Animals have played a central part in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and spiritual beliefs for over 60,000 years. They are more than just living beings in the environment; native fauna form an integral part of relationships with Country, shaping the way people connect with the land and with one another. Within communities, animals are deeply interwoven with daily life, providing a foundation for economies, identity and sustainability. This relationship is not only practical but also spiritual, affirming the inseparable bond between humans and the natural world.

Over many millennia of co-existence, animals have been central to survival as a food source, ensuring nourishment and continuity for First Nations people. Yet, their role extends far beyond sustenance. They are absorbed into lore and culture, becoming images of totemic power that hold profound meaning within communities. Animals embody knowledge, values and responsibilities that are passed down through generations, and they appear within the ancestral creation stories that link people, land and animals in enduring ways. These narratives highlight a worldview where nature and humanity are not separate, but part of the same living system.

Great and small is a celebration of these connections, acknowledging the resilience and depth of cultural traditions that continue to thrive. It reminds us that animals are not only vital to physical survival but also to the spiritual and cultural fabric of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander life. Through this lens, the exhibition pays tribute to the significance of animals both in the past and in the present, reinforcing the continuity of knowledge, respect and coexistence that has shaped these communities for tens of thousands of years.