Proud Anaiwan man Dean Widders is an NRL legend, currently head coach of the NRLW's Parramatta Eels, and co-host of NITV’s own Over the Black Dot.
Widders is also the star of the powerful new film 'Araatika! Rise Up', which will have its free-to-air premiere simulcast on NITV and SBS on January 26 at 9.30pm as part of the network's upcoming programming slate, Always Was, Always Will Be.
SBS On Demand , selecting a special collection of films, documentaries, and programs to be featured on the streaming platform.
“I thought it was a great opportunity to highlight some of the Indigenous films that I find educational and are out there to teach non-Indigenous Australians about our culture," he explained to NITV.
"Also some films that were educational around the history of Indigenous people in this country. And also some of the fun things that I love! Like travelling and country music.”
You can view Dean’s curated collection, all now streaming at SBS On Demand:
Araatika! Rise Up
'Araatika: Rise Up!' is Dean Widders' journey to create an international cultural dance. Source: Supplied Sydney Film Festival
In 2012, a group of Indigenous NRL players including Dean Widders, Preston Campbell, Timana Tahu and George Rose, with help from dancer and choreographer Sean Choolburra, came together to develop a pre-game ceremony that would be a response to New Zealand’s much loved and respected Haka.
The film also follows Widders' own personal family story and features interviews with his mother and father.
“Making the film was a long, long line of work, but it was the best for me.
I want to bring people together by learning about Indigenous culture in this country. And I believe that sport and rugby league, particularly for me from a young age, was something that I saw brought people together and overcame barriers.
"I believe that if our national teams take up this dance and start performing it on a higher level, on a big stage, that the opportunities for non-Indigenous people to be more interested and more enthusiastic to learn about our culture and the positives in our culture will start to grow off the back of that."
Araatika! Rise Up premieres on NITV and SBS on January 26, 9.30pm and will be available to stream on SBS On Demand after broadcast.
Sing About This Country
The great Troy Cassar-Daley meets amazing people, visits stunning locations, and plays some deadly music in 'Sing About This Country'. Source: Distributor
“I'm a massive country music fan and Troy is one of my favourites, so I could watch and listen to him any day of the week," says Dean, a self-proclaimed country music fan.
"It's great to see him go on a bit of a journey and connect with Indigenous bands and musicians from the Cape, and to visit their communities and play to people up there who rarely get those opportunities to listen to performers of his calibre.”
“The performances he puts on are spectacular. I really enjoyed that opportunity to see the country up there, which is beautiful country and then Troy sharing his story and some of the things that he's learnt over the years, his passion for music and how it brings people together and his great ability as a storyteller really shines through in the film.”
Sing About This Country is now streaming at SBS On Demand.
Going Places with Ernie Dingo
The legendary Ernie Dingo in a scene from 'Going Places'. Source: NITV
Ernie introduces the audience to the Traditional Owners and people who live, breath and work amongst these beautiful and incredible places.
“Right here in our backyard, we've got so much culture, so much love, so much positivity in the way people are living their lives and so much beauty that we need to get out there," says Dean
"And who better to tell a story than Ernie. Ernie Dingo has got a great way of delivering, a great way of inviting people in.
"I love travel, I love to travel abroad, but I also really think it's important that we travel our own country and learn our own stories.”
Going Places with Ernie Dingo is now streaming at SBS On Demand.
Incarceration Nation
Keenan Mundine, former inmate and now powerful advocate for change in the justice system. Source: NITV
This documentary explores the history of racial injustice and inequality that so many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, right across the nation, face every day. These themes are explored through archival footage, interviews with academics and experts in the field, as well as families that share their stories and experiences with the criminal justice system.
“It tells us a lot about the underlying issues, the systemic racism and the way this country is built, that the lack of opportunities for Indigenous people and the pathway of destruction that our people are easily led down.
"It's a tough story and a confronting story, but it's one that needs to be heard.”
Incarceration Nation is now streaming at SBS On Demand.
Living Black: Freedom Rides
Take a look at the incredible story of the Freedom Rides. Source: SBS
“As a young kid going to school, I never, ever learned a lot abount the Freedom Rides.
"I'd learnt about Martin Luther King and all these different civil rights movements in America, all different people throughout history in Europe. But nothing about this powerful man Charles Perkins who led a great movement in the Freedom Rides in Australia.
“To keep telling those stories of these pioneers that stood up for our people is really important.
"And it couldn't have been possible without a lot of the non-Indigenous people that went on those freedom rides. I think that it's really important that we've always had allies that have been there to help our communities.
"We see that strong movement gaining momentum all the time, and that's just the reminder of where we've come from and what people have done before us."
Living Black is now streaming at SBS On Demand.
Yolngu Boy
A still from the iconic Australian film Yolgnu Boy. Source: Supplied
“Yolngu Boy was the first film that I'd seen as a young person where it was all about Indigenous young men and people from just different communities acting in," says Dean.
"I remember that was one of the first times I'd seen a big film in Australia at the time, and it was just about three young Aboriginal boys and their journey.”
Yolngu Boy is now streaming at SBS On Demand.
Muhammad Ali
Watch him dance like a butterfly, sting like a bee. Source: Distributor
Dean says Ali was a personal hero.
"He is one of the people I really looked up to, and I was just fascinated by his character, his attitude and his belief in himself, the confidence that he had in himself. I think he changed the world.
"I love this film. It's a great look into an extraordinary man and some of the extraordinary things that he was able to accomplish, the way he lived his life.”
Dean says a personal connection with the transformative power of sport endears this film to him.
"We have a great entry point to talk about real things in the community (with sport). And I believe in Australia, Rugby League is like boxing. They’re two sports that enable us to have that entry point to talk about Indigenous issues and raise awareness of them.
"A lot of non-Indigenous Australians look up to our boxers, they look up to our footballers, and that gives our Indigenous sportspeople a platform to speak and to try and make a difference where people are willing to listen.”
Muhammad Ali is now streaming at SBS On Demand.
Putuparri and the Rainmakers
An incredible story of the power of the connection to Country in Putuparri and the Rainmakers. Source: SBS
It takes the audience on an emotional journey to meet traditional rainmakers of Australia’s Great Sandy Desert, who have fought a twenty year battle to win back their traditional homeland.
Putuparri and the Rainmakers is now streaming at SBS On Demand.
The Bowraville Murders: Australia Uncovered
A heartbreaking chapter in Australia's history, The Bowraville Murders. Source: Supplied
The families of three murdered Indigenous children embark on a thirty-year battle seeking justice against a racist system and society that have failed them.
The Bowraville Murders is now streaming at SBS On Demand.
We Don’t Need a Map
Warwick Thornton, in his documentary ‘We Don’t Need A Map’. Source: Supplied
We Don’t Need a Map is now streaming at SBS On Demand.
Faboriginal
Cast and guests players of NITV's new game show Faboriginal Source: Noble Savage Pictures
Faboriginal is now streaming at SBS On Demand.
a selection of dedicated programming, special events and news highlights with a focus on encouraging a deeper understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives on 26 January. Join the conversation #AlwaysWasAlwaysWillBe
