Out of Wounds & Ngambaa (Matriarchs Uprising 2026)

Created and performed by Sandra Lamouche, ‘Out of Wounds’ is inspired by the choreographer’s experience of discovering the diamond willow fungus, waukimusigan, and how her connection with the traditional Cree plant medicine helped ease her anxiety. In this solo, Lamouche taps into her ancestral blood memory, activating the spiral path of ‘Nitohnahk Miyo Pimadisiwin’ which translates from Cree to English to mean, ‘Seeking a Good Life’. 

Australian choreographer, Amelia Jean O’Leary, describes ‘Ngambaa’ (Mother in Gamilaraay) as a duo dance work told through the Gamilaraay legend of the emu sisters. After going through the fire, they return as spirits who time travel to two generations of women to protect and guide them. From the ashes, both sisters transcend time and space, journeying across generations to witness two yinarrs (Gamilaroi women) living in the 1960s and in 2025. These yinarrs, act as descendants of their legacy and navigate disconnection and resilience, and rediscover the power of Ngambaa, the Mother, and the strength found in care, renewal, and community. 

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