Over the course of a year, Madison Shakespeare travelled Australia, yarning with others on what self-determination in cancer journeys could look like for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. With an emphasis on GI cancers, the resulting series is a seedpod of human experience and resilience, containing honest, actionable and culturally specific advice.
Seedpod of Yarns aims to develop culturally safe relationships with First Nations patients, carers, kin and community to ensure their awareness of treatment options and to facilitate their realisation of their self-determined cancer journeys – but it is also a compassionate resource for anyone and everyone who must walk one.
Patient and community brochures for Seedpod of Yarns are available upon request. This resource has been created with First Nations patients, kin and community in mind, but is suitable for anyone seeking to learn more about navigating their cancer journey.
To request brochures, please contact us and include the receiver name, address, and quantity you would like to request.
Seedpod of Yarns is in the form of recorded yarns. Yarns are a methodology in which knowledge is shared in a reciprocal, deepening conversation. This allows for different layers of nuance to the information, such as individual context and emotional response.
The way that people participate in the yarn, how it’s conducted, and how subjects are discussed are often equally important to the topic of the yarn itself.
The series is segmented into three sections:
- Yarns for First Nations patients, kin and community
- Yarns for non-First Nations patients, carers and loved ones
- Yarns for cancer researchers, clinicians and healthcare professionals.
We invite you to share this educational resource to anyone you feel could benefit.
Please choose a category below. Each section has been curated for relevant videos. Each video can be relevant to multiple sections.
I am a…
First Nations patient, or kin and community
non-First Nations patient, carer, or loved one
cancer researcher, clinician, or healthcare professional
About Seedpod of Yarns
Trailer
Credits
Artwork: Madison Shakespeare
Director: Madison Shakespeare
Cinematography: Luke Shakespeare
Editor and Colourist: Luke Shakespeare
GI Cancer Trials would like to express our deep gratitude to:
Aunty Grace Crossley
Eitan Harris
Matilda Harry
Series filmed on Kaurna, Peramangk, Gadigal, Darug, Dharawal, Wangal, Jerrinja and Yuin First Nations Country
About Madison Shakespeare
Director
Madison Shakespeare is an Indigenous artist, filmmaker, poet, novelist, and accomplished musician. Identifying proudly as a Gadigal saltwater woman, she was part of the GI Cancer Trials Community Advisory Panel from 2021 to 2023, working to find solutions for early detection, diverse treatment options, quality and end of life choices to ensure that all are able to realise self-determination.
As an Aboriginal Australian, she is also a large advocate for addressing the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, working in research that is focused on addressing disparities caused by social determinants of Indigenous health.