Healing Arts and Indigenous Entanglements

This book explores how creative practices can drive individual and collective healing embracing the knowledge of Indigenous systems and alternative arts-based approaches. It positions the arts as vital tools for understanding, connection, and flourishing through creativity and culture.Through its two-part structure, the book provides a comprehensive journey from theoretical foundations to practical applications. Readers will discover innovative arts-based methodologies that include, yarning conversations and duo-narrative métissage, which respond to the Indigenous ways of knowledge-making while fostering meaningful dialogue across cultural perspectives. Case studies illustrate how creative practices can address collective trauma, strengthen community resilience, and reconnect individuals with the natural world. By integrating neuroscience, experiential insights cultural knowledge and the power of making art. This book offers actionable insights for those interested in exploring the power of the arts to navigate today’s global challenges.This is an essential resource for art educators, arts therapists, cultural researchers, and community leaders seeking to deepen their understanding of creativity as a fundamental human experience. Whether you are a practitioner, policymaker, or academic, this book provides the tools and inspiration to embrace holistic, culturally responsive approaches to healing and human connection.

Kathryn Grushka is a practicing visual artist, freelance academic and writer in visual education and Arts Health. Originally trained as a visual art secondary teacher she has worked in community, the tertiary sector across visual art and creative arts pre-service teacher education. She obtained her PhD in Education from the University of Newcastle in 2008.Shelley Hannigan is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Education at Deakin University. She obtained her PhD from the University of Queensland in 2014. She is also a practicing artist and has a background in art therapy in hospitals as well as teaching art in community and secondary colleges.Elizabeth Cameron is an Associate Professor of Indigenous Knowledge and Design at the University of Newcastle. She obtained her Post Grad in Indigenous Social Health and PhD in Indigenous Knowledges from Newcastle University in 2014. She is also a Spatial Designer and Indigenous Cultural Consultant.