Five years ago Shannon Hart-Cole was invited to Canberra, when he was still in high school, to address former Prime Minister Tony Abbott as the first Indigenous PM offering his vision for Australia.
It was part of a program The Other Election which saw Indigenous youth present a speech to a Senate Committee packed with journalists, camera crews, politicians, the Minister for Indigenous Affairs along with the former Governor General Quentin Bryce.
Now 20-years old, Hart-Cole has been chosen as this year’s Birak Festival’s youth ambassador and will be performing live on stage for the first time.
Hart-Cole has been rapping since he 13-years-old taking inspiration from the high and lows of his upbringing, expressing himself through rhyming poetry, rhythm and music.
Putting all his mixed up feelings into rap style music, Hart-Cole shares his own memories of addiction, loss, domestic violence, sexual abuse and identity.
The Birak Festival takes place on Saturday at Gloucester Park in Margaret River.
The event is smoke and alcohol free, it celebrates Noongar culture providing a range of cultural activities and entertainment for the community and visitors of all ages and abilities.
