Statement of Country

Honouring Country at the Festival Opening

Sinsa Mansell is a proud Trawoolaway woman from Larapuna, in the north-east of Lutruwita/Tasmania.

Sinsa will deliver the Statement of Country at the official opening of the 2026 Australian Antarctic Festival, an invitation-only event, on Thursday 20 August.

About Sinsa Mansell

Sinsa is Senior Producer at Performing Lines TAS, a multidisciplinary artist, cultural leader, and co-founder of ‘pakana kanaplila’, Tasmania’s Traditional and Contemporary Aboriginal dance troupe.

For more than two decades, Sinsa has been at the forefront of reclaiming and revitalising Tasmanian Aboriginal cultural practices through performance, storytelling, and community leadership. Her work bridges ancient cultural knowledge with contemporary practice, creating powerful experiences that honour Country, strengthen cultural identity, and invite deeper understanding between First Nations and the broader community.

As a choreographer, producer, performer, and cultural advisor, Sinsa has led acclaimed works including ‘BACK’ and ‘tuylupa (a spark of fire)’, while championing opportunities for the next generation of Palawa artists and storytellers. Through every aspect of her work, she continues to ensure that Tasmania’s oldest living traditions remain strong, visible, and alive.