The VA NetworkStories From The Space In Between
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It began, as all sacred things do, with the land. Not in ink or on screens, but in the quiet hum of Country, in the language of fire, smoke, and symbols drawn in sand. We have always said that this digital campfire was not created by Us – it was remembered, brought back beneath a sky mapped by those who came before, where the stars are not just distant lights but waypoints, ancestors gathered in skycamp, tending fires that have never gone out, inviting us to join them by their fire, to feel its warmth, to illuminate our spirits, and cast light on the pathways we have forgotten how to walk.
The VA Network came from a promise to create a space where the world could gather. A place where people can not just watch and listen but to learn, to act, and remember. This is a campfire that transcend time and place, land and people. A where all could sit, and share their story, share their fragment of the pattern of creation, and connect.
In the sands beside that fire we sung the story of what would become The VA Network into the world, drawing the blueprints for a space to carry that fire forward that all are welcome around. We knew then that it couldn’t just be a platform. It had to breathe, to resonate, to flow like the knowledge it was meant to hold. It had to be a living space, a digital campfire where ancient wisdom could meet modern storytelling, where stories could thrive, not just survive, stand the test of time and leave behind the only tool that will last and always be relevant: good story.
So, we created it, we built the platform, then we tore it apart, set it on fire, and invited the world to sit by the flames around this digital campfire.
A journey through fire, sand, and story with VA Network creator Andrew D Flanagan.
A Life in Story, in Relation, in Responsibility.
Every story carries a rhythm, a pulse that moves through the land, the people, and the spirit of place. It’s not just seen or heard; it’s felt – in the way the light touches the earth, in the patterns of shadows stretching across the ground, in the way the wind whispers through the trees, in the calls of the animals echoing through the valley. Everything I do, being a photographer, a writer, a storyteller, is a way of holding the threads of connection that bind us all together, braiding them into something that honors the past, illuminates the present, and creates pathways for the future. Everything I do is for the next generations, for all those who come after, and with the short time I have left on this earth I realized, I was shown, the only thing that matters, the only thing will last and that will always be relevant is Good Story. That is my purpose, my mission, my task I was given – to share that story.
My journey as a photographer and storyteller took a profound turn when I met my mentor, Dig. He changed everything when he taught me who I was, my connection to Country, my connection to my ancestors, to the inherited knowledge from generations I held within me and my relations. He taught me how to listen, how to see, how to be in relation with the land, to the people, all the sentient beings of a landscape and the stories they hold. Sitting by the fire under skycamp, Dig drew symbols in the sand – a map of connection, a blueprint for what would become my way forward, my purpose for being, taking me from the work I had been doing, to what I would be doing for the rest of my life. Dig spoke of relation, of reciprocity, and of the deep responsibility we all share to amplify the voices of those who need to be heard.
To carry the fire forward. That’s all that matters.
My work, the images, the stories I share, are rooted in this philosophy of connection and relation, grounded in the lore and in our ways of knowing – not in the things, but in the processes, not the objects but the ways of being. Dig gave me some tasks to do in this life; and when an old person asks something of you, you do it. The VA Network and my other projects; the Ngarra project, the Earth Legacy social good creative studio, the ITA Foundation, my documentary photographic work, my films, my writing – they are all, in one way or another, my answer to that task Dig gave me. Across different mediums in all kinds of different ways, everything I do is rooted in Napagi Napagi. More than reciprocity, not give-and-take; it’s give-and-give. A loop of generosity that spirals outwards, a never-ending harmony, that sustains all life. It’s a pattern, an echo, a rhythm that resonates across cultures, generations, and all living systems. Purpose over profit. Always.
What was drawn up in the sands that night redirected my entire life, everything now centred around this task, this ask, this thing I have to do with the limited time I have left to walk these lands. For me its not just about the photography, or the films, the prose, the content – it’s about the connections it fosters, the conversations it sparks, and the change it inspires. It’s a way to honor the wisdom of ancestors who came before, to hold and pass on the stories and lore to our descendants who come after.
I do not like to say that I’m founder, or a CEO, a photographer, mingari, storyteller or any other hollow label from a marketplace that gets thrown around; I view myself as just tending to fire Dig left me, a custodian of a small part of the pattern of creation, a human, with a few stories and a couple of good yarns to share before I join my ancestors in skycamp. The VA Network is one of the ways of inviting the world to sit by the fire, to listen, to see, and to remember that we are all part of one shared story. One people. One fire. Wangra.
Though Dig walks beyond the horizon, his wisdom remains – a guiding ember in every story, every step, every breath of this journey.
Carrying the Fire Forward
While Dig is no longer walking Country beside us, his presence is felt in every step of this journey. This project, as you see it today, is a testament to his vision – a campfire that calls to all who are ready to sit, listen, and share. It is a space to honor the past, celebrate the present, and envision a future where humanity remembers its place in the great pattern of creation. Guided not just by the wisdom of Indigenous cultures, but by the deep, ancient processes they embody. This campfire invites us to step into relation, to see ourselves in the pattern of relation, and bring all our stories along side each other – for each of us carries a fragment of this pattern, a fractal of the whole.
This project goes beyond sharing stories from native peoples across the globe – it’s about reclaiming a way of being, a way of human-being. It’s about moving in the world with respect for the land, honoring the threads of connection that bind all life, and ensuring that every voice has a place in the circle of creation. It’s through the lens of these creators, the stories of their people and their lands that the global community is invited to rediscover the processes that sustain life – the reciprocity, the interconnectedness, the stories that hold us all.
For those who came before us, who carried the stories, who sat by the fire and passed the embers into our hands. Thankyou.
We gather around this fire with gratitude in our hearts for the extraordinary spirits who guided our path, the ones who shaped us, the ones who no longer walk this world with us, who wait for us in skycamp. Their voices still move through the trees, their wisdom still ripples through the waters, their stories still burn in the fires we keep. And now, it is our turn – to tend the flames, to listen deeply, to carry these stories forward for those who come next, for the ones we may never meet, for the generations yet to be, and honor their lives, their contributions, for none of this would be possible without them.
To Dig, who taught us how to listen – to the land, each other, to all the beings of a landscape and the lore of the land, the spirit of creation that hold us all. To Louisa, whose love and passion for making a difference in lives of children across the world fuelled our mission to empower the next generations. To all those we have loved and lost along the way who continue to inspire us, drive us, and guide us.
May we honor their spirits by walking gently, sharing openly, loving completely, and keeping the flame of connection alive – so that every voice is heard, every land is cherished, and every life lights a fire for those yet to come.
We will see you again soon.
As part of the One Fire Festival, we invite you to gather around a virtual campfire like no other. Our Campfire Sounds are more than just crackling embers and gentle winds; they are the harmonious rhythms of Indigenous artists’ worlds. These captivating audio landscapes are created by the artists themselves, who share their sacred fires burning on their ancestral lands. As you immerse yourself in these evocative sounds, you’ll be enveloped in the warmth of their stories and culture, forging a deep connection to the heart of Indigenous artistry. Join us for this unique fireside experience, where the flames dance to the beat of Indigenous wisdom, and the stories of their lands come alive
The VA Network acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country
throughout the world, & their connections to land, sea, & sky.
We pay our respects to Elders past & present, & extend that respect to all First Nations Peoples on whose land we live, connect, travel, create, & love.
We celebrate the diversity of all First Nations Peoples
& their stories reflected in their unique artistic practices.
Please join us in respecting the ongoing legacy of the first artists of this country, & all countries.
⏲ 1hr 15min
Environmentalism / Culture Change
Finding our way back to our role as custodians of creation.
At its core, The VA Network is about connections and celebrating the stories in the spaces in-between.
The VA Network is built on foundations of relation to one another, the more-than-human world, and
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