The unbroken spirit of the Kalkadoons
FREE EXHIBITION
The unbroken spirit of the Kalkadoons
Colleen Sam: My Story
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Free exhibition
Until 24 August 2025
9am – 5pm Monday to Friday
10am – 5pm Saturday and Sunday
slq Gallery, level 2
About the exhibition
The unbroken spirit of the Kalkadoons is a tribute to survival and the enduring power of culture to heal both the land and its people.
Colleen Sam, Kalkadoon (Kalkadunga) woman and visual artist, and her mother, Aunty Ena Sam, share the powerful story of the Kalkadoon people’s resilience, survival, and unwavering strength.
Colleen’s artworks and animations, along with a series of digital stories, recount oral histories of her families' resistance during one of the darkest periods in Queensland’s colonial past.
For generations, Colleen and Aunty Ena’s ancestors safeguarded their cultural knowledge in secret, ensuring that the Sam family’s identity remained strong, despite persistent efforts to erase it.
The exhibition features a dedicated learning and healing space, including a yarning circle for community discussions.
Family-friendly labels are displayed to support young people’s exploration and learning.
Photography not permitted
The artist and the Sam family kindly request that you do not take photographs while in the exhibition. This exhibition contains sacred cultural information that is not intended to be viewed or shared outside of this space.
Content advice
This exhibition includes stories and information that may be disturbing.
Sections of the exhibition include offensive and derogatory terms which are unacceptable today. The exhibition contains words and descriptions that may be culturally sensitive and which might not normally be used in certain public or community contexts. Visitors should be aware that this exhibition contains images of, references to, and names of deceased persons, including of Aboriginal ancestors.
If you need to talk to someone about what you’ve seen or heard in this exhibition, for non-urgent support there are free and confidential services available.
Interview with Aunty Ena Sam and Colleen Sam
Film maker: EJ Garrett
Sound engineer: Steph Leppard
2024
