Published on Monday, 26 May 2025 at 10:11:00 AM
Reconciliation Action Plan
A Celebration of Culture, Healing, and Connection to the Land
The Shire of Carnarvon is proud to announce that Connection to Country, a powerful artwork by local artist Yasmin Ranger, has been officially chosen by the Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Reference Group to feature as the cover image for the Shire’s Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan 2025–2027.
Created for the 2025 Reconciliation Exhibition: Bridging Now to Next, Yasmin’s piece beautifully captures the deep cultural connection Aboriginal peoples have with the land.
Yasmin, a proud Yindjibarndi woman from the Pilbara, now calls Carnarvon home. After a challenging period, Yasmin found healing and inspiration through painting at the Community Art Hub in Carnarvon’s main street.
“Painting has never been my thing, but now that I’m older, I think it’s grown on me,” Yasmin shared. “The story behind my artwork comes from when my family had followed our strong cultural love by going out country. Having love of country, and living off the land, gathering and visiting waterholes. The kangaroo, emu and goanna are mostly what we ate. These times help me feel a connection to country.”
Yasmin’s artwork not only sold at the exhibition but also resonated deeply with the community and leadership, symbolising the enduring ties to land and culture.
Connection to Country - 2025
Acrylic on Canvas | Dimension: 71 cm x 84 cm
Artist Story
Hello Carnarvon, my name is Yasmin Ranger. I'm a proud Yindjibarndi woman from the Pilbara who recently moved down from Karratha and Hedland. I've been here about 3-4 years now, and I'm loving every minute of being back down south enjoying Carnarvon's lovely cool weather.
Over the past six months, I've been through a rough patch which led me to get out of the house and find a way to put my mind at ease. That's when I stumbled across the Community Art Hub on the main street and decided to give painting a go.
Painting has never been my thing, but now that I'm older, I think it's grown on me. My very first painting had a very true background and meaning. The ladies at the Art Hub encouraged me to enter it in the Reconciliation Exhibition 2025, and just like that, it sold! I was so excited and wasn't expecting it at all. I just wanted to feel alive again after everything I'd been through.
A few months later, I was checking my emails when I felt that excitement all over again. My piece of art, Connection to Country, had been chosen for the cover of the Reconciliation Action Plan.
The story behind my artwork comes from when my family had followed our strong cultural love by going out country. Having love of country, and living off the land - gathering and visiting waterholes. The kangaroo, emu and goanna are mostly what we ate. These times help me feel a connection to country.
I now feel confident enough to keep going with my art. I'd like to say thanks to all who've helped me along the way.
Yours sincerely,
Yasmin
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