The Warlpiri Elders and residents of Lajamanu presented the 2007 Milpirri Event, celebrating the Warlpiri Kurdiji Ceremony; a young man’s initiation ceremony, which tells the story of Mothers and Sons. The story is told in segments that feature both traditional and contemporary elements.

Interestingly, all the major symbols featured in the Australian Coat of Arms also feature in the Warlpiri Kurdiji Ceremony. The Lajamanu Warlpiri hope that through sharing their sacred story, and linking it to the elements featured in the Australian Coat of Arms, members of the Australian mainstream will be stimulated to acknowledge that the Warlpiri Nation shares with them common, meaningful symbols. The Warlpiri long to be understood by, and want to understand, the Australian mainstream.  By sharing this central Warlpiri ceremony, through a set of symbols common to both, perhaps the first steps along that road can be taken.

DESIGN: Mark Marcelis

Milpirri 2007 used the following themes:

Warlu (Fire)
Japanangka/Japangardi/Napanangka/Napangardi (Green Group)
When Warlpiri light fires they burn off the useless overgrowth which makes room for fresh, new growth. This brings back the animals and uncovers the root crops.  So the young boy is purged of his childish ways and his dependence upon his mother, and is given room to take on the teachings of the men of the tribe.

Yankirri (Emu)
Jangala/Jampijinpa/Nangala/Nampijinpa (Blue Group)
The female emu lays her eggs and walks away from the chicks.  It is the male emu who teaches the young emus how to survive in the harsh desert.  Building on the survival skills taught by mothers, the young boy is exhorted to submit to the teachings of his fathers, uncles and grandfathers about Warlpiri Law.

Marlu (Kangaroo and wooden banners)
Jakamarra/Jupurrurla/Nakamarra/Napurrurla (Red Group)
To the Warlpiri, a kangaroo is symbolic of unchanging law.  Warlpiri law, unlike mainstream law, never changes; it has always been the same from the beginning and this law is recorded on wooden banners.  The young boy begins his journey in learning his rich heritage of “ngurra-kurlu” (the inter-relationship between Land, Law, Language, Ceremony and Kinship).

Witi (Leafy Poles)
Japaljarri/Jungarrayi/Napaljarri/Nungarrayi (Yellow Group)
The young boy stands before two leafy poles and is given a choice, each pole representing a different life direction.  Will he follow the ways of the Warlpiri (the Ancient ngurra-kurlu)? Or will he follow some other way and depart from his heritage?

Milpirri - Storm Cloud Dance (Jangala/Jampijinpa/Nangala/Nampijinpa)
In the desert, when the hot and cold air merges, a Milpirri storm cloud forms, creating rain. The Milpirri is something we move towards with hope and anticipation of growth and new life.

Desert People 
Kurdiji is a ceremony for the whole Warlpiri Nation, with a message for the whole of Australia.  This is back dropped by a North Tanami Band song, which has become a Warlpiri anthem.

Warluwariji (Mothers’ Exhortation)
Mothers, Grandmothers, Aunties
The mothers give the young boys their final exhortation: “Walk in the steps of your older brother and he will lead you in the path of your father.  Do not put your hand carelessly down a goanna hole; it may look like good food, but really it may be a snake or a scorpion.”  Keep on the straight and narrow and don’t deviate.

Wulparri (Milky Way) – Reminder to Pass On Deep Learning Japaljarri/Jungarrayi/Napaljarri/Nungarrayi
The men acknowledge the role that the young boys’ mothers have played earlier in his life, and the mothers acknowledge the role that the men are about to play by teaching him the stories imbedded in the stars.

Lighting of the Witi and Ngurra-kurlu
A boy has begun the journey of becoming a man who is a “Kurdiji” (shield) protecting his heritage: his Land, his Law, his Language, his Ceremony and his Family (Kinship system): his “Ngurra-kurlu.”

View the promo CLICK HERE (Quicktime Movie 4.6MB)

= Click to order DVD

Milpirri 2007 is dedicated to Maisie (Kajingarra) Napangardi Granities for her long-term commitment to working with Milpirri and Tracks Dance. She is the Traditional owner to this Kurdiji ceremony.

“Puraya tarnngangku papardi-puraji-kurlangu wirliya………Nurla Wardapi-ki nyangka ngulyangka……Karla-kangku Warnangku Pajirni.”

“Always walk in the footstep of your big brother…
Be careful…when looking in the goanna’s hole, there might be a deadly snake in there….”   

The old people can’t stop talking about it, they are talking about it every night, every day.
Billy Bunter Jampijinpa. Warlpiri Elder

…. thoroughly enjoyed it.  It was a fantastic event and the energy of those involved and for what it created for the whole Lajamanu community was magic.
Paul Davis. Community Relations Co-ordinator, Newmont Tanami Operations, The Granites Gold Mine

…. it was an absolute joy to be in the audience. The Milpirri performance appears to be an exciting and vital vehicle for Walpiri people to keep their culture strong through traditional, ceremonial and contemporary dance, through song, through storytelling, through the distinction of ‘skin’ groups, and through the interaction of old people and young people.
Alison Copley. Indigenous Arts Marketing Officer, Top End Arts Marketing

The kids were great, I can’t believe they danced so well, especially those little boys.
Anon

It made me very proud.  Proud to dance for my group, proud to be Warlpiri, proud to see it from one end to the other.
Maxwell Tasman Japanangka. Dancer

I was smiling all the time.  Me and Tina were smiling at each other.  I couldn’t stop smiling, I was so happy.  And we didn’t go wrong.  The small kids went wrong.  When I was small I used to run around and was very bad, but now I am older I have to be good.  I want to do Milpirri every day.
Reniece Nangala Poulson. youth dancer

Those old ladies were crying for Witi – when those boys were dancing – they were crying for them – that made us feel strong for our culture.
Myra Herbert Nungarrayi. Senior Warlpiri Woman

Really really good one, now we are going to do that ceremony with a big mob from all around.  We are going to get all those boys.  [Meaning, that they have decided to revitalise the Warlpiri kurdiji ceremony as their initiation ceremony].
Joe James Japanangka. Warlpiri Elder

We need to be proud people – but this time we are not talking about just Yapa (indigenous people) – we are talking about Kardiya (non-indigenous people) and Yapa.
Steven Jampijinpa Patrick

White fellas and black fellas gotta stop standing back to back (back of hands held together) but instead we need to face each other and be friends (palms of hands held together)  [Talking about how the use of the coat of arms shows that Warlpiri and Westerners have something in common]
Jerry Patrick Jangala (Warlpiri Elder)

We don’t have something like Milpirri, with all these young people, nothing.
Yuendumu Dancer

That’s our culture, Warlpiri culture.
Teddy Morrison Jupurrula. Warlpiri Elder

Concept

Steve Jampijinpa Patrick

Assistant Directors

Tim (Jampijinpa) Newth, David (Japaljarri) McMicken and Lajamanu Elders

Producers

Tracks Dance Company

Assistants to Steve Jampijinpa Patrick

Jerry Jangala Patrick, Teddy Jupurrurla Morrison, Alan (Lance Jangala) Box, Roger Japaljarri Jurrah, Tristan Japanangka Tasman, Maxwell Japanangka Tasman, Rene Napangardi Dixon, Lynette Napangardi Tasman, Norbert Jampijinpa Patrick, Robyn Napaljarri Payton and Martin Japanangka Johnson

Youth Choreographers

Nick (Japanangka) Power and Jenelle (Nakamarra) Saunders

Youth Dance Leader

Caleb Japanangka Patrick

Soundtrack Production

Matthew Cunliffe

Soundtrack Vocals

North Tanami Band, Jerry Jangala Patrick, Teddy Jupurrurla Morrison, Myra Nungarrayi Herbert, Gladys Napangardi Tasman, Molly Napurrurla Tasman, Rosie Napurrurla Tasman, Steve Jampijinpa Patrick and Jessica Nangala Patrick

Banner Design Owners

Joe Japanangka James, Jerry Jangala Patrick, Teddy Jupurrurla Morrison, Myra Nungarrayi Herbert, Gladys Napangardi Tasman, Tim Jupurrurla Kennedy, Peter Japanangka Dixon, Lindsay Jungarrayi Herbert, Leslie Jampijinpa Robertson, Norman Jampijinpa Kelly, Dick Japaljarri Raymond, Jacko Jakamarra Gordon and Thomas Jangala Sampson

Lighting / Technical Director

Matthew James

Sound Operator / Technical Assistant

Daniel Lade

Space Preparation

Lajamanu Council and CDEP workers

Poster Design

Mark Marcelis

Photo Documentation

Peter Eve

DVD Documentation

Cutting Edge

Editing

Todd Williams and Katie Saunders

Camera Man

Ian Redfearn

Project Management

Fiona Carter, (Lance) Alan Box, Miles Holmes, Suzanne Fermanis, Steve Patrick, David McMicken, Tim Newth and Lajamanu Traditional Custodians

Admin Assistant

Skye Raabe

Milpirri Management Body

Geoffrey Jungarrayi Barnes, Roger Jurrah Japaljarri, Martin Japanangka Johnson, Stephen Japanangka Dixon, Norbert Jampijinpa Patrick, Steven Jampijinpa Patrick, Tristan Japanangka Tasman, Maxwell Japanangka Tasman, Lynette Napangardi Tasman, Rene Napangardi Dixon, Robyn Napaljarri Payton, Doris Nakamarra Lewis, Laura Nakamarra Lewis and Annette Nampijinpa Patrick

Thank you

Lajamanu Progress Association, Rio Tinto Aboriginal Fund, Newmont Mines, Lajamanu Community Education Centre staff, Lajamanu Council staff, Michael (Japanangka) Erglis, Billy Jampijinpa Bunter, Joe Japanangka James, Tim (Japanangka) Collins and the Wulaign Rangers, our family and friends and a special thank you to the clan group leaders who released their paintings, song cycles, Dreaming stories and ceremonies for public display.

Australian Coat of Arms carriers

Milpirri Introduction – spoken in both Warlpiri and English

Warlu (Fire)
Japanangka/Japangardi/Napanangka/Napangardi (Green Group)
Men and Women perform a Traditional fire dance
Youth dancers interpret the theme highlighting the young Japanangkas and Japangardis learning about new things

Yankirri (Emu)
Jangala/Jampijinpa/Nangala/Nampijinpa (Blue Group)
Men and Women perform a Traditional emu dance
Youth dancers use the emu theme of teaching, making sure you know what you are teaching and pass on the information clearly

Marlu (Kangaroo and shields) Jakamarra/Jupurrurla/Nakamarra/Napurrurla (Red Group)
Men and Women perform a Traditional dance from the Jarda Warnpa Ceremony
Youth Dancers show the importance of learning law, as a way that provides a map into the future

Witi (Leafy Poles)
Japaljarri/Jungarrayi/Napaljarri/Nungarrayi (Yellow Group)
Men and Women perform traditional Witi-pole dance
Young boys dance about making having many choices and having to choose the right one. They also learn that if they go wrong, they can go back and fix it up.

Milpirri
Solo Dance from the Milpirri Jukurrpa (Dreaming)

Desert People 
Danced to a new mix of Desert People, By the North Tanami Band, we see the young and the old coming together, men and women, young males and females, in a celebration of Warlpiri people – “We are the desert people, we are the Warlpiri tribe”

Warluwariji (Mothers’ Exhortation)
Mothers, Grandmothers, Aunties, uninitiated boys
The mothers give the young boys their final exhortation: “Walk in the steps of your older brother and he will lead you in the path of your father.  Do not put your hand carelessly down a goanna hole; it may look like good food, but really it may be a snake or a scorpion.”

Wulparri (Milky Way) – Reminder to Pass On Deep Learning
Men and Women perform a traditional dance.

Lighting of the Witi and Ngurra-kurlu
A fire sculpture representing the Kuridiji (Shield) is lit, followed by 20 Witi poles. The entire space is burning. By morning, the remaining ash reminds us that it is finished … for now.