Anindilyakwa Land Council’s Ayakwa One People. One Voice. anindilyakwa.com.au Thylacine at Dalumba Bay Artwork of a thylacine, located in the Eastern Region of Dalumba Bay earlier this year, may date back to between 2 and 3,000 years ago. Ross McDonald and his team of Archaeologists and Rock Art Specialists discovered over 85 sites between May and August this year, all under the supervision of Traditional Owners. Using Geographical Information Systems to determine areas to survey, habitation sites consisting of grinding stones and ochre sites have also been revealed. Common motifs found in the Rock Art are animal images (e.g. fruit bats, crocodiles, birds), hand stencils, and the Hairy Man. Detailed images of Macassan sailboats with intricate depiction of canoes as cargo, have also surfaced amongst these amazing discoveries. This wouldn’t have been possible without Gemco’s generous support to fund these exciting cultural surveys. Continued Pg. 4 INSIDE THIS ISSUE • Thompsons Bay Board Meeting • Aminjarinja’s Healthy Houses Project • Umbakumba’s Mini Festival • Momovivo housing comes to Groote • Bush Calender Newsletter | Issue no. 1 November 2015
Transcript
Anindilyakwa Land Council’s
Ayakwa
One People. One Voice. anindilyakwa.com.au
Thylacine at Dalumba BayArtwork of a thylacine, located in the Eastern Region of Dalumba Bay earlier this year, may date back to between 2 and 3,000 years ago.
Ross McDonald and his team of Archaeologists and Rock Art Specialists discovered over 85 sites between May and August this year, all under the supervision of Traditional Owners. Using Geographical Information Systems to determine areas to survey, habitation sites consisting of grinding stones and ochre sites have also been revealed. Common motifs found in the Rock Art are animal images (e.g. fruit bats, crocodiles, birds), hand stencils, and the Hairy Man. Detailed images of Macassan sailboats with intricate depiction of canoes as cargo, have also surfaced amongst these amazing discoveries. This wouldn’t have been possible without Gemco’s generous support to fund these exciting cultural surveys.
Continued Pg. 4
INSIDE THIS ISSUE• Thompsons Bay
Board Meeting
• Aminjarinja’s Healthy Houses Project
• Umbakumba’s Mini Festival
• Momovivo housing comes to Groote
• Bush Calender
Newsletter | Issue no. 1 November 2015
Photo: A 3D Visual of the external T/O House.
Momovivo comes to GrooteThe Director of Momovivo, Gary Gale and son Charlie Gale have been liaising with the Traditional Owners, ALC, Anagabamummanja and Aminjarrinja in the production of five new houses being built for the Traditional Owners.
The construction will take place in the next few months in the following areas; 4 Mile, Embakwa and two at Malkala. These new buildings have been researched to increase the airflow through the homes and have the ability to be self-sustainable with Solar Panels if needed. Finishing touches such as Crimsafe on all fly wire, extra wardrobe space and an outdoor stone cooking area, have come together by recommendation from the Traditional Owners themselves. With special consideration,
these homes will also be environmentally friendly, with all consisting of a bushfire attack level (BAL) of six, which is of an extremely low risk. As well as this, none of the buildings will require concrete slabs, meaning no damage to land, leaving the houses sitting at a relatively low elevation.
With pre built bases, panels and rafters arriving from China, these modern and sustainable homes have the ability to be erected within a month, creating plenty of job opportunities for any local people interested. GEBIE is also trialing and building constructive methods for future housing. This is a pilot project to eventually see 120 houses go up for Traditional Owners, all funded from ALC’s Royalty distribution.
Photo: A 3D Visual of the internal lay of the 4 BR T/O House.
Honks For School AttendanceWith a team of 30 across the Anindilyakwa region, the School Attendance Strategy is working closely with schools, families, parents, and community organisations to ensure all children go to school every day. The Yellow Shirts main initiatives being resilience, engagement and whilst at school maintaining behavioural management; there is definitely a noticeable change in the community. It’s about working with the community so local people can come up with their own solutions to increase school attendance. A great example is when the Umbakumba team identified kids were travelling on the community bus between
communities during school time. Using their own initiative they approached the bus driver Elvis and negotiated for him to stop at 10:30 every morning before leaving the community. He said he couldn’t stop the kids getting on the bus, but by stopping at the school, the Yellow Shirt team would get on ensuring kids went to school instead of being in transit. This is just one example of the fantastic work being achieved by the teams across the Groote Archipelago. In the upcoming weeks they’ll be coordinating an awesome school holiday program, working with local service providers to ensure there’s plenty to do during the holidays.
Photo: The Umbakumba Yellow Shirt team out the front of Umbakumba School.
Issue no. 1 | November 2015 pg. 2
Photos (clockwise from top):
Umbakumba and Angurugu teams shake hands before the game.
Percy commentates and referees with comedic ease.
One of the ladies hits a ball and safely arrives at first base.
The crowd support the Softball and AFL game with cheers and laughter from the side.
UMBAKUMBA’S MINI FESTIVALCar horns sounded when a goal was kicked and the atmosphere at the Umbakumba grounds was contagious.
On Saturday 18th October, East Arnhem Shire along with Matt Grosse from AFL NT and Percy Bishop from Sport and Rec executed a fantastic day at Umbakumba oval. Engaging both Angurugu and Umbakumba in a knock-out softball competition and a ripping AFL game.
Boys hurtled to the ground creating dust fogs amongst tangled legs and sweat, leaving the crowd in giggles and cheer. The Shire had offerings of popcorn and slushies throughout the day for all to enjoy, with particular help from Margaret Allgood cooking up fish and steak for a post game feed.
pg. 3Issue no. 1 | November 2015
Photo: Above, Hairy man. Below, rocky outcrops at Sexy Beach. Steve Wurramara (Bakla) and Matt Blyth.
Issue no. 1 | November 2015 pg. 4
Photo: The Rock Shelter used for cyclone protection. Photo: Macassan prau depicted at Marngkala Beach.
ContinuedMention a trip to ‘Sexy Beach’ and you will generally receive raised eyebrows and giggles in return. ‘Sexy Beach’ or in Anindilyakwa, Marngkala is a stunning bay in the south eastern corner of Groote Eylandt, with a torrid and unusual history.
Local mythology tells of a gruesome massacre that occurred back in a time just beyond living memory. A group of strange people, who were conducting themselves ‘wrong way’, in terms of marital relations were rounded up and executed by spear, by the local people. Correct marriage and observance of very strict laws were a major part of the Anindilyakwa people’s way of life, stretching back to ancient tradition. To transgress these laws meant penalty of death.
There were other stories too, some flavoured by tales of Macassans, their ‘praus’, tamarind trees and seasonal travels by Anindilyakwa locals to islands in the archipelago now called Indonesia.
Centuries old ovens for cooking trepang were still to be discovered, together with magnificent caves detailing Macassan praus with mixed Asian/
Aboriginal crews. In particular there were two stories by one of the island’s most senior women, about a rock shelter used by her family during a cyclone in the 1940s, filled with art. And another intimately sacred place, with hand stencils created by her father and brother.
This was enough to prick the ears of the ALC anthropologists. Gathering a remarkable team of around 50 individuals including, Traditional Owners, Jungkai, men and women they set off in a convoy down to Dalumba Bay in July and again in August, to unravel the mysteries of Marngkala Beach that hadn’t been revealed in over 70 years. Elders were assisted by the provision of a helicopter, with their fears quickly put aside, embracing the novelty and ease of travel in the ‘chopper’. The surveys were a great success, yielding important scientific and anthropological information about an area that had been under-researched. Conducted by ALC, funded by Gemco and supported by a crack team of non-ALC volunteers, the valuable information gained is expected to lead to World Heritage interest in the area.
pg. 5Issue no. 1 | November 2015
Sandy tales from the Womens’ Culture camp30cm deep in white sand, the three ‘troopies’ of ladies were not going anywhere.
Packed to the brim with swags, billies and food and on their way to 6 mile for a gorgeous night of camping stories and cooking. Unfortunately the day ahead did not end with the planned night everyone had in mind.
Sitting under any shade available, the ladies were
tended to by the cooked meals from the esky, whilst help was called to ‘savior of the day’, Dick Allgood.
Four hours pushing and revving with all their might, a day of frustration and laughter, stuck in a ‘sand bog’ brought together a fun group of ladies who all went home with an unlikely story of community and ‘mis’adventure.
INAUGURAL BOARD MEETING ‘CAMP OUT’The 6th of October bought together the staff and board members of the Anindilyakwa Land Council to Thompsons Bay where they gathered overnight for their first Camp Meeting. Tony and Mark facilitated a well-run informal meeting with each staff and board member being introduced.
Delicious curries and Asian cuisines were cooked over the campfire and were scrumptiously engulfed very quickly. The ladies told stories of the dreamtime, over a hot tin mug of tea to the eager ears of those sleeping in swags under the stars.
Being stuck in a ‘sandbog’ created an unlikely story of community and adventure...
Photo: Sunset under the shed at Thompsons Bay.
Issue no. 1 | November 2015 pg. 6
BUSH CALENDER
Photo: Plant flowering in the month of November.
MONTH BUSH MEDICINE
JULY/AUGUST
Flowering of the Stringybarks means that the country is drying up, and wells up billabongs that can no longer be relied upon. Nectar from these trees keep the supply of honey in the bees’ nests after the Woolly Butts have finished flowering.
AUGUST/SEPTEMBER
Stringybarks finish flowering. The people gathered along the river where there is plenty of water because it was no longer safe to go too far away from the rivers when hunting. Burrawung (Muninga) nuts were ready to pick when the trees finished flowering.
SEPTEMBER
The round stingray (Yimaduwaya) is ready to catch when the Red Kurrajong (Miyawarra) and wild plum (Mangkarrba) flower. Tamarinds (Angkayuwaya) will be ripe and ready to pick when Stringybarks finish flowering. Parrot fish and Venus Tusk Fish at this time too.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER
Flowering of the Cocky Apple (Mukuwara) also called Bush Mango, or Wild Quince, shows that it is time to catch turtles. When Pandanus (Mangkurrkwa) nuts are orange and dropping, turtles are laying their eggs.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBERThe flowering of the termite tree (Mawurdarra) means that the wet season will soon be here.
DECEMBER Long Yams (Marndakirriera) and round yams (Murungkwurra) will be coming into leaf when the Wild Plum is finished.
Healthy homes equal healthy livesAminjarrinja have been facilitating a new program called ‘Healthy Homes’. It began in Umbakumba four weeks ago, with Helen Rheinberger and her team of four, going around to homes notifying and explaining the program.
If the people in the household approve, the team comes back 2-3 days later to proceed. In that time, tenants are required to bag rubbish and clothes into two separate coloured rubbish bags; the clothes ready to be washed and rubbish ready to be thrown out.
The team arrive 2-3 days after the approved consultation, with a Ute and two washing machines on the back, ready to wash all the bagged clothes. The house is then vacated, with everything removed from inside and five insect bombs are detonated.
At the end of the two hours, all washing is hung out to dry and the team proceeds to sweep, mop and wipe down all surfaces and all furniture is put back in place.
It is then recommended for those staying in the house to shower before sleeping on the new mattresses. Additionally, all are given Scabies Cream, for any potential cases. Any foam mattresses are encouraged to be thrown out and replaced with brand new mattresses. Depending on how many people live in the house, each adult or child is given a new single sized mattress.
This program has been extremely well received with a total of eleven houses already cleaned, averaging four houses per week. Aminjarrinja are hoping on increasing the teams, which will mean hopefully starting soon in Angurugu and Bikerton.
Any out stations that are being permanently lived in will also receive the option of the program. This program won’t be available to anyone who doesn’t want it. However, is acknowledged already by the communities that it is very successful and leaves homes clean and healthy. This project wouldn’t be possible without the funding from ALC’s royalty distributons, enabling householders a fresh, clean, healthy start.
Photo: The Umbakumba Team doing a tip top job.
“Already acknowledged by the community as successful, this program leaves homes clean and people healthy.”
Editors and Contributors:Katie Hagebols & Roina Williams
