NBL celebrates culture with Indigenous round
By PETER ROWE
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples will be celebrated when the National Basketball League tips off its Indigenous Round tomorrow.
The stories etched in First Nations culture are strong, deep, and meaningful, and will be told through art, with all clubs wearing special jerseys designed by local Indigenous artists.
“The important part (of Indigenous Round) is how we tell the stories of the incredible players who have been involved in this sport, and they really become the heroes for the next generation,” NBL CEO, David Stevenson, said.
“To see someone like Jacqui Dover (the NBL’s first female Indigenous referee) on court, as well as amazing male and female players, is inspiring for people.”
Adelaide 36ers jersey was designed by Jada Fitzgerald, a proud Kaurna/Narungga woman from the Adelaide Plains and Yorke Peninsula.
Born and raised in the Adelaide Aboriginal community, Jada is the second-born daughter in her family, and her Kaurna birth order name is Warruyu.
Zoe Raymond, a very proud Yindjibarndi and Pinikura woman, designed the jersey for the Brisbane Bullets.
The artist’s country is in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, but she grew up within the Brisbane (Turrbal & Yuggera) and Sunshine Coast (Gubbi Gubbi/Kabi Kabi) communities.
Cairns’ jersey is based on an original painting by Dale “Malla” Oliver. The artist has chosen to depict the Taipans through the language of art and illustrate the club and how it captures the entire region – the club of Cairns, for everyone.
Aunty Trish Levett designed the jersey of the Illawarra Hawks and the design represents the Illawarra Hawks with the hawk in the middle representing the players.
The bottom of the painting represents mother earth, the sacred Ngurra (land). The blue is the ocean and the rivers that run into the ocean. The brown lines above the water represent the mountains.
The feet are players walking to the court which is shown as a half circle around the hawk.
Rosie Paine is a Yilka, Wongutha, Noongar and Yamatji artist living on Noongar country. The artist represents Yilka, Wongutha, Noongar and Yamatji areas.
The word ‘Dandjoo’ in the neck means ‘togetherness,’ which is the main theme of the design.