The documentary follows Tiwi man Jaxon De Santis and Warlpiri/Jawoyn man Justin Grant who embark on a journey across the NT to explore their own uncertainty about how to vote in the Voice to Parliament referendum planned to be held in late 2023. With the help of NT’s diverse First Nations Communities, they hope to find their voice and help others find theirs.
Inspired by the knowledge gap between urban Australians and remote Communities ahead of the Referendum, and within the context which sees the NT statistically insignificant in the final count, Our Voice, Our Heart is a platform to listen to some of the people most affected, but whose votes will not carry weight in the tally*.
As they travel to communities across the NT, Jaxon and Justin will seek to understand the future vision of the diverse communities they meet, and ask them to share parts of their culture with wider Australia in an invitation to walk together in finding understanding.
Our Voice, Our Heart is produced and co-directed by Trade Creative’s Laurens Goud, co-directed and co-produced by Justin Grant who also serves as the production’s Indigenous Consultant, and co-produced by Jaxon De Santis.
The team will embark on a journey across various communities in the NT, commencing in the central desert and making stops in Katherine and Kalkarindji (Gurindji), where they will meet with Justin’s family and the local community. They will then proceed to Pirlangimpi (Melville Island Tiwi), connecting with Jaxon’s community. Continuing their journey, they will visit Gove (Nhulunbuy) in East Arnhem Land, followed by the vibrant festivities at Barunga (Barunga Festival). The crew will then travel to Kakadu (Jabiru), immersing themselves in the rich traditional cultures and customs of Yellow Water (Ngurrungurrudjba) and exploring the mesmerising rock artwork in Gunbalanya.
“So many people are asking me how I am going to vote in the Referendum, and I have nothing to say. If I don’t know, how are the millions of Australians living in the cities going to know how to vote?”, commented Justin Grant, co-director, co-producer, Indigenous consultant and presenter.
“It feels super important, it’s us going out learning, and obviously there are lots of people like us in Australia that are not too sure what the attitudes towards the referendum are from these communities that we are going to find out…. Going in with a curious mindset and listening rather than coming with an agenda of a message. It’s an experience for everybody, for us and everyone who will watch this”, co-producer Jaxon De Santis.
Producer and co-director Laurens Goud said “We are starting from a position that it is ok to not understand enough to have a perspective on the Referendum. We want to invite the audience on a journey to listen and learn more, to help in making this important decision, just as Justin and Jaxon will.”
“We particularly want to bridge the gap between what is thought, known and understood in majority non-Indigenous Australian states, and the significant Indigenous population in the Northern Territory who will be most affected.”
The suite of content being produced is a 30-40min documentary to be launched at Garma Festival taking place in early August 2023, and a 10-part social engagement and impact campaign. It includes commissioned artwork that acts as the umbrella across the whole project.
The art, created by proud Worimi Man Gerard Black, tells the story of two men (Justin & Jaxon) with empty knowledge cups and a message stick journeying across the land to talk with elders and leaders from different mob. Filling their cup and message stick as they go. The table in the middle represents the need for all mob to come to the table, listening to the spirits, and work together. This art has been purposely commissions and created to be used in a variety of ways throughout the film, and with different mediums. Each element in isolation telling a different story that will make up the journey.
About the creators:
Jaxon De Santis is 31-year-old salt water Tiwi man, born in Darwin, who is a national touring musician and songwriter. Having grown up in many communities from Groote Eylandt, Yirrkala, Pirlangimpi and Darwin, Jaxon has many perspectives on culture and what it means to be a First Nations person.
Justin Grant is 33-year-old Warlpiri/Jawoyn man who is an actor, writer, producer, and film director. Justin was born in Katherine, in the Northern Territory, and grew up listening to Elders share their Dreamtimestories. They instilled a belief that a story is a gift that must be honoured and respected as part of a life journey. Now Justin works as a storyteller for film and television.
Laurens Goud is the Founder of Trade Creative Media, and is an experienced producer, director, documentary filmmaker and screen storyteller who moved to Darwin in 2022, to expand the creative agency’s production reach and capacity.
Our Voice, Our Heart is produced and co-directed by Trade Creative’s Laurens Goud, co-directed and co-produced by Justin Grant who also serves as the production’s Indigenous Consultant, and co-produced by Jaxon De Santis, supported by a dedicated small team including Line Producer Xanon Murphy and Assistant Producer Jemaine Cooper. Director of Photography is Edward Bracey with Camera Operators Jayden Moyle and Patrick Turnbull, who is also the project’s Editor. Sound Recordist is Ben Bomitali while Sound Master is Ryan Granger. Impact Producer is Swathi Shanmukhasundaram, Visual Art by Gerard Black, Graphic Design by Anouk Schepers and Motion Graphics by Steve Bunyan.
Synopsis:
Jaxon and Justin are two First Nations men living in Darwin who realise that they don’t know what to say about the upcoming referendum. They understand that if they don’t have a clear understanding of the issues, then how can millions of Australians vote with meaning and purpose?
In an effort to find their own voices and help others do the same, Jaxon and Justin embark on a journey across the country to engage with communities, elders and along the way, they explore the vision for of a better future and how to get there, the history of Indigenous Australians and their relationship with the Australian government, as well as the current state of Indigenous rights and recognition.
Through their journey, Jaxon and Justin hope to inspire a national conversation about the importance of voting with knowledge and conviction, and to help all Australians fill their knowledge cup just a little before they vote on this crucial issue.
* Context and Statistics
The Australian Constitution can only be changes with the support of the majority of Australian voters AND a majority of voters in a majority of states (at least 4). Votes from NT, ACT and other territories are counted in the national majority only.
The Northern Territory is not a State, and will not be counted as a State in the 2023 Referendum. The population of the Northern Territory is approximately 250,400 people. This represents about 1% of the total population of Australia. This situation means the Northern Territory is statistically insignificant to the referendum.
HOWEVER…
- The Indigenous population in the Northern Territory is 32.2%, compared to 2.8% for the rest of Australia.
- In the Northern Territory, 46.5% of Indigenous Australians speak an Indigenous language at home, compared to 11.2% for the rest of Australia.
- In the Northern Territory, the Indigenous unemployment rate was 21.6%, compared to 9.1% for the rest of Australia.
- The life expectancy of Indigenous Australians in the Northern Territory is lower than the national average, with an average of 66.3 years for males and 72.7 years for females, compared to 74.2 years for males and 79.7 years for females for the rest of Australia.
The people whom will be most affected by this referendum will not be counted, and we want to listen to their story, and share their vision for the future. To help people vote with intention and purpose.
