Review: Footprints on our Land: A life story of Aunty Agnes Shea

By Vivien Palmer

Footprints on our Land: A life story of Aunty Agnes Shea

A film by Pat Fiske
Bower Bird Films

Footprints on Our Land is a stunning documentary film, which explores the life and legacy of our most senior Ngunnawal Elder Aunty Agnes Shea who was born in 1930. The film provides an historic account of her life as a survivor of racism. It depicts her early life growing up on Oak Hill and Hollywood missions in Yass, as well as highlighting her many achievements as a loving mother, caring grandmother, great grandmother and strong advocate for her community.

The 38-minute film cleverly weaves many stories of Aunty Agnes’s ancestors and her own life experiences together with use of archival images and film, while interleaving a variety of first-person interview accounts to showcase moments in Aunty Agnes’s life journey to date.

Optimism and positive energy radiate from Aunty Agnes and her family members in this documentary. The viewer is left in no doubt that Aunty Agnes Shea has successfully overcome significant challenges throughout her life, while becoming a tireless advocate for Indigenous rights and a gentle leader in the reconciliation movement in Canberra

The DVD is available for borrowing from the ACT Library Service with copies available at all ACT Libraries, as well as through the ACT Heritage Library.

The DVD is also available for purchase or for public screening rights from Tuggeranong Arts Centre: https://www.tuggeranongarts.com/our-programs/indigenous-programs-community-arts/footprints-on-our-land/

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