Biography:
My name is Sherena Bin Hitam, Jaogarie to my family. My heritage is of a multicultural mix of Aboriginal and Malaysian and English. My mother and grandparents are Bardi Jawi people from the Dampier Peninsular north of Broome, my father a Malaysian who came to Broome in 1950’s for the pearling industry.
I grew up in Broome raised by my Dad’s sister Alberta McKenna (nee Dolby) and her husband Jack McKenna my Yawuru connection to Broome.
In my early years visiting for school holidays my mother, siblings and grandparents Sandy & Esther Paddy and families out at Djarindjin and One Arm Point (now Ardyaloon) and on country revisiting old camping areas was very valuable and memorable. These times in the early 1970’s is etched in my mind with faces, names, stories, places, experiences and adventure to smells of the old community the sand dunes, Albi tree and niyalboon is strong in my heart.
My heritage is the strongest having close connection to country and culture. Everything I see or did I recorded it in my ‘art’ memory, to draw, replicate and interpret it through art and at the same time tell my story. It was always bringing happy, sad and memorable feelings to the surface. These also hold strong as I grew up in Broome.
Where-ever I go, I see the rich country, color, character, history and feeling the old people in their special places. Hence, I am calling this ‘My cultural perspective’ and interpretation waiting to be told. It is an expression of country through different mediums and different styles.
Now in this two-world (society) we live and walk, with cultural and societal responsibilities sometimes clashing, it has shaped my thoughts, actions and who I am.
As a mature Aboriginal woman, my lived experience and understanding more about myself the stories told, family, history, seasons, hunting and gathering yet I still have more to learn how we can continue to keep this balance, will never stop. I have succeeded in many ways in my own right, I am proud of my multicultural heritage, of who I am. The last 8 years that has finally got me to express these feelings into art. With a strong Liyan I hope my passion is expressed to lead by example to showcase my connection to country the land and sea and all the people around me, who have given me purpose to follow my dream.
