Back Roads: July 18

It’s a very different Back Roads tonight, in the NT town of Katherine, where blakfella and whitefella walk together, with Bardi-Kidja guest presenter Albert Wiggan.

Breathtaking Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge (NT) is home to the Jawoyn people. They believe it was created by Bolung, a giant serpent who carved it in its own reflection, during Creation Time.

Guest presenter, singer-songwriter, Albert Wiggan is a Bardi-Kidja man from the WA Kimberley. Albert provides us with a unique insight of someone who grew up and still inhabits the world of traditional Aboriginal culture as well as that of middle-class white Australia.

In his work as an environmentalist, Albert marries Western technology with traditional knowledge of the land. He’s keen to find out how white and black Australians live and work together in a region where sixty percent of the people identify as Aboriginal.

His quest leads him to popular author, Toni Tapp-Coutts. Toni’s best-selling memoir popularised her extraordinary childhood on the iconic Killarney Station. But it was growing up with an Aboriginal ‘mother’ and ‘auntie’ that gave Toni a life-long love of Aboriginal culture – and encouraged her cheeky side.

Proving the bonds of white and black run deep in Katherine, Toni introduces Albert to her long-time friend – actor, singer and artist, Kamahi Djordon King.

Albert discovers Kamahi has performed with Yothu Yindi and the Treaty Project. Kamahi then introduces Albert to Katherine’s answer to Dame Edna Everage. Constantina, is a ‘Faborignal’, a performer with all the cheek and sass that runs through this fascinating community.

His adventures inspire Albert to write and sing a song of hope that we can all, one day become one people people.

8pm Monday on ABC.