Caring for Culture

The Kimberley Land Council was proud to assist Yanunijarra Aboriginal Corporation with the very important transport of the Ngurrara Canvas from Fitzroy Crossing to the KLC office in Broome in January.

It was a smooth operation with a great crew on the ground at Karrayili - thank you to the team, who came together with very little notice.

The move was led by Amber McCarthy with assistance from Lionel Marr, Christian Andrews, Tristan McCarthy, Hozaus Claire, Rani McCarthy Mary-May Skinner, Sebastian Rawlins, Kendrick Chungal, Diondre Gunn and Kassamias Gunn.

Marmingee Hand and Edna Cheryl were present to oversee the safe passage of the canvas from Karrayili to the Fitzroy Crossing airport. Wendy from Marra Worra Worra and Sarka from Marninwarntikura Women's Resource Centre also provided invaluable help.

In Broome the canvas was placed across tables in the KLC conference rooms to allow air to circulate over the work and to check its condition. It seems that the quick thinking of everyone in Fitzroy has saved the canvas from any lasting water damage.

Over the weekend the canvas has been laid out on the floor so it can rest, and today, work has begun to prepare the canvas for storage in Broome.

The canvas became a crucial document in the Ngurrara native tile claim. It grew out of the generous gesture by 40 Ngurrara artists and claimants, as (Kumunyjayi) May said “to help Europeans understand” how they are connected to their land and waters across the Great Sandy Desert.

The 8 x 10m Ngurrrara canvas illustrates the significant jila (springs) and jumu (soaks) across Ngurrara country, with the only concession to western mapping a depiction of the Canning Stock Route. It was produced in 1997 to be presented to the National Native Title Tribunal that same year. Eleven years after their claim was lodged, the Ngurrara people were granted exclusive possession native title over approximately 77, 595 square kilometres—an area larger than Tasmania.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Sarah Parriman sarah.parriman@klc.org.au or Karen Dayman on karen.dayman@klc.org.au or on: 0429 502 564 / 0429 915 051.