Published on Tuesday, 30 June 2026 at 10:32:53 AM
The stories, relationships and collaborative work behind a major exhibition from Deakin University, Kalyagul: Connections to Menang Country will be uncovered at a community symposium next month.
Held at Albany Town Hall on Sunday, July 5 2026, the half-day symposium forms part of the Albany 2026 program and offers an opportunity for community members to hear directly from those involved in the exhibition's creation and gain insight into its development.
Speakers will reflect on the challenges and opportunities of working with historical collections in ways that recognise and respect Aboriginal knowledge systems, authority and ongoing custodianship.
City of Albany Mayor Greg Stocks said the symposium offered a rare opportunity to hear directly from those involved in bringing the exhibition to life.
“Kalyagul: Connections to Menang Country is a significant exhibition that has been many years in the making and reflects a remarkable collaboration between Menang community members, researchers and cultural institutions,” he said.
“For the first time, collections held across Australia and overseas will be brought together in Albany alongside local artefacts, helping to reveal the important role Menang people played in shaping knowledge and understanding of this region.”
Deakin University Professor Tiffany Shellam said the Kalyagul exhibition is the product of the Menang community's knowledge and creativity, working with researchers across Australia and the UK.
“Bringing together members of the Menang community, international and national curators and historians, this symposium is an opportunity to hear some of the stories behind the exhibition, and to consider the changing role of museums”.
The community symposium, Kalyagul: Connections to Menang Country – Stories Behind the Exhibition is free to attend, however registrations are essential.
For more information and to register, visit: https://www.albany2026.com.au/events/kalyagul-stories-behind-the-exhibition
The symposium is presented by Deakin University and supported by Lotterywest and the City of Albany, as part of the Albany 2026 program.
Kalyagul: Connections to Menang Country, is presented by the Western Australian Museum and Deakin University in collaboration with members of the Menang Noongar community and is supported by Lotterywest, City of Albany, Foundation for the WA Museum and Metal Manufacturers Electrical Merchandising. The exhibition will be at the Museum of the Great Southern from July 4 to February 21.
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