizzazz. The way those Queens strut around that stage and made it their own, just wow. I even had my first lap dance—by none other than Nanna Miss Koori!
All with my family right beside me.
It’s an overused phrase, but I felt like a kid in a candy store. My eyes couldn’t get enough of everything I was taking in. And that’s what Koori Gras is. It is more than a week-long event, or a time or place; it’s a feeling of family, of connection and understanding. To come as you are, in all its glory; bold, blackness and Fabulous-ness! I think something was planted in me that night, a stirring. An idea.
A King is Born
The second year of Koori Gras (2018) I was invited by the Producer, Liza-Mare Syron, to attend the performance workshops run by Cherish Violet Blood. I know that I read the poster as ‘performance workshop’ but my heart took it as ‘drag workshop’. The workshops were held during the week of Koori Gras, Cherish was teaching us about the craft of stage performance and how to ‘find your stage character’—or as I took it, how to find my Drag persona!
When day 1 of the workshops came, I came to slay. I had a whole year to think about this moment. With inspirations and ideas flooding my brain, I knew I had something strong to go off! I was close to my grandfather, Pop Chop, when he was alive and he loved Prince. Pop’s favourite song was ‘Cream’ (believe it or not). An ode to Pop Chop, Prince was my inspiration for my first show. I had to calm down a bit in order to be able to meet the 3 other participants, Buna, Katie and Simone. Then I met Cherish and her partner Lacey, who both whipped us into shape with vocal training, acting skills, amusing acting games that get you thinking on your feet