Parnngurr Workshop May 2019
Trainers Kumanjayi (Andrew) and Mata (Amy) travelled to Parnngurr community in the Western Desert region in early May for a workshop in partnership with Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa and Martu people from Parnngurr, Punmu, Kunawarritji, and Jigalong communities. The focus of the workshop was on recording oral histories of the old people, who still remember growing up in pre-contact “Pujiman times”. The workshop started with Martu-led discussions (in Martu Wangka) about what stories should be recorded and passed down, and where they wanted to go to tell the stories of those places. We then trained the young people in how to use recorders, and they practised recording some stories from the old people. On Friday we all drove out onto Country, and visited 3 special sites where the young people recorded elders telling the stories of those places. For some young Martu it was the first time going out to those places and hearing those stories, and it was very special for them to hear the stories of their grandparents’ country. These recordings will be able to be used by the younger generations not only to learn about their heritage but also to hear the more traditional Manyjiljarra and Kartujarra languages that are starting to be mixed with English in modern Martu Wangka. As always, it was such a privilege to spend time in this incredible part of the country, and we can’t wait for the next Martu language workshop.
