My Spirit is Black (1986)

Matthew is a descendant of the Muruwari people from the Lightning Ridge area of NSW and grew up in Southern Sydney on Dharawal land. This discovery greatly influenced his decision to seek a career with the prestigious Aboriginal and Islander Dance Theatre (AIDT) so he could learn more about his heritage. After completing a three year course he returned to AIDT to become a founding member of their professional company, where he worked on several productions. In the film we watch Matthew learn the didgeridoo and dance in the early days of NAISDA (National Aboriginal Islander Skills Development Association). At this time Matthew was the youngest student at NAISDA, alongside the likes of Raymond Blanco, Russell Page, Gary Lang, Jasmin Gulash, Marilyn Miller and Bernadette Walong - all taught by a black American, Carole Johnson. Mathew now feels that he has gained priceless knowledge of the oldest culture in the world and expresses the hope that more young Aboriginal people will also try to learn more about their own Aboriginality.