Bininj Manbolh movie from 2006

May 19, 2015 By Filed Under: community information, environment, video

Bininj Manbolh movie from 2006

In 2006 80 Bininj Warddeken 'people from the rock country' walked from Kamarrkawarn to Kabulwarnamyo via Djorlok on the Mann River over 8 days. The old people or dabborrabbolk were flown in by helicopter each evening to teach the younger walkers about the walking route, the plants and animals, place names, songs and resources of this part of the Arnhem Land Plateau. Produced by Warddeken Land Management Ltd and Murray Garde. WARNING: Bininj viewers should be aware that the film now contains images of three deceased elders, Wamud Namok, Nawakadj Nadjordi and Kodjok Nawurrbbarn.

 

Bininj Manbolh 2006 from Bulanj Nakardbam on Vimeo.
 

Kabindi-bimbukkan kore Border Store

May 15, 2015 By Filed Under: cultural text Tagged With:

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Audio recorded and transcript prepared by Andy Peart:

Larry Bangarr talks about the "Thick Lines—Thin Lines" weekly tourist activity that has been going for a few years every Saturday at the Border Store or Merl Campground during the dry season, organised by Injalak Arts & Crafts and funded by Kakadu National Park. Interview by Andy Peart.

[00:00:00.00] AP: Na-ngale ngudda?

What is your name?

[00:00:06.01] LB: Ngaye Bangardi. Bangardi Namarrirn

My subsection name is Bangardi, and my clan group is Marrirn.

[00:00:10.19] AP: Dja ngudda dja nungka nawu Nadjalama, Nakangila, ngune-djarrkdurrkmirri bolkkime kore Border Store.

And you and Amos (Nakangila subsection, Djalama clan group) are working together here at the Border Store?

[00:00:21.20] LB: Yoh.

Yes.

[00:00:22.05] AP: Njale - njale ngune-durrkmirri?

What work do you both do?

[00:00:24.02] LB: Djurra ngane-bimbun, ngane-bimbun bikos kore kabirrimh-re nawu tourist ngan(d)ih-nan.

We paint pictures and finish them so tourists can came and watch.

[00:00:31.20] AP: Yiben-bukkan?

You show them how you paint.

[00:00:33.05] LB: Ngarrben-bukkan.

I show them.

[00:00:35.11] AP: Dja yiddok ngurrben-bengyolyolme bu bim, rarrk yika, yiman?

And do you explain to them about the art, about the cross hatching etc?

[00:00:41.15] LB: Ngarrben-bengyolyolme laik ngarrih-bimbun, ngarrben-bengyolyolme, wanjh ngarrbenh-marneyime, ngarri-benwon, la copy ngandi-yime.

We explain about things, about what we are painting, and we give them paper so they can copy us.

[00:00:55.23] AP: Yikahwi kabirri-bimbun bedman?

Sometimes the visitors paint their own pictures?

[00:01:01.29] LB: Yoh, bu yiman bu kabirri-bimbun yiman kabirrih-lenh learn kabirri-yime yiman bu bedman wanjh kabirri-bimbun. Kabirri-marnbun.

Yes, they paint pictures, following what we do

[00:01:09.25] AP: Man-yilk...

Sedge grass (Cyperas javanicus)?

[00:01:11.09] LB: Man-yilk, manih kun-dalk.

The sedge grass we call man-yilk, here.

[00:01:17.01] AP: Mah, and njale kabirribimbun? Mayh, or djenj?

What do they paint? Animals, fish?

[00:01:23.07] LB: Mayhmayh, o djenj, o kinga, ngalmangiyi. Bu laik ngarri-bimbun namekke kabirrimh-re kabirri-nan namekke turis, ngandidjawan ngadberre: "Njale nakka ngurri-marnbun?" ngarri-ngeybun namekke. En ngarrben-won djurra, "Ngurri-bimbun yiman nanih _____ ngarri-bimbun ngad.” Wanjh copy ngandi-yime, kabirri-marnbun.

Birds, fish, crocodiles, long-necked turtle. We paint them, then we get the tourists to see what we painted. They ask us “what do you call that?” and we tell them the name. We give them paper to paint on, and tell them “you have a go at painting this animal like how we did it”. So they copy us and make their own paintings.

[00:01:48.08] AP: And , dja wurdwurd?

And kids?

[00:01:49.23] LB: Wurdwurd warridj. Wurdwurd mak ngarrben-bukkan.

Kids too, we show them how to paint.

[00:01:53.00] AP: Kabirri-marnedjare.

They love it.

[00:01:54.20] LB: Kabirri-djare ba kabirri-bimbun bu ngandi-nan, copy ngandi-yime.

They like to paint when they see us and copy us.

[00:01:59.09] AP: Yikahwi na-wern tourists.

Sometimes many tourists are here having a look.

[00:02:01.17] LB: Yoh, na-wern.

Yes, lots.

[00:02:03.07] Yikahwi nabuyika artists kabirri-durrkmirri?

Sometimes different artists come to work here?

[00:02:10.01] LB: Bu birri-wern mak yika kore mak ngarrben-bawon Kunbarlanja. Ngarrben-bawong, ngane-djalbokenh konda ngaye Bulanj nganem-wam kondah ngane-bimbimbun bu laik nani Balanda ngarrbenh-nan, ngandih-nan. Ngandih-nan la ngarrben-nan. La ngarrbenh-bukkan.

There are many other artists, but just two of us come here and we left everyone else back at Gunbalanya – today myself and Bulanj [Amos] – to see the tourists and show them how we paint.

[00:02:26.20] AP: Every Saturday.

[00:02:28.21] LB: Every Saturday.

[00:02:29.27] AP: Mah. Konda kore Border Store.

Here at the Border Store.

[00:02:32.26] LB: Konda Border Store.

Here at the Border Store.

[00:02:35.02] AP: Dja yiddok yikahwi nawu bim nawu tourist kabirri-bimbun na-mak? Yikahwi?

Sometimes the visitors paint good pictures?

[00:02:43.09] LB: Yika bu yiman kabirri-wernhborlbme, wanjh kunukka na-mak kabirri-marnbun.

Some of them learn to paint reasonably well and their pictures turn out ok.

[00:02:49.20] AP: Yikahwi na-warre.

Sometimes terrible.

[00:02:51.29] LB: Yika na-warre, yoh.

Yes, sometimes they're awful.

[00:02:53.25] AP: Mah, and last one bolkkime.

And today is the last Saturday for the year.

[00:02:57.24] LB: Bolkkime nganem-wam, last one mane. Kaluk might be next year kare.

Today we've come, and its the last one. Then maybe next year it will happen again.

[00:03:04.02] AP: Next year, mah.

Next year, ok.

[00:03:04.26] LB: Next year manu bu nganem-wam, Bulanj, wanjh bu ngane-durndeng kaluk, djal next year-wi kare.

That's it now, so next year we'll come back for this work.

[00:03:11.24] AP: Mah. Kamak, bonj.

Ok, good, we can finish it here.

[00:03:13.24] LB: Mah. Kunekke, bobo.

Ok, that's the story then. Bye.

Amos and Tony Nadjaburnburn

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Bim: Bangardi Larry dja Bulanj Amos kabene-bimbukkan tourist bedberre kore Border Store.

Photos: Larry Bangarr and Amos Nganjmirra from Injalak Arts and Crafts teaching Bininj painting to tourists at the Border Store.

(photos by Andy Peart)

Bonj

That is all.

Kurdukadji, Alwanjdjuk, Ngurrurdu

May 1, 2015 By Filed Under: cultural text, environment, language Tagged With:

Kurdukadji, Alwanjdjuk, Ngurrurdu

Kurdukadji, ngal-ngeywern. Kunwinjku ngarri-ngeybun kurdukadji. Kundjeyhmi kabirri-ngeybun Alwanjdjuk dja Kuninjku Kundedjnjenghmi kabirri-ngeybun ngurrurdu.

Emu, she has many names. In Kunwinjku we call her kurdukadji. In Gundjeihmi they call her alwanjdjuk and in Kuninjku and Kundedjnjenghmi they call her ngurrurdu.

ngurrurdu Injalak

Mahni bim nga-nang kore Injalak. Kareh na-ngale bimbom? Kareh ngudda ngurri-bengkan. Kandi-bengdayhke ba ka-mak nga-ngeykurrme.

Manekke kun-dulk, man-kulurrudj, man-me ngalengarre ka-ngun mimno. Yi-nan bimbom man-kulurrudj. Kanjdji yi-bimnan man-kulurrudj dja mimno manbu ngale kurdukadji ka-djare ka-ngun.

bininjgunwok AT gmail.com

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man-kulurrudj

plate5:1.emudrawing.lofty

Mahni djurra Wamud Namok bimbom. Ngurrurdu kun-burrk ngalengarre.

Nakangila Kayolyolme Njanjma Rangers

November 30, 2014 By Filed Under: community information, environment, language, video Tagged With:

Nakangila Kayolyolme Njanjma Rangers

Nakangila Terrance Nabegeyo talks about his work with the Njanjma Rangers.

An interview with Andy Peart.

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Terrance (on right in photo) talking about Guluyambi Cruises on East Alligator. In the photo he is with Neville Namarnyilk (Bulanj Na-burlalhdja)

[00:00:01.00] AP: Nangale ngudda?

What is your name?

[00:00:01.17] TN: Ngaye Terrance.

My name is Terrance.

[00:00:04.14] AP: Baleh kun-kurlah ngudda?

What is your subsection name?

[00:00:06.16] TN: Ngaye Na-kangila.

I am Nakangila subsection.

[00:00:09.01] AP: Dja kun-nguya?

And what is your clan group?

[00:00:09.01] TN: Kun-nguya ngarduk Djalama.

My clan group is Djalama.

[00:00:13.00] AP: Mah. And baleh yi-rrurrkmirri, Nakangila?

Ok, and where do you work Nakangila?

[00:00:19.27] TN: Guluyambi nga-rrurrkmirri.

I work at Guluyambi boat tours.

[00:00:19.27] AP: Guluyambi. And baleh yiben-kan nawu tourists?

Guluyambi, and where do you take the tourists?

[00:00:22.19] TN: Ngarrben-kan downstream, ngarrben-marneyolyolme manu dabbarrabbolk manu birri-djowkkeni. Manekke.
We take them downstream, and tell them about how the old people used to cross there. Like that.

[00:00:48.08] AP: And njale yiben-bukkan, like, yiman kun-djakkorl, kinga?

And what do you show them, for instance – wood used to make fire, crocodiles etc?

[00:00:56.08] TN: Wanjh bu kumekke ngarri-re kandjikandji ngarrben-bukkan manekke manu man-bolh dabbarrabbolk birri-djowkkeni wanjh ngarrim-bidbun konda ngarrim-re wanjh ngarrben-bukkan kun-dulk, mani njamed ka-ngeyyo, alabbanjdja. Mani manu korroko dabbarrabbok birri-mangi manu birri-marnbuni kun-yarl mani kun-kurlah ngalengarre, dja kun-dulk mani birri-mangi birri-marnbuni borndok, man-kole, kun-djakkorl. Mak mani man-nguy birri-nguni mani bu birri-bekkani, birri-njambabangmeni. .

Well we taken them down river and show them where old people crossed, then we come back upstream. We show them trees, that – what's it called – alabbanjdja (Hisbiscus tiliaceus). That's the one the old people used to get and make string from its bark, and other trees they used to get and make spear throwers, spears, firesticks. And that flower they used to eat when they felt stomach pain.

[00:01:26.19] AP: And baleh ka-yime nawu tourists yiben-kan?

And how many tourists do you take on the tour?

[00:01:31.00] TN: Yika birri-wern mirndewernwurd  ngaben-kan, yika birri-mirndeyahwurd.
Sometimes I take a  big group, sometimes only a few.

[00:01:38.10] AP: Mah. Dja baleh birrim-dolkkang beh, nawu tourists?

And they have they come from?

[00:01:43.09] TN: Kubolkbubuyika birrim-bolkkang nakka, nakka kabirrim-re ngandih-nan ngadberre, ngandi-reddjahwon.
They've come from all different places to see us and come to visit our country.

[00:01:54.14] AP: Dja birri-bolkbubuyika - Australia, America, Europe?

From different places in Australia, America, Europe?

[00:01:59.14] TN: Yoh.

Yes.

[00:01:59.14] AP: And bu yiben-kan nawu tourists kaddum kukabo, njale ka-bolkngeyyo kumekke?
And when you take them upstream, what are the names of some of the places you go to?

[00:02:09.07] TN: Ngarrbenkan Wurlanjmarr kumekke ngarrben-wohbolkbukkan,

We take them to Wurlanjmarr [Kurlanjmarr] and show them around a bit

[00:02:15.08] Ral kumekke ngarrben-wohbukkan, ngarrben-wohkan kaluk kunukka bim ka-bimdi kumekke ngarrben-woh... marneyolyolme manekke bim.

then to Ral and show them around and there is rock art there so we tell them stories about the rock art there.

[00:02:22.23] wajnh ngarrben-kan beh, kaddum.

Then we from there we take them upstream.

[00:02:26.29] AP: Mah. Dja yiddok borledmikenh kukabo kabirri-bidbun, kabirri-re kurrenge?

Yes, and they go for a walk on the other side of the river don’t they?

[00:02:35.11] TN: Kumekke ngarrire wanjh kunukka Mabarlakadjang kumekke ka-bolkngeyyo kore ngarri-re wanjh demonstrating ngarri-yime, ngarri-koleburriwe man-kole.

We go there to the place called Mabarlakadjang and there we demonstrate for them how to throw spears.

[00:02:45.02] TN: Kabirri-re kabirri-wohrewohre kabirri-bolknabolknan kumekke birri-kukbele wanjh ngandi-nan ngadberre ngarri-koleburriwe man-kole. Wanjh bonj ngarrim-durndeng.

They go there, those white people have a look around and check the place out there and then they watch us throwing spears. Then we come back.

[00:02:56.15] TN: Ngarrben-kurrme kured.

We put them back home [on the river bank].

[00:03:02.20] Wanjh bonj.

And that’s all.

Credits: Photo, audio recording, transcription and translation by Andy Peart, Njanjma Rangers.

Kabirri-bolkbarung bu ka-bolkyakmen

September 16, 2014 By Filed Under: cultural text Tagged With: ,

Kabirri-bolkbarung bu ka-bolkyakmen

Painting things in ochre after someone passes away

If you live in Kakadu National Park or a town in Arnhem Land, you might notice that from time to time Bininj will mark trees, vehicles and buildings with red or yellow ochre lines. For most non-Indigenous people these marks will remain invisible and for others they will be incomprehensible, but it is a mortuary cultural practice that is very important to Bininj.

Here is a transcript in Gundjeihmi from Yvonne Margarula from the Mirarr clan in Jabiru explaining what these marks mean:

YM: Couple of months, might be like I say dird bogen o dird na-gudji,

two or three months (after someone dies)

Alright, gun-gurlk, yiman gun-nodjbe, gun-nodjbe arri-dulkdjobge, arri-dulkdjobge ....

Alright, we use clay, like red ochre, red ochre um we cut a line around the tree, we cut this line on the tree in clay

Arri-dulkdjobgeng, gun-gurlk nga-rrulkdjobge wanjh na-gohbanj ba-yakminj na-gohbanj nga-rrulkdjobkeng wanjh arri-re arri-warlbun maih arri-yawan djenj.

We paint a line in clay around the tree after when someone has died like when that old man [my father] died I painted a line of ochre around the tree and after that we can enter that area where he used to go so we too can go hunting or fishing again.

Arri-dulkdjobkeng gun-gurlk, barri-dulkdjobkeng gun-gurlk, na-gohbanj ba-yakminj dird danjbik, ba-rrulkdjobkeng gun-gurlk garlba wanjh arri-re arri-warlbun djenj arri-re maih arri-yawan ngarrban-gan family [rubs nose with hand] wanjh bonj arri-wohre.

After a person dies like when my father died, we paint clay rings around trees where he used to visit and then it is safe for us to go hunting or fishing or take our family around that place.

Here are some photos of these ochre mortuary markings:

In this video Kamarrang Jack Nawilil from Bolkdjam talks about this practice in the Mayali (or Kune) dialect of Bininj Gunwok. The video is subtitled but the Mayali transcript is below.

MAYALI

[00:00:00.21]
nani

[00:00:02.14]
Laik nga-mulemulewan

[00:00:04.08]
laik Mayali-beh

[00:00:05.48]
nani

[00:00:07.10]
laik namarnde ka-rrowen

[00:00:10.04]
yiman ka-yime beywurd ngarrku

[00:00:12.19]
o yiman na-badjan ngarrku

[00:00:15.07]
laik yiman ka-yime ngadjadj ngarri-yime

[00:00:17.23]
yiman ka-yime mamamh ngarri-yime

[00:00:21.20]
laik ka-rrown nane kun-buya ka-rradjke

[00:00:24.13]
mekim klia laik ka-marnbun

[00:00:26.35]
ka-bolkmakmen

[00:00:28.23]
nani nawu

[00:00:30.07]
laik wardi laik Bininj Bininj laik minj warrbo ka-ngun

[00:00:36.04]
kayakki

[00:00:40.05]
ka-marnbun nomol kun-red

[00:00:42.30]
ka-marnbun kun-buya laik ka-yakmen

[00:00:47.21]
laik ka-rrowen yiman ka-yime beywurd ngarrku yiman ka-yime ngadjadj

[00:00:51.28]
yiman ka-yimem mamamh

[00:00:52.32]
yiman ka-yime kakkak

[00:00:55.32]
Nane ka-yakmen kun-buya

[00:00:57.43]
Yiman ka-yime ngarr-bolkmardadahme

Bonj

That is all.


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