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Dan Neill is a proud Kabi Kabi man from the Sunshine Coast region. He has strong connections to his culture and community, with family connections to Cherbourg. As a father and role model, Dan is passionate about passing on his cultural knowledge and pride to the next generation. Professionally, Dan has excelled and earnt a reputation as a cultural guide and leader throughout all facets of his career by offering invaluable insights, fostering understanding, and empowering others through his deep knowledge and commitment to cultural integrity.

In this episode, Dan shares pivotal moments from his upbringing that have shaped his identity, including the importance of his parents instilling a strong sense of Aboriginal identity despite living off-country. He reflects on the resilience of his community and the progress being made in acknowledging Aboriginal histories and truths in wider society.

Dan is open about his personal struggles with mental health, emphasising the need for vulnerability and self-care. He advocates for shifting the narrative around the "cultural load" carried by Aboriginal people, reframing it as the "colonial load" imposed by systemic barriers.

With hopes for a future where young Aboriginal people can embrace their culture "black, loud and proud", Dan's story exemplifies the strength, resilience and authenticity of the Aboriginal experience.

Thank you to Shannan Bishop, a proud Gunggari Artist and Graphic Designer, who also has connections to Wakka Wakka and Kabi Kabi, for designing The Dreaming Collective's Podcast Artwork. Shannan's art depicts our host, Carly Forrest's journey of bringing the podcast to life and shows the coming together of freshwater and saltwater ~ red dirt and sand with the sharing of our storylines connecting us all and preserving these yarns for future generations.

This season of the podcast has been funded by has been funded by the National Indigenous Australians Agency as a National NAIDOC Week Activity.