Street banners featuring new artworks by Aboriginal artist Aaron Kennedy have been installed across the City of Canada Bay between National Reconciliation Week to NAIDOC Week 2026.
The banners celebrate Wangal Country and the deep cultural connections between Aboriginal people, the Parramatta River and the lands, waterways and skies of the local area.
Created by Aaron Kennedy, the artworks feature the Burra (eel), Gulbee (sea eagle) and Bangu (flying fox). Each artwork reflects important stories of culture, kinship and connection to Country. Aaron spent time walking on Wangal Country with Uncle Jimmy Smith, one of Sydney's leading cultural educators, to learn more about Wangal Country during the development of the artworks.
City of Canada Bay Mayor Michael Megna said the banners were a visible reminder of the deep history and ongoing connection between First Nations people and local lands and waters.
“National Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week are opportunity for all of us to reflect on our shared histories and consider the role we each play in building a more respectful and inclusive future,” Mayor Megna said.
“These banners bring Aboriginal culture and stories into our streets and public places, helping our community connect with the rich and continuing history of Wangal Country.”
“Public art has a powerful role to play in truth-telling, learning and bringing people together. I encourage everyone who sees these banners to take a moment to reflect on the stories they carry and the continuing strength of Aboriginal culture in our City.”
Artist biography:
I am an enthusiastic First Nations, Jerrinja, Djirringanj emerging artist with two years of professional experience in printmaking and digital art. My works are heavily influenced by my experience on Country, and in-depth conversations with my community and my Elders. The vision of my art is to create connections, conversations, and to see the intricacies of our mob's stories.
— Aaron Kennedy
Artist Statements:
Artwork 1 – Burra (eel)
My artworks respond directly to observation of Wangal Country by honouring the animals, what has come before, and the continued practice of culture and tradition that is connected to the Parramatta River, a place that is deeply connected to the Eel dreaming. Central to the concept is Burra, the eel, whose presence reflects movement, migration, and the enduring pathways of culture. Burra represents the strength and continuation of Aboriginal peoples and the deep relationship between the Wangal community and the river system that has sustained them for thousands of years.
A key visual element in the artwork is a traditional family pattern representing oysters that has been passed down to me by my Uncle Noel Butler, a Budawang Elder. This pattern is used here to honour the midden sites found across Wangal Country and the surrounding region. The middens are a marker for places of gathering, nourishment, and the localised history embedded in the low bank escarpment. By including this intergenerational pattern into the work, I acknowledge both my own cultural lineage and the historical presence of Aboriginal people along the Parramatta River.
Artwork 2 – Gulbee (sea eagle)
Alongside Burra, I’ve included Gulbee, the sea eagle, an animal once found throughout Wangal Country but which no longer has a strong physical presence due to habitat loss and the destruction of nesting trees. Gulbee also has a historical connection, with its name being given to one of the Aboriginal men taken to meet Governor Phillip alongside Bennelong. Both the man and sea eagle become a cultural symbol and a reminder of the impacts of colonisation on Wangal people and Country. His presence in the artwork acknowledges loss, while celebrating resilience and the ongoing spirit of community.
Artwork 3 – Bangu (flying fox)
The concept of the flying fox comes from the presence of bats in the area. It also being a male totem for the people, it gives a sense of connectedness to the kinship that continues to exist on these lands, waterways, and skies. Another component of all of the artworks is a pattern that represents the multiple meeting places and locations along Wangal / Burramatta Country, representing the different clan groups connected to the river and surrounding areas. These motifs highlight the interconnectedness of communities, the movement of people along the waterway, and the relationships that have shaped this landscape for generations.
