SCREENING KIT

CONTENTS WE DON’T NEED A MAP SCREENING KIT

ABOUT THE FILM 02

SCREENING KIT INTRODUCTION 03

HOW TO HOST A SCREENING 04

SCREENING TIMELINE 06

PROMOTING YOUR EVENT ON SOCIAL MEDIA 07

SENDING AN EMAIL TO YOUR NETWORKS 08

DISCUSSION GUIDE 09

EXPLORE MORE 11

SYNOPSIS The Southern Cross is the most famous constellation in the Southern Hemisphere. Ever since colonisation it has been claimed, appropriated and hotly-contested for ownership by a radical range of Australian groups. But for Aboriginal people the meaning of this heavenly body is deeply spiritual. And just about completely unknown. For a start, the Southern Cross isn’t even a cross – it’s a totem that’s deeply woven in to the spiritual and practical lives of Aboriginal people. The Southern Cross also features significantly in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander scientific and geographical knowledge systems.

One of Australia’s leading film-makers, Warwick Thornton, tackles this fiery subject head-on in this bold, poetic essay-film. We Don’t Need a Map asks questions about where the Southern Cross sits in the Australian psyche. Imbued with Warwick’s cavalier spirit, this is a fun and thought-provoking ride through Australia’s cultural and political landscape.

CREDITS

Production Company Barefoot Communications

Writers Brendan Fletcher Warwick Thornton Director Warwick Thornton

Producer Brendan Fletcher Editor Andrea Lang

Director of Photography Warwick Thornton Dylan River Drew English

ABOUT THE FILM We Don’t Need a Map

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Hosting a screening of We Don’t Need a Map is an opportunity to engage people in a conversation about how all Australians can work together to build trusting and respectful race relations and a stronger sense of unity – a society that does not exploit, but instead equally and equitably includes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, cultures and heritage as a proud part of a shared national identity.

For Aboriginal people, the Southern Cross - these five twinkling lights in the night sky - have been part of sacred life for eons. They’ve continued to guide countless journeys, tell of important seasonal changes and be a part of Dreaming stories that have been danced, sung and painted for generations.

But, since colonisation, the Southern Cross icon has been ‘claimed,’ appropriated and hotly-contested for ‘ownership’ by a radical range of Australian groups, implicated in the generation of fear and division rather than in the promotion of unity in diversity. What’s going on? What does it say about ‘who’ we are as a nation and where we are heading? What implications might this have for Australia’s reconciliation journey?

We Don’t Need a Map is an epic telling of Australia’s history, told through a thought-provoking examination of our diverse relationships to one famous constellation. It is a challenging, poetic, cosmic essay about who we are as a nation. The film proudly explores Aboriginal peoples’ longstanding and continuing law and spiritual relationships with the land, waterways and skies as fundamental to this nation’s identity. It also explores how, despite the many unjust and injurious impacts on the relationship between the wider Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples since colonisation, we are all connected now, under the one night sky. So how do we wish to move forward together?

Hosting a screening of We Don’t Need a Map is an opportunity to have a conversation about these important questions that can help shape our understanding of the destiny of our nation.

SCREENING KIT INTRODUCTIONThank you for hosting a screening of We Don’t Need a Map

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HOW TO HOST A SCREENINGHere are some tips to help make your screening of We Don’t Need A Map safe and successful.

PLANNING THE EVENT• Find a space: screenings can be held anywhere where

there is a digital projector and speakers. Best-case sce-nario is a cinema, but community spaces, school halls or boardrooms can work too. Consider working with your local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander commu-nity to see if there may be any appropriate opportunities to host an outdoor, on-Country screening – consider a twilight, ‘under the stars’ screening, for example.

• Give yourself about six weeks to plan the event.• Get a team together to help with publicity, catering and

technical logistics. Consider opportunities to work with-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses for these purposes. Supply Nation’s Indigenous Business Direct search tool can be a great starting place for investigating these opportunities.

• Are you raising money for a charity? If so, consider negotiating sponsorships, fee reductions or other in-kind support from event partners such as your venue provider.

• Set up an online ticketing system. Here are a few sug-gestions:

eventbrite.com.au floktu.com trybooking.com• Make sure the invite sets out the running order of the

event. The film runs for 85 minutes.

PUBLICITY• Start publicising your event as soon as possible.• Set up a Facebook event page (make sure it has the

RSVP or ticketing link) and include the trailer.• Tweet or post on Instagram using the hashtag

#WeDon’tNeedaMapMovie • Distribute marketing materials – send an email, put up

posters in strategic areas.• Write a press release and let your local newspaper and

radio station know. Follow up with a phone call. TECHNICAL CHECKLIST

• Get access to a good digital projector.• Do a sound and vision check (also called a ‘tech’ check)

as soon as you receive the DVD or online link to We Don’t Need a Map.

• Check that the aspect ratio for the projector is set correctly (the picture shouldn’t look too wide or too tall).

• Check that the colours are as they should be (the picture should not look too dark or light, or too blue, green or red).

• Check that the room or space where you are screening the film is dark.

• Sit in different seats in the audience area at your tech check – try the back row and the sides to test whether everyone can see and hear the film.

• If you don’t have time to play the whole film at the tech check, play the film at a few random scenes (beginning, middle and end). Can you understand the words and hear the music? Is the sound coming out of all speakers? 04

SUGGESTIONS FOR COMMUNITY OR CORPORATE SCREENING EVENTSHosting a screening of We Don’t Need a Map in your community or workplace is an opportunity to engage people in a conversation about how we can all work together to build trusting and respectful race relations and include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, cultures and heritage as a proud part of a shared national identity.

• Make sure you have a skilled and informed facilitator to lead any post-screening discussion.

• If your workplace has a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) you can also use the screening as an opportunity to raise awareness and support for your RAP.

• You could use your screening event to fundraise for a local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisation. If you’re hosting a fundraiser for an organisation, make sure to let them know about your screening so they can help spread the word.

• You can host an event any time that suits your calendar. However, you might consider aligning your event with a significant date such as during National Reconciliation Week, which occurs from 27 May and 3 June each year, or NAIDOC Week, held each July to celebrate the histories, cultures and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

• If you’re not part of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisation, consider partnering with one to co-host your screening.

RECRUITING A SKILLED FACILITATOR Key characteristics of a good facilitator should include:• Active listening skills.• Ability to acknowledge, and be responsive to the diverse

experiences of people in the room.• Ability to foster a culturally safe and respectful listening,

questioning and sharing environment. Doing so includes actively recognising, and being sensitive to, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s personal and cultural prerogatives, and understanding that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples need not be expected or obliged to share details of their personal experiences and cultural knowledges (See Resources for Screening Discussions section on page 9).

• Ability to re-focus discussion if it goes off-topic.• Ideally they should be provided with an opportunity to

view the film prior to the screening and share background information on the issue they will speak to after the screening.

SUGGESTIONS FOR SPEAKERS You may decide to invite a speaker or have a panel discussion following your screening:• Speakers should have expertise in the issues raised in

the film. Choose someone who is skilled at sensitively talking about the material in the film.

• Consider inviting local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders and community members in the first instance.

SUGGESTIONS FOR POST SCREENING DISCUSSIONS• Use the We Don’t Need a Map discussion questions

(pages 9 and 10) as a starting point for the panel and encourage audience questions as well.

• Set aside at least half an hour for a discussion to allow for audience participation. 05

SCREENING TIMELINESIX WEEKS OUT • Get in touch to buy a screening license for the film

• Set time and date for your screening• Decide on a venue and book it • Pull together an invitation list• Design marketing materials or adapt from templates in the screening kit you’ve

received from us• Get an event team together• If you’re planning on having a Q&A book speakers and a moderator• Decide if you are going to provide catering. If so, consider engaging an Aboriginal

and Torres Strait Islander food supplier or catering service

FIVE WEEKS OUT

THREE WEEKS OUT

FOUR WEEKS OUT

ONE WEEK OUT

TWO WEEKS OUT

SCREENING DAY

• Visit the venue and do a technical check. Test the DVD or digital file (see technical checklist)

• If you’re hosting a Q&A, do you need a microphone for your speakers and for audience questions?

• Distribute and put up flyers and posters • Write a press release and send it to local media• Keep sharing your event on social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram)

• Follow up local news and radio by phone - media receive many press releases a day so it’s always worthwhile following up with a phone call

THE DAY AFTER

• Send out an email/Facebook reminder of your event one week and one day before• Follow up with local media

• Set Up • Final tech checks (make sure everything still works!)• Once everyone arrives, consider formally opening the event with an

Acknowledgement of Country and/or Welcome to Country

• Thank the audience and your event team in person and on social media

• Set up online ticketing system to collect RSVPs or purchase tickets• Send out invites and let people know if the event will be catered or not• Set up a Facebook event page and make sure to include a ticketing link• Start sharing your event on social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram)

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Here is a suggested timeline with tips to help you plan a succesful screening.

PROMOTING YOUR EVENT ON SOCIAL MEDIASocial media makes it easy to let your community know about your screening.

CREATE A FACEBOOK EVENT When creating a Facebook Event you can choose between setting it as a private or public.

A private event is only visible to the people who are invited. You can choose to allow guests to invite their friends. A public event is visible to anyone on or off Facebook.

Step 1On the left side of your Facebook page, click on ‘Events’.Step 2Click on ‘Create an Event’ and fill out the form. Don’t forget to include the trailer and your ticketing website URL.Step 3Click ‘Create’ and you’re set. You’re now ready to invite your Facebook friends to your screening.

EXAMPLE SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS: FACEBOOK, TWITTER & INSTAGRAM

Come and see Warwick Thornton’s thought- provoking documentary, We Don’t Need a Map, and join the conversation about how we can work together to value and recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, cultures and heritage as a proud part of a shared national identity. [add ticketing website URL].

I’m proud to host a screening of Warwick Thornton’s powerful documentary, We Don’t Need a Map at [insert venue and time]. It’s an epic telling of Australia’s history, told through am examination of our diverse relationships to one famous constellation – the Southern Cross. Get tickets here [add ticketing website URL].

Come and see Warwick Thornton’s bold and thought-provoking documentary, We Don’t Need a Map to learn about the longstanding significance of the Southern Cross for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and about the diverse understandings of this iconic constellation within the Australian psyche. [insert venue, date and time or add ticketing website URL] #WeDon’tNeedaMapMovie

Warwick Thornton’s #WeDon’tNeedaMapMovie screening one night only. [insert venue, date and time or add ticketing website URL]. Come and discover the true meaning of the Southern Cross and where it sits in the Australian psyche.

I’m hosting a screening of Warwick Thornton’s powerful film #WeDon’tNeedaMapMovie, a challenging, poetic, cosmic essay about who we are as a nation. Screening at [insert venue and time]. Get tickets here [add your ticketing website URL].

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SENDING AN EMAIL TO YOUR NETWORKS(NB: If doing a group invite, for privacy reasons address the email to yourself and be sure to BCC the email address list) MailChimp is an App that helps you to create email campaigns. If you use MailChimp, we’ve created a template you can adapt. Just click here and add it to your template folder. Alternatively, here is a suggested email invitation.

Subject: Invitation to a screening of We Don’t Need a Map

Dear [insert name]

Warwick Thornton’s We Don’t Need a Map is an epic telling of Australia’s history, told through an examination of our diverse relationships to one famous constellation – the Southern Cross. It is a challenging, poetic, cosmic essay about who we are as a nation.

We invite you to a special screening of the film at [insert place] on [insert date].

The screening will be followed by a discussion with [insert speakers name if you have one].

The film proudly explores Aboriginal peoples’ law and longstanding spiritual relationships with the land as fundamental to this nation’s identity. It also explores how, despite the many unjust and injurious impacts on the relationship between the wider Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples since colonisation, we are all connected now, under one night sky. So how do we wish to move forward together?

We hope you will join us to see this powerful film and talk about how we can all work together to build trusting and respectful race relations, and value and respect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, cultures and heritage as a proud part of a shared national identity.

You can RSVP/purchase tickets here [insert ticketing web link to RSVP or purchase tickets or email address – be sure to let people know if any of your ticket sales are being used to fundraise for a cause]

Check out the film trailer here (hyperlink the trailer if possible).

For any questions please contact the event organisers at [insert email address].

We hope to see you at the screening.

[insert name of individual or organisation] 08

We urge you to use this discussion guide to generate positive and meaningful dialogue about the film and the issues it explores.

DO YOUR RESEARCH FIRSTWe Don’t Need a Map may raise themes that could be sensitive to audience members, particularly Aboriginal people. It’s important to recognise, and be sensitive to, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who may be at your screening discussion to ensure that their engagement with your event is met with cultural safety and respect. Because of the often distinct, place-based nature of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledges, identities and community relationships, it can also be significant to explore the film’s content and concepts from your local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community perspective.If possible, invite local Aboriginal leaders/community members to participate in the discussion.

You may, for example, consider inviting appropriate representatives from your local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community with whom you have already developed strong personal relationships to guide the discussion.

At the very least, engage with appropriate Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people and organisations to gauge their perspectives to ensure you set up a respectful and meaningful dialogue. Building relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members should be built on trust, mutual respect and inclusiveness. Communication, collaboration and consultation are also key to sustaining successful partnerships with your local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community and to developing a deeper understanding of Australia’s First Peoples. It is also important not to put too much pressure on community members to be involved, as they may have other

more pressing priorities. Similarly, while Aboriginal attendees may be interested in playing an active role in the event’s planning and discussion sessions, note that they should not be expected or obliged to share their personal or cultural knowledges. Check out the links to resources in the next section on creating a culturally safe, respectful and inclusive screening event.

Fore more information you can also explore the We Don’t Need a Map website RESOURCES FOR SCREENING DISCUSSIONS These resources from Reconciliation Australia can support you to create a culturally safe, respectful and inclusive screening event. - A Guide to Using Respectful and Inclusive Language in communicating about Reconciliation - A Guide To Facilitating Culturally Safe and Respectful Reconciliation Screenings and Discussions

GENERAL DISCUSSION QUESTIONS HistoriesAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives have largely been marginalised and excluded from ‘official’ colonial accounts of Australian history.

Q. Discuss why you think this is so, and why is it important to acknowledge, appreciate and celebrate the tens of thousands of years of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories prior to British arrival in Australia, as well as the important place and perspectives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people since British colonisation.

DISCUSSION GUIDE These questions can be used as a starting point for a facilitated discussion in a small or large group setting.

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In the wider documentary film, Bruce Pascoe importantly expresses that, when it comes to the longstanding cultures and contributions of Australia’s First Peoples, “this country’s got a magnificent history. It’s go the most peaceful history the world’s ever known, the most environmentally intelligent law that’s ever been known.” Dr Romaine Morton similarly articulates, how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have “held that as law for hundreds of thousands of years” all the while reminding audiences that “we all have our own story – not one story, but we all have our own story.”

Q. Why is it important to understand Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander “histories” in the plural?

Q. How can the diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and historical perspectives reflect the diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and identities more generally?

NationalismProfessor Ghassan Hage powerfully points to some of the insecure logics, complex ironies and clear injustices underlying ‘Western’ nationalism in Australia, explaining: “We are all – non-Indigenous Australians – the inheritors of theft and how, psychologically, this theft manifests itself in the way we try to protect our lands from being stolen (from) ourselves is very different from other nationalisms… because you know it can’t be stolen… It’s that simple – you know it can’t be stolen because you did it… In every European hope, there is an element of stolen hope from colonial or slave processes. That’s what ‘Western’ nationalism tries to hide – the fact that so much of its hope is built on extracting hope from others.”

Q. In what ways has the (post) colonial development of the Australian nation – and Australian nationalism – been under-pinned by theft (think about stolen land, Stolen Generations and stolen wages, for example)?

Q. Can you identify and discuss any recent events, wherein this nationalism has been problematically defended, or fuelled by, an ironic fear or ‘theft’ among non-Indigenous Australians? (The documentary explores Cronulla riots, for example).

Q. In the film, Phil Dennis makes the decision to have his Southern Cross tattoo removed. “It got me thinking… there’s this symbol on my back that doesn’t represent me and that has just been hijacked,” he reflectively explains. The tattoo removalist correspondingly explains that she has done a number of Southern Cross tattoo removals, and that these removals seem to be on the increase – why do you think this is so?

ReconciliationQ. Why do you think education – including learning, ‘un-learning’ and relearning alike – is important to reconciliation processes?

Q. Why is it important for all Australians to work towards building trustful and respectful race relations and a stronger sense of unity – a society that does not exploit, but instead equally and equitably includes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, cultures and heritage as a proud part of a shared national identity?

EXPLORE MOREInterested in engaging in further learning and discussion of relevance? Check out the We Don’t Need A Map website.

Consider engaging with the professional learning resources listed on the following Narragunnawali Actions pages:

Teach about Reconciliation

Acknowledgement of Country

Explore Current Events and Issues

You may also wish to consult the Narragunnawali History, Science and Geography resource guides.

Are you hosting your screening event in conjunction with a local school or early learning service, or wider educational community?

If so, consider downloading the We Don’t Need A Map Teacher Notes, produced in collaboration with Reconciliation Australia, from the SBS Learn website.

Here are some additional resources from SBS, and wider reference links:

How ancient Aboriginal star maps have shaped Australia’s highway network?

Stars that vary in brightness shine in the oral traditions of Aboriginal Australians

Stories In the sky: Indigenous Astronomy

NITV’s The Life Code

CSIRO Australian Aboriginal Astronomy

National Museum of Australia Songlines: Tracking the Seven Sisters including the accompanying interactive digital resource that explores two different parts of the Seven Sisters songlines.

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