Palm Island

Descendance Aboriginal & Islander Dance Company continues its obligations and commitments to its indigenous community of Palm Island (North Queensland), visiting every year to continue its development and mentorship of the children’s cultural advancement.

Descendance completes workshops and dance programs culminating in concerts for the community with its sixty strong indigenous children’s dance company.

The children of Palm Island are its future and make up one third of its population, Descendance along with Bwgcolman Futures President Robert Blackley and Treasurer Svea Pittman, are helping build esteem and confidence into the children through culture and various programs, giving children positive options and new ideas for the future.

Most of the existing housing stock on the island is old, dysfunctional and in need of renewal. Windows are broken, roofs are leaking and plumbing is inadequate. But even more striking is that the community averages twelve persons per house.

At present, Palm Island residents do not have access to tools or building materials; there are no retail outlets such as a hardware shop where residents can buy building materials to repair houses; no workshops to practice craftsmanship; few adequate sports facilities for youth; no modern waste disposal plant; no landscaping; no barbeque facilities for families; no public toilets or reasonable public space for gatherings; no community garden; and, no decent townscape

The unemployment rate on the island is above 90 per cent - double the unemployment rate for all Indigenous Australians. Thousands have left the island because of its appalling living conditions; unemployment and high rate of violence, and now live in the Townsville area.

From 1918 onwards The Australian Government relocated people from more than sixty different tribes to Palm Island, historically it; was a place where Indigenous people were sent as a form of punishment. The Island is a mixture of people, languages, traditions and customs.

Descendance also has ties to Yarrabah and Mapoon communities in North Queensland, and is developing relations with Black Tank community Alice Springs Central Australia.

Yarrahbah www.indiginet.com.au/yarrabah/history.htm
Mapoon www.mapoon.com
Black Tank www.blacktank.com.au/aboutus.html

Work Shops

Descendance conducts educational workshops in traditional & contemporary dance, didgeridoo playing, song, and painting.