Call : 
A collaboration that started between two young Brisbane based First Nations artists in 2019, Ngalin Ayeye / Our Yarn (Nah-lin Ah yeya) is an initiative to help people understand the deep connection First Nations people have with art and the importance of culture and lore. Moving to Brisbane during their schooling years, both Matt and Ambrose noticed a large gap within the school curriculum as well as the general education of adults regarding First Nations people. Our Yarn was formed with the vision for reducing this gap through yarning about the genuine experiences of First Nations people and flipping educational pieces about Australian history to that of the viewpoint of a First Nations person/s.
Through our art, yarning, storytelling and education, the Our Yarn team hope to touch hearts and create lasting memories for every customer by sharing their work and genuine passion for teaching culture and handing down knowledge as has been passed to them for tens of thousands of years.
We hope to also bring indigenous youth in urban areas closer to their culture and to teach them to be proud of who they are and where they’re from through workshops, programs and support networks to assist mob in navigating their way through life in urban areas such as Brisbane.
Formerly known as MA Deadly Art, the business has organically developed from painting artwork to an educational based organisation. Founders, Matt and Ambrose, wanted to pay respect to their traditional languages which ultimately helped shape the name Ngalin Ayeye. Ngalin meaning ‘Our’ in Matt’s native tongue (Guugu Yimithirr) and Ayeye (Arrernte language) from Ambrose’s central desert language group meaning “Story”, helped reflect the more professional educational nature of our business.
The most recent amendment to the business name, addition of the English translation, Our Yarn / Ngalin Ayeye, further represents the business and the importance connection through story-telling and yarning together – the basis on which our education was handed down.
We make it no secret how passionate we are about our culture, its diversity and the important contribution our ancestral knowledge plays in the future of a healthy society, both physically through sustainable practises of hunting and cultivating organic, native foods, caring for the land by offering advice regarding burn offs, dredging and other human factors, and of course spiritually through connection to country and each other.
It is this passion that gets us excited about a future of educated and empathic Australians who are understanding and informed regarding First Nations history and people. A place where First Nation’s people have adequate representation in parliament and voices within government bodies and around decisions affecting land and First Nation’s people. We firmly believe that this change is instituted by education and ensuring a form of First Nation’s Education sees its way into curriculum through schools around Australia.
Another key focus of Our Yarn is to empower other young First Nations people through mentorship and cultural learnings and role modelling a healthy way of life.
We imagine Australia with First Nation’s culture being represented in airports creating an outstanding first impression when international travelers arrive, throughout cities in the form of large-scale murals and having all Australians proud to live in this country with the oldest continuing culture in the world.
