The Dyldam Parramatta Eels have this week unveiled the club’s first ever Indigenous jersey. Created by the 2015 National Naidoc Artist of the year, Daren Dunn, the jersey is designed to celebrate and pay respect to the traditional owners of Parramatta.
Not only do the Eels call Parramatta home, the Blue and Gold recognises that its history and success - including four premierships - have been shaped by the contributions of Indigenous Australians, and the club’s connection to Parramatta.
The jersey will be worn for the first time as the Eels face the South Sydney Rabbitohs at home, in Parramatta, in Round 10 of the 2016 NRL Telstra Premiership.
The Indigenous jersey is available in men's, women's and youth sizes and is exclusively available in the Eels Store.
About the Eels Indigenous Jersey: From the artist, Daren Dunn
This jersey celebrates and pays respect to the traditional owners of Parramatta and their deep and rich ancient heritage. The area of Parramatta was known by the Darug people as Burramatta ("Burra" meaning eel and "matta" meaning creek).
The side panels of the jersey represent a welcome dance by the local Aboriginal people to celebrate and acknowledge the "Indigenous Round" with all the cultural groups of Australia with the Parramatta Eels, to celebrate our Cultures as one. It's called the "Shake A Leg" Dance.
The back of jersey represents significant ceremonial sites and meeting places within "Burramatta" especially those most sacred sites to the eastern side near Duck River, Homebush Bay and Parramatta Park.
The front of jersey celebrates and acknowledges the Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal women of today, the past and the future. We pay respect to our Women in our families and communities who lead and support us everyday.
The Eel: "Eel Dreaming" is an important part of our Aboriginal Culture in this region and
is our connection to our Aboriginal Ancestors who look over us and the land everyday. This is the Ancestral Spirit of the Parramatta jersey.
Daren Dunn
Gamilaroi People
"Burrabeedee"
http://www.parraeels.com.au/news/2016/02/15/eels_launch_first_in.html?camefrom=EMCL_960376_38141155
Replies
Agree Chief, its ok for an indigenous jersey.
Love everything about the jersey and what it represents - bar the cost of $160 for something that will be worn once. $110 would be far more reasonable IMO.
You'll probably find we might wear this when we play in Norther Territory. i wouldn't even have minded if they had the old school logo on it instead of the modern one.
i don't know which year it was from but i have an old jersey i got from my godfather and it has this strange logo with a man and a spear instead of the one we have now.
That logo would be the traditional logo of Parramatta
I don't like it at all. Looks like it has been done in 2 D with a ruler. Why wouldn't we have our original aboriginal emblem on an indigenous jersey? Love the idea but not the design
I agree PT - it looks shite.
Makes the 9's jersey look like a timeless classic.
The Nine jersey is a timeless classic.
Who is this 1947 mob that have taken up the back of jersey sponsorship!
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