The Gurindji history project involved a consortium of external agencies including Karungkarni Arts and the Murnkurrumurnkurru Central Land Council ranger group, as well as Gurindji Elders and artists, a Gurindji curator, linguists (Felicity Meakins and Erika Charola), a cartographer, photographers (Brenda L Croft and Penny Smith), graphic designers and editors. We recorded historical accounts of the early colonial history of Gurindji country, including massacres, enforced labour on cattle stations and dispossession of land. We then conducted on-country site visits, archival research and an artist retreat which resulted in the volume Yijarni: True Stories from Gurindji Country (Aboriginal Studies Press, 2016).
‘Yijarni: True Stories from Gurindji Country’ was launched in August 2016 by one of two Indigenous senators, Patrick Dodson, to an audience which included Bill Shorten (then Labor Party leader) and Richard di Natalie (Greens party leader). The book attracted considerable media attention including radio interviews with Philip Adams and Wendy Harmer on ABC Radio.
This book has had a major impact politically, for example, in April 2019, these atrocities were revealed in the Australian Senate. Senator Patrick Dodson brought a censure motion against then Senator Fraser Anning in the wake of the Christchurch shooting by quoting from ‘Yijarni’. This project is the result of a major collaboration with Karungkarni Arts, the Central Land Council, and Gurindji historians and artists to record Gurindji history through the Gurindji language. The book also features in a major touring exhibition ‘Still in my mind: Gurindji location, experience and visuality’, curated by Brenda L Croft, which has been touring nationally since 2017.
We have also been focussed on redressing family devastation post-Intervention. We produced the book ‘Karu: Growing up Gurindji’. This book re-presents Gurindji child-rearing practices from an Indigenous perspective, and honours those mothers, grandmothers, assistant teachers and health workers who dedicate their lives to shaping Gurindji children’s lives. The book was endorsed by Senator Malarndirri McCarthy and Anita Heiss, and featured in a panel at the 2019 NT Writers Festival.
The project was funded by the Aboriginal Benefits Account, the AUstralian Research Council, Indigenous Languages and Arts and Central Land Council..
Photo: Leah Leaman, Violet Wadrill, Wilomena Johnson, Penny Smith and Serena Donald working on canvases at Warrijkuny (Sambo Rockhole) (Photo: Brenda L Croft 2014) [History1.jpg]
Photo: Erika Charola chairs a project meeting at Karungkarni Art and Cultural Centre (Photo: Brenda L Croft 2014) [History2.jpg]
Photo: Murnkurrumurnkurru rangers, Erika Charola and Felicity recording information about a massacre which occurred at Wirrilu on Wave Hill Station (Photo: Brenda L Croft 2014) [History3.jpg]
Photo: Gurindji historians Steven Long and Ronnie Wavehill stand at the site of the old Afghan store at the Wave Hill Welfare Settlement, now Kalkaringi (Brenda L Croft 2014) [History4.jpg]