Neil Morris is a Yorta Yorta Kaieltheban song writer, hip hop artist and producer who uses his music as DRMNGNOW to explore culture, community and country. Through story telling Neil provokes discussion and education around Australia’s Indigenous history and future, and the constant strength and struggles of his people post colonial Australia.
Read below from Neil about his powerful new piece Ancestors and what it means to him and watch it here:
“This work is about survival. This work is about the power that drives that survival. This work is about the power of Ancestors, the blessing of Ancestors. The importance to recognise Ancestors. That in truly acknowledging them we see all things in just structures.
The people in this film are my people. Connected to our ancestors. Connected to our land. Living in the now. Honouring them. For all of them for choosing to live and be and share what they are as indigenous peoples in the here and now I am forever grateful.
Forever grateful for all my indigenous peoples globally continuing to persist with this thing called life, knowing the blessings within our spirits that we descend from. We descend from pure divinity. And how blessed we are for that.
This film was shot on my homeland of Yorta Yorta/Kaieltheban clan area and Narrm, Kulin land.
I acknowledge the thousands of years of connection to these lands to culture and lore. .
The impact of which is infinitely important to this day amidst a destructive post colonial world. Ancestors reside within those lands with utmost sanctity in every moment. Ancestors in the land.
They are at the root of all we are and can be. They are the key. And for that, I pay respect.”