Giinagay Ngujawiny
My name is Jame Telfer,
Proud Gumbaynggirr woman, our family are the proud Traditional custodians of the Bellingen valley on Gumbaynggirr land, where my family still live on country in the same lands at Yellow rock Urunga. My bloodlines extending from Gumbaynggirr country, through to Gomeroi country and right across the seas to Ireland and Wales. I proudly walk with the spirit of my Mothers and Grandmothers before me, first born daughter and granddaughter of my line, extremely proud mother to four children, loved wife and a full time creative being.
I am blessed to have the knowledge, power, strength and creativity of all my Ancestors running through my blood and extra lucky to have my Grandfather Harry Kelly as my pop and best friend. As a child and now an adult I’ll never forget the little horse he would do when teaching us kids how to draw, even to this day I still see this little horse on bits of paper around his house. Deepest gratitude to my beautiful Aunty Lisa Kelly who has taught me the markings/symbols of Gumbaynggirr land.
My Ancestors and my family that are still here with me are always guiding me, forever co creating with the ones who came before me, the ones that are still with me and my babies the ones that have come after me. I also feel an honourable mention to this beautiful land is necessary here as I am forever grateful to the land where all our stories are held.
I hope you feel the same depth of my art as a viewer as I do as the creator.
Yarri Yarrang,