This 2012 paper is comprised of evaluation reports of two CAN projects: “’Opening the cage, sending smoke and dancing the stories for country’: An evaluation of CAN WA’s ‘Rock Hole Long Pipe project” by Dave Palmer and “Voices of the Wheatbelt Project: An Evaluation Study” by Christopher Sonn.

Rock Hole Long Pipe was a large community event that was part of the Water Dreaming project, in which young people and other community members in Coolgardie were offered workshops in performing arts and cultural activities. The aims of the project were to:

1. Bring members of geographically isolated areas together.
2. Encourage interaction between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in the region.
3. Provide opportunities for other personal and social developmental experiences, such as education, training and employment.
4. Help prepare local people for participation in community life, including local government.