![Australian Indigenous (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) artwork by NETTA LOOGATHA of Mornington Island Artists. The title is My Grandfather’s Country. [5452-L-NL-0210] (Synthetic Polymer Paint on Linen)](https://media.redotgallery.com/stockroom/gallery/m/my-grandfatherc3a2s-country-2041.jpg)
![Australian Indigenous (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) artwork by NETTA LOOGATHA of Mornington Island Artists. The title is Makarrki. [4761-15/25-NL-0909] (Etching - Edition of 25)](https://media.redotgallery.com/stockroom/gallery/m/makarrki-1236.jpg)
"I was born on Bentinck Island around 1942 at a place on the Northern side called Bilmee.
We lived in humpies then-no clothes nothing at all.
I learnt to hunt from an early age how to fish and collect shellfish, how to gather foods from the bush. I was young when the Europeans came in 1946 to take us away from our home and forced us to live on Mornington Island in the dormitory in the mission there.
My father was King Alfred he had 6 wives.
When he died his brother Percy took over the family and took care of us.
When I grew up I went to the mainland and worked as a housemaid like a lot of the young girls from the island.
I enjoyed this time being young and having fun.
I returned to Mornington and became strongly involved in Land Rights and my people's wish to return to our homeland.
I was a grandmother by the time we returned to our homeland and now I live there most of the year only returning to Mornington for the wet season. It's good to do painting,learn from each other.
We learned all about our country and story places from our old people now we are painting them so our grandchildren will learn all about them.
Our Aunty Sally Gabori showed us the way, to learn from her and follow in her footsteps. We have our own paintings now of our homelands and sacred places,where we were born,oyster reefs and waterholes or camping spots.
I am happy to show other people my country and culture through my paintings.
It brings a smile to my face when I finish a painting and see a part of me on my canvas.".
"I was born on Bentinck Island around 1942 at a place on the Northern side called Bilmee.
We lived in humpies then-no clothes nothing at all.
I learnt to hunt from an early age how to fish and collect shellfish, how to gather foods from the bush. I was young when the Europeans came in 1946 to take us away from our home and forced us to live on Mornington Island in the dormitory in the mission there.
My father was King Alfred he had 6 wives.
When he died his brother Percy took over the family and took care of us.
When I grew up I went to the mainland and worked as a housemaid like a lot of the young girls from the island.
I enjoyed this time being young and having fun.
I returned to Mornington and became strongly involved in Land Rights and my people's wish to return to our homeland.
I was a grandmother by the time we returned to our homeland and now I live there most of the year only returning to Mornington for the wet season. It's good to do painting,learn from each other.
We learned all about our country and story places from our old people now we are painting them so our grandchildren will learn all about them.
Our Aunty Sally Gabori showed us the way, to learn from her and follow in her footsteps. We have our own paintings now of our homelands and sacred places,where we were born,oyster reefs and waterholes or camping spots.
I am happy to show other people my country and culture through my paintings.
It brings a smile to my face when I finish a painting and see a part of me on my canvas.".
