About Creative Spirits

I started CreativeSpirits.info originally to tell of my travels through Western Australia.

Soon I expanded the site to include some Aboriginal DVDs and CDs I owned or had heard about.

In 2006 I added the section about Aboriginal culture, and it became a hit with my visitors. There is a huge thirst to learn about our First Australians, and it seems not many sites offer in-depth quality information.

Can you trust this site?

Creative Spirits has been online since 1999. Visits to the site have increased year on year.

Many visitors are students and teachers.

An important site, illuminating, objective, educational and user friendly. Should be streamed into all educational institutions and libraries throughout Australia. —John Lind, film maker, writer, script editor, and teacher

Can you trust my content?

In 2011 the National Library of Australia found this site "to be an important component of the national documentary heritage" and chose to archive it periodically.

All articles have references to the sources used so you can verify what I write. Sources are in square brackets like so: [15]. There's a summary of all sources at the end of each article.

Some of my content, both articles and images, have been published in other works around the world.

Aboriginal people have sent me unsolicited emails telling me how they like the content of this site. Here are a few of them.

It is refreshing to see a website like yours, as it is indicative of how far other peoples interest (and yes curiosity) have come in terms of our own history, culture, language, spirituality and our place in the world. Thanks for spreading the word—and thank you for your cultural sensitivity which I feel lately has been very lacking from the general public.—Laura, Wamba Wamba people

And Coralie, an Aboriginal poet, writes: "Dear Jens your creative spirits does absolute JUSTICE to and for Aboriginal people. Thanks a trillion for putting us on the world-wide information network. Your efforts in acknowledging our Aboriginal culture and heritage does us PROUD! At last the TRUE story of our suffering, sacrifices and injustices is now being told."

"Creative Spirits is the light at the end of the tunnel that has engulfed us for the last 220 years. It has taken an overseas visitor to accomplish what many others have failed to do: acknowledge the fact that Australia was indeed occupied by thousands of Aboriginal tribes long before any kind of 'discovery' was made. As an Aborigine I thank you for your well researched contribution to Aboriginal culture. May your creative spirits linger forever more. Thank you."

I used creativespirits.info as my main source for my Year 10 assignment—Aboriginal Australians In Prison. It was the best. Thank you so much. —Chris J., student

Good looking site. Must confess I was initially nervous to see a non-indigenous created site but your information looks great and you show great respect. —Denise Freeman, koorikullas.com

I comend you on your work and understanding of our culture as l wish that many more people would take your lead and have understanding. —Craig Robertson, Melbourne

Who am I?

I am a curious and creative person of Australian-German descent. This site is home to my various creative activities, writing, photography and poetry, and also web development, which I do professionally.

But this site is not about me. It's about things you can explore and learn about.

I hope you enjoy this website. If you feel you should tell me something, just drop me an email to the address provided below. Be curious. Always. It's a spice of life.

Cheers,
Jens

The website is awesome—it's appealing to the eye and the poetry is the icing! Best of all, have no fear, its contents is health and life-giving!—Martin Mhando, film director Liyarn Ngarn

Contact me

Please note:
I create and maintain this website in my limited spare time. Please be patient when submitting a request as I often cannot answer quickly. While I endeavour to list as many of my sources as possible, some older text might not have all references available. When assessing the quality of my content, note that English is my second language and I do not have time for research as journalists would have. Thank you.

Please read the frequently asked questions before writing in. Thanks.