Bob Randall, a member of Australia’s Aboriginal people who are the traditional owners of Uluru (Ayers Rock), will present a lecture and show the documentary “Kanyini” on Tuesday, Sept. 29, at 7 p.m., in Brown Hall Auditorium (Room 112) at ETSU. The event, sponsored by the ETSU Honors College, is free and open to the public.

In “Kanyini,” Randall tells the story of his personal journey and the wisdom that was bestowed upon him by the elders of his tribe. In his culture, “kanyini” represents the idea of connectedness through caring and responsibility to knowledge, life and the land.

The documentary also tells why indigenous people are now struggling as their ancient wisdom confronts the beliefs of the modern world.

Born in 1934 at Middleton Pond on Tempe Station in the Central Desert region of the Northern Territory, Randall is one of the Stolen Generation of the Aboriginal people. At the age of seven, he was taken from his family by the government because he “didn’t wear clothes or live in a house.” Throughout his life, he has worked as a teacher and leader for Aboriginal land rights, education, community development and cultural awareness. In the early ’70s Randall’s song “Brown Skin Baby (They Took Me Away)” became an anthem for the Aboriginal people.

Randall’s lifelong efforts were recognized in 1999 when he was named “Indigenous Person of the Year” at the National Aboriginal and Islander Day of Celebration awards.

Kanyini was voted Best Documentary at the 2007 London Australian Film Festival. It was also winner of the Inside Film Independent Spirit Award and the Discovery Channel Best Documentary Award in 2006.

In 2004, Randall was inducted into the NT Indigenous Music Hall of Fame for having written such classic songs as “Brown Skin Baby” and “Red Sun, Black Moon.”

Randall is also the author of two books – his autobiography, “Songman,” and a children’s book, “Tracker Tjginji,” which was part of the 2004 Sydney Writer’s Festival.

For more information or to request special assistance for those with disabilities, contact the Honors College at 423-439-6075 or e-mail wyattlg@etsu.edu.

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