Barrmarrany involves three generations of family. Photo: Wolfgang Bucher.
Two years ago, Sylvia Akusah’s personal healing practice of candlemaking created the first flicker of what is now meaningful Indigenous-owned business Barrmarrany, which transforms trauma into healing.
At 63, Sylvia travels regional roads with her family members, carrying not just her craft, but generational healing and connection.
Barrmarrany, meaning “family and descendants”, was born from her personal trauma as a survivor of the Stolen Generations, and is part of the legacy she wants to leave for family.
Daughter and co-founder Rochelle Morris said the family delivered genuine Aboriginal healing workshops rooted in lived experience across regional and remote communities, focusing on social and emotional wellbeing and trauma.
“She started off making candles as a therapeutic thing for her – because she’s part of Stolen Generations – to keep her mind calm through arts and crafts,” Rochelle said.
“It was something she was doing for her own self care around that trauma.”
Rochelle said the candlemaking had now expanded into Sylvia sharing her story and other mindfulness activities during the workshops with Indigenous and non-Indigenous groups and organisations.
She said the idea of involving different generations from their family was a key part of the business for Sylvia.
“Having generational input was a significant thing for her,” she said.
“We’re about, how do we empower communities to heal and to do that within a family setting and bring everyone together.”
She said the business involved not only her mother, but herself, her brothers and even Sylvia’s grandchildren.
“She’s actually travelled with her grandchildren to places like Dubbo to those communities and delivered these wellbeing programs,” she said.
“It’s great to see my nieces and nephews experiencing that and getting connected with culture in those really regional communities that may not be exposed to these sorts of things.”
In the Illawarra, they also worked with high schools through to health organisations, with a weaving and jewellery making event set for August at Shellharbour City Library.
“It’s more about social and emotional wellbeing, and talking about her lived experience and her story of being a part of Stolen Generations, and how that’s affected the next generation,” she said.
“That’s where the family comes in.
“We talk about our experiences of being within a family that’s been affected by Stolen Generations, but also how that trauma has affected the different generations as well – even till now.”
Sylvia Akusah (inset) and the family who are involved in the workshops. Photo: Supplied. Inset photo: Wolfgang Bucher.
She said it had become a healing process for the family, because they were able to learn about each other.
“Seeing our youngest at the age of 12 to our oldest, being mum at 63, talk about the experiences of trauma and how that’s impacted them in a family like this, it’s a very powerful piece,” she said.
“It is more about that trauma and how we showcase how we’re healing together.”
She said she often sat in awe hearing her brother’s story of going from addiction to now leading the community in the drug and alcohol space, through to her mum being removed from family as the youngest of 14 children to now travelling and teaching.
“I kind of sit back now and even just saying it, it’s such a powerful piece for people in community to hear that it doesn’t matter how that trauma has affected you in some respect, family is number one,” she said.
“We learn about each other all the time in these discussions. Even the young ones.
“Listening to a 17-year-old talk about their experiences of being a young person in community and going through their issues, but how family has always been there for them and helped them through their trauma and the impacts of that as well.”
She said the workshops resonated with participants due to that vulnerability shown.
“We share some of the truths and some of the really dark things that family members have gone through, but how we’ve come out of that, and what we’re doing to support ourselves individually, but how we’re supporting each other as a family,” she said.
“For us to be able to heal individually, we need to be able to do it as a family as well.”
Rochelle said it was that family approach to the business that set it apart.
She said Barrmarrany’s ultimate goal was to create a lasting legacy, ensuring the stories continued to be told and understood by younger generations.
“She wants to have something that’s stable and leaves a legacy for her and for her grandchildren, and something for them to continue and to keep telling her story,” she said.
Beyond sharing the story, Sylvia also aims to provide skills and stable employment for future generations.
Barrmarrany will hold a weaving and jewellery making workshop at Shellharbour City Library on 6 August from 10 to 11 am. Learn more about other workshops by contacting Rochelle on [email protected]
