Indigenous knowledge and experience were shared during the 2025 International Canoe Federation Slalom World Championships in Syndey, Australia.
Run by the Eather Group, Muru Mittigar, and the Kelly Family, the Cultural Heritage Hub showcased the rich history of canoeing in Australia and the region.
A traditional bark canoe was the feature attraction of the hub, alongside 40 small replicas.
The hub gave international visitors the opportunity to learn about the Indigenous culture and tradition.
“Our collaboration goes back many years,” said Sally-ann Eather, Executive Manager of the Eather Group.
“When Richard Fox mentioned that the Slalom World Championships were being held here, it made sense to pitch the idea of the Kelly family’s traditional knowledge that has been handed down from generation to generation about the traditional bark making and to do that here.
“With the Cultural Heritage Hub, we have the traditional bark canoe, which was made here using traditional methods and there’s also 40 miniature canoes made here, so that has attracted people to the hub.
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“I’d like to give thanks and recognition to the Executive Committee who made a commitment for the legacy of the project to be so sustainable, and also have culture threaded throughout the event.
“It’s opened up the possibility for international people to come, to see, to learn, to be interactive within the indigenous culture.”
The traditional bark canoe was just one of the many highlights for athletes and fans to enjoy at the Cultural Heritage Hub.
Other experiences included traditional bush tucker and plants for visitors to discover, enjoy and take home.
The canoe was presented to Paddle Australia President Andrew Trim on the final day of the ICF Slalom World Championships in front of fans.
There was also an incredibly significant and powerful piece of artwork that will be a long-lasting legacy item of the 2025 World Championships featuring the handprints of pioneers, Olympic champions and the visiting world community.
A traditional canoe is the centrepiece, sitting proudly in the middle of the painting, handprints from the Kelly family and their cultural brothers overlay the canoe.
The green background that frames the painting is representative of the Blue Mountains and the fertile flood plains.
The Nepean river is represented through the use of blue through the lower third of the painting.
“The artwork is representative of this event,” added Eather.
“The handprints along the blue of the painting are from people who have made the event come to life, back from where this venue was first pitched.
“Helen Brownlee advocated to get slalom on the 2000 Olympics agenda, her handprint is on this artwork, through to NSW Premier Chris Minns and through to the Fox Family.
“The dots have all been added by visitors to the World Championships over the last five days. It is so nice to see how many people have traveled for this international event, and people have contributed to this painting from all over the world.
“To see people contribute to the community painting and then have the ability to take some indigenous culture home by means of the artwork or the plants and bush tucker, it has been great.
“Having the culture hub at the event has planted the seeds for other international events to showcase their own cultures as well.
“It would be amazing to go to another country to see their local culture showcased in this way.”
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