Yarning: The NBL1 First Nations Round is starting conversations and raising awareness
Yarning: The NBL1 First Nations Round is starting conversations and raising awareness
Four First Nations players from the NBL1 share their thoughts on cultural awareness, the next generation, and representation.
Unlike the Cambridge dictionary’s definition of a yarn, which is closer to being a good story, the Australian yarn refers to an informal conversation or storytelling in a culturally safe environment.
Conceptually, yarning is about building respectful relationships. The yarning circle —sometimes called the dialogue circle— is an important process within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture.
This year, the NBL1 First Nations round was themed ‘For Our Elders’. It paid respect to the Elders lost and to those who remain across the Nations. It was also an opportunity to sit down and respectfully speak in consultation with four important Indigenous players who are having a cultural impact not only on their clubs, but also their communities.
Isaiah Walley-Stack (Whadjuk Noongar Man)
Image: Isaiah Walley-Stack (Pictured Right #24) takes on Devondrick Walker in NBL1 West / Shazza J Photography / NBL1
Isaiah Walley-Stack has been a big influence in the Whadjuk Noongar community in Western Australia. His work away from basketball in running the Bloodline Training Academy, flows into his basketball and whichever club he represents. The former Perth Redbacks player is now applying his craft for the Mandurah Magic, but he always has been able to share his culture wherever he goes.
After originally playing Australian rules football, Walley-Stack transitioned over to basketball at 13 years of age and climbed his way through the Western Australian Basketball League (WABL) divisions in Perth. He obtained his postgraduate at the Conrad Academy in Orlando, FL, before moving to Herkimer College, a junior college in upstate New York. Basketball has provided many opportunities for Walley-Stack, and sharing and acknowledging his Indigenous heritage and culture through basketball is especially important to him.
“Not only do we get to see Indigenous basketballers representing both on the court, on the scoring bench, and in the crowds, but we get to meet those people nationwide and kind of see what the East Coast is doing compared to the West or what the South is doing in compared to north,” Walley-Stack shared with The Pick and Roll on the NBL1 First Nations Round. “We're all sort of coming together as a group I think in the last three years, through word of mouth, and with NBL1 being nationwide has been a huge boost not only for Indigenous basketballers, but for the game as well.”
While more can always be done, there are signs it’s heading in the right direction in regards to increasing awareness. The Indigenous designs on the Magic’s uniform have been an important step in the constructive approach to positive representation, and Walley-Stack just wants to make sure it doesn’t just become a box ticking exercise.
“We wanted to have that representation and acknowledgement throughout the whole year, that's something that was put forward by our youth then really taken on board by the board. I notice a couple other teams also have the traditional names of the area where they're from as part of their warm up jerseys, and that sort of visual representation. I think more cultural awareness would be really good.
“Some things can kind of get mistaken for cultural appropriation or something like that. To kind of break down those barriers and how to have those, those awkward or tough conversations that some people may think is awkward, but really, it's just asking a question and getting comfortable in that space.”
Cultural appropriation is by definition, the unacknowledged or inappropriate adoption of customs, practices and ideas by members of a society not of that culture. It is an area that Walley-Stack was big on, to ensure things are done right in a positive way.
“I think cultural awareness is definitely what some teams have taken on board, and obviously they've excelled in their diversity and in their internal group really coming together because of that. I think more clubs, not only in Basketball Western Australia, but around the nation, can benefit from that,” Walley-Stack summarised.
In his eyes, there’s always a young kid coming through the domestic system for a club which helps light a spark when they see representation either in playing, wearing of uniforms or other cultural practices. Discussions with local Elders would be a way to avoid it becoming tokenistic and losing its special nature.
“Consulting Elders or anyone that’s in your community if you don't have an elder, about how they want — for example, their artwork to be represented through your club. Along with everyone doing their research, consultations with the community is the way to go. It’s important to consult your First Nations and traditional owners before anything,” Walley-Stack implored to clubs and Associations.
Through this consultation process, the Magic were able to have Indigenous female dancers performing both before and in between their women's game blessing the ground and then before the men's game have an Elder doing a Welcome to Country, plus a male dance group in place of the national anthem. During First Nations Round and in the week building up to it, the club held smoking ceremonies to help cleanse the players, wash away the bad spirits and welcome the good spirits. The experience was for all the players, including the imports, to help understand the Indigenous culture Walley-Stack and many others come from.
Walley-Stack himself played the didgeridoo before the men’s game against the Joondalup Wolves. He explained he was wanting to place an emphasis on respect, cultural awareness, permission and consultation, but not only for his club in NBL1 West, but also hopefully across the league as well.
Lily Sarra (Gooreng Gooreng Woman)
Credit: Cass Muir / NBL1
Lily Sarra is a proud Gooreng Gooreng Woman, and her mob hails from the Bundaberg region. She was born and raised in Brisbane, Queensland, also known as Meanjin. While her Indigenous background comes from her father and mother, she also has a mixed heritage that includes Italian, German and English. Having played basketball since she was nine, Sarra spent most of her junior career at the Southern District Spartans before heading overseas to play two years of junior college in Wyoming, and then in Tennessee.
The Brisbane Capitals shooting guard was thrilled to see the NBL1 First Nations Round celebrated with happiness and joy.
“One of my favourite sayings is, you can’t be what you can't see.
“To be able to be a First Nations basketball player playing in the NBL1 round, and to have that highlighted is an incredible feeling because it just makes me think of the future of First Nations basketball players – it makes me want to step up and be a leader,” Sarra shared with The Pick and Roll.
The basketball world has stepped up in its recognition of the Indigenous culture, which Sarra was thankful for. The introduction of acknowledgement of country prior to games, and the advent of Indigenous Basketball Australia (IBA) run and orchestrated by Australian Boomer Patty Mills, has given her and many other First Nations people, inspiration and pathways to help nurture the next generation of players. The recognition above all, is what really matters to her.
“Recognition and seeing teams have the activities as well to make people aware and kind of ingrain them in the culture is really good. There's so much more we can do in terms of cultural safety, and things that could maybe make it not feel so tokenistic sometimes, but I definitely think we're on the right path.
“We’re just bound to keep improving and progressing in this [area of culturally safe practices] in the basketball world.”
Sarra’s sister, who works at Netball Queensland, has worked for many years within their sports program, including the incorporation of yarning circles, which help with cultural storytelling and connecting the community.
Also involved in the IBA, Lily is seeing first hand many of these practices —much like in her sister’s program— that are carrying over into the NBL1 landscape.
“Increasing awareness of how to create culturally safe spaces, as well as speaking with and consulting with First Nations players - you can't really go wrong.
“The future's looking bright with just the level of participation that we've had already. I can't wait to see the kids that have competed in the IBA tournaments and when they grow up, because we see these young guns and they're so keen. If we can make a safe space for them, then they'll just take over the world and continue the awareness - like they're incredible!”
The Brisbane Capitals took to the court in the First Nations Round in uniforms designed by Madeadly Art, telling a story about the land and the area, the practice of storytelling taking centre court.
“We’re right by the river so there's a nod to the river, there’s a nod to the kangaroo point cliffs, which is around the corner from our stadium, and then they've just really incorporated the strong community ties,” Sarra explained the team’s uniform and connected art. “So right that's the centrepiece of our artwork, is just the community, because obviously basketball is just a huge community.”
Storytelling, identity, and growing the next generation are Sarra’s clear passions, areas she hopes will evolve and continue to grow within the basketball community.
Renai Fejo (Larrakia Woman)
Image supplied by Jo Bomford and NBL1
Fejo has been back in the NBL1 Central for two seasons, with both the Woodville Warriors and now the Central Districts Lions. Basketball for her however, started much earlier at the age of six, and she has not stopped playing since. She’s been around most of Australia through involvement in First Nation carnivals, Baptist tournaments, school events and been over to college in Canada with the Langara Falcons.
From the top end of Australia, the Larrakia woman can’t believe how far First Nations Round has come for the NBL1 and basketball community.
“You see with the AFL with Dreamtime that’s been around a long time, now the NBL1 is on the same track,” Fejo said. “We are able to get juniors involved and watch out for the next up and coming Patty Mills, Rohanee Cox or Ally Wilson.”
According to Fejo, the NBL1 landscape has subtly shifted, because of how First Nations culture is highlighted in clubs and across the conferences. From her point of view, racism has decreased and there is more support for people of different cultures in the clubs she has been a part of.
“People now stand up for one another now, and while yes, it’s [racism] still there in the background, it's not as bad as it used to be that I've personally noticed.”
The changes are also reflected in the new role Fejo recently commenced with Basketball South Australia. As Female Participation Strategy Diversity and Inclusion Officer, and as someone from an Indigenous background, she will be playing a crucial role in helping younger people understand and embrace First Nations culture. Connecting her culture with everyone else —especially from a young girl's point of view— is a special opportunity she relishes.
“If I saw someone in my role as a young person, I'm just drawn to them as a sign someone can look up to in that area, which I want to be that influence and be that person that they can lean to and aspire to be the next person to lead their community. I want to give them another pathway where you don't just have to play the sport but you can be someone as a leader within the sport.”
Another way Fejo and her club has helped lead the way is through their away uniform artwork. Designed by Narelle Graham, the Lions’ away singlet tells a story of the three rivers and the gathering of Kaurna people along those rivers. The tree (yacca) is represented in the design shows the resource used by the Kaurna people to make weapons for fishing, cutting implements and for food.
“I'm absolutely stoked to see what they've got [other teams] and who they've gotten to do their art and hear the stories behind the artwork itself. It’s one big powerful thing, just hearing the stories because that story is what passes onto each generation but also telling the story of the club and how they represent and how they show up as a club within.”
If there is one key thing Fejo hopes everyone would learn from and take away from the First Nations Round, it would be about understanding diversity in appearances among the Indigenous community, and how it does not matter, as Fejo’s family —which has parents from different cultures— has taught her.
“People need to remember that we all come in different shades. Yes, I'm darker skinned until, like, physically that yes, I’m Aboriginal, but then you've got other people who are more Caucasian or like white-like, and there's nothing wrong with that.
“They’re just as Aboriginal as they are — we don't go by percentage, and that’s been a major thing that I've had to stand up and tell people straight up come this year.”
Jade Dunne (Palawa Woman)
Jade Dunne was a special guest to help open the First Nations Round for NBL1 South at the Victorian Parliament House, which she described as being an incredible opportunity.
Image supplied by Jade Dunne (Pictured second from right)
“I think having those voices of First Nations people in Parliament helping open the round was amazing. It was good to see that community come together especially for things like sports, which we've been so involved in for so many years in different leagues and different sports,” Dunne shared. “To have First Nations people helping open the round and getting involved especially in parliament is a huge step.”
The Diamond Valley Eagle started playing when she was six years of age in Sunbury before moving to the Eagles at 14. Her family originally hails from Koonya, Tasmania where her family is Palawa.
Jade is keen to see more conversations to be started and for the basketball community to learn about the different ‘mobs’, as she describes them, from over different areas of Australia.
She originally was inspired to start these conversations after playing for the Australian Indigenous All-Stars against the Kingdom of Hawaii coached by Ricky Baldwin in 2019 - it helped her connect with the players we now see in the NBL1. This included all three Fejos (one now a Kelly in Tahlia), Ally Wilson, Nesaya Parker-Williams and several NBL1 quality players still currently in college. It was an opportunity that helped plant the seed for the development and provision of more pathways for Indigenous athletes, including the Indigenous Community Basketball Leagues (ICBL).
“Participation starts when you're a kid, when you're little. I think having these rounds for NBL1 where little, like, First Nations kids can watch and be like, ‘you know what I want to play that when I'm older’,” Dunne explained. “It all starts at the grassroots level — one hundred percent! So even though I'm not sure if Basketball Victoria have anything planned in terms of getting that participation at a level, I know there's people in the community, especially in Victoria are working towards that.”
Diamond Valley stepped out against Ballarat Miners in a uniform designed by Ricky Baldwin, albeit in a 3-point loss. Like for many other clubs, it was another step in the journey to raising awareness.
“I suppose being involved in basketball for this long, especially in Victoria, I've noticed a crazy and incredible change in the past few years, especially of just raising awareness, having that representation of First Nations players, and what they bring to each club, and what their culture means and how they can support them through the last few years.
“I think we're on our way. I'm not sure if we're quite there yet, just because you know, this is quite new for us as a sport as opposed to, you know AFL, that have been doing this a long time. They've got great things in place to help support their Indigenous players and I think definitely on the right path.”
Like everyone else, Dunne hopes to see a First Nations round in every league in Victoria, creating true pathways for young kids for many more years to come.