Old Country New Country - The journey of a raft

Is the poignant and politically powerful story of Bardi elder Roy Wiggan passing onto his nephew Albert the traditional Aboriginal craft of raft-making.

In the process they travel from their country - the rugged and ancient beauty of the Kimberley region, one of the few remaining wildernesses on the planet - to the once pristine, now industrialised Pilbara to the south.

As Roy instructs Albert in Bardi raft-making, the land of their people is being destroyed by mining developments. To the Bardi people, "country" is not real estate to be bought and sold. It is the essence of their Aboriginal being. However now Roy and Albert believe that mining "will destroy our lifestyle and culture."

Roy and Albert's dialogue in this beautifully-shot piece revolves around not just raft building, but their thoughts on the destructive impact of "New Country" industrialisation on their "Old Country".

2009 Gaia Media, Australia

Music by: Xavier Rudd, Missy Higgins, Wil Thomas and Kerri-Anne Cox