Located 420km southwest of Darwin, Wadeye, also known as Port Keats, is one of Australia's largest remote Indigenous communities. With a diverse population of around 2,500 people, this community is enriched with culture and history. Around seven languages, and multiple dialects, are spoken in this community.

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Travelling to Wadeye can prove difficult, accessible by the Daly River Road during the Dry Season of May to October. Outside of this time the community is only accessible via air.  

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This year, Red Dust introduced a program in Wadeye focused on art, specifically the process of tie-dying. Working together with Thamarrurr Youth Indigenous Corporation and the community, the program was a collaboration focused on creativity and learning.  

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Throughout the week, tie dye stations moved around the community. From t-shirts and tote bags to socks and bandanas, young people of Wadeye were at the forefront of the process, creating stunning designs that were uniquely their own. As the young art students opened their final pieces, you could see the pure joy and excitement of their art being transformed into clothing.  

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Thamarrurr Youth Yellow Shirts played a crucial role, not just as facilitators, but as participants, mastering the tie-dye process alongside the younger participants. This shared learning experience not only added to the sessions but also equipped them with skills to continue these workshops in the future if they wish to do so.  

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Alongside tie-dying activities, the kids brought a simple tie-dyed rope to life in a variety of games, from skipping to limbo, showing off the endless possibilities of creativity.

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The fun continued as Red Dust supported Our Lady Of The Sacred Heart Thamarrurr School’s colour run – an event that painted the school grounds top to bottom in colour. The school attendance was incredible to see, with students of all ages getting involved.  

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The week in Wadeye showed off the joy of colour and what is possible with a few bottles of tie dye. Thank you Wadeye.  

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