‘Strong and powerful’: Archie Roach remembered as a storyteller

By Caitlyn Grant

Aug 2, 2022

Close to heart: Uncle Archie Roach and Madi Colville-Walker at the Kitchen Table Yarn.

First Nations readers are advised that the following article contains images, names and voices of people who have died.

In lieu of Uncle Archie Roach’s passing, tributes have flowed from across the globe.

A little closer to home, Yorta Yorta artist Madi Colville-Walker has reflected on his legacy.

“He had a very gentle soul,” Miss Colville-Walker said.

“He was just so proud of the young mob that was doing good things in music.”

Treaty Day Out: Uncle Archie Roach performed at the inaugural festival. Photo by Caitlyn Grant

The Mooroopna-born Gunditjmara (Kirrae Whurrong/Djab Wurrung), Bundjalung Senior Elder died on Saturday, July 30, aged 66.

The artist touched many with his music, his storytelling and his support of young musicians — Miss Colville-Walker among them.

Aside from sharing several line-ups with Uncle Archie, Miss Colville-Walker was also a part of the Archie Roach Foundation’s Singing Our Futures project beside Maya Hodge and Chloe Bethune.

Together the three artists created a song-response to Uncle Archie’s Took the Children Away — Spiritual Heart.

Though it was unreleased, Uncle Archie had the chance to hear it performed at the Share the Spirit Festival.

“It was so beautiful, and I’m just so glad he got to hear it,” Miss Colville-Walker said.

“He was over the moon, I remember he said to us that it was so beautiful.

“You could just tell that he was in awe of it.

“It was a really, really emotional, heartfelt moment for everybody in the arena and it was an honour.”

Earlier this year at the Port Fairy Folk Festival, the group was a part of the Kitchen Table Yarn on the Archie Roach Foundation Stage.

“It was a moment I’ll hold in my heart forever,” Miss Colville-Walker said.

Miss Colville-Walker has performed at events across Australia, this year having played Shepparton regularly with the Goulburn Valley Country Music Festival and Treaty Day Out, also featuring Uncle Archie.

Based in Echuca on Yorta Yorta Country, it was there she first heard Uncle Archie play live.

Though only 12 at the time, Miss Colville-Walker remembers being in “absolute awe” of his storytelling.

“I just remember how strong and powerful his words were,” she said.

“And then to be on the same line-up as him for my first sort of big show ... to open for Uncle was absolutely amazing.

“And then to now, where I’ve been working pretty closely with him and built a relationship with him is so honouring to me as a young artist and particularly as a storyteller myself.”