Fire Renewal - 2007, 2009, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018
2007 Milpirri - Kurdiji
Ngurra Kurlu (Fire Sculpture) and Yarrirdi Yarridi (Burning Poles)
Story
The lighting of the fire sculpture where the design represents Ngurra Kurlu - translates as “with home, about home, within home and home within”, where home is a synonym for country or community. The circles represent Land, Law, Language, Kinship, and Ceremony - when all these things are strong the body of community is strong.
This is followed the burning of the Yarrirdi Yarridi (Burning Poles). With the lighting of the Yarrirdi Yarridi the entire space is burning. By morning, the remaining ash reminds us that it is finished … for now.
Fire Lighters: Caleb Japanangka Patrick and Gerard Japanangka Scobie
2009 Milpirri - Jurntu
Sky Lanterns
Story
The releasing of paper lanterns into the sky symbolically form and represent the Wulpararri (Milky Way) which is seen as a gift road in the sky (Wantarri Tarri.
Sky Lantern Concept
Tim (Jampijinpa) Newth
2012 Milpirri - Pulyaranyi
Yarrirdi Yarridi (Burning Poles) and Sky Lanterns
Story
In this years Milpirri the releasing of paper lanterns into the sky to symbolically form the Wulparri (Milky Way) followed the burning of the Yarrirdi Yarridi (Burning Poles). With the lighting of the Yarrirdi Yarridi the entire space is burning. By morning, the remaining ash reminds us that it is finished … for now.
2014 Milpirri - Jardiwanpa
Yarrirdi Yarridi (Burning Poles)
Yarrirdi Yarridi (Burning Poles) are at the end of this video 02.04.
Story
With the lighting of the Yarrirdi Yarridi the entire space is burning. By morning, the remaining ash reminds us that it is finished … for now.
2016 Milpirri - Kurdiji
Ngurra Kurlu (Fire Sculpture)
Story
The lighting of the fire sculture where the design represents Ngurra Kurlu - being at home with oneself. The circles represent Land, Law, Language, Kinship, and Ceremony - when all these things are strong the body of community is strong.
2018 Milpirri - Jurntu
Yankirri (Emu) Fire Sculpture
The lighting of the emu fire sculpture (at 4:30 mins) is part of the youth finale dance.
Story
On the cue to ‘look up’ in the music, the youth dancers watch as a large Emu sculpture enters the space and is set alight, which represents the passage of the Yankirri (Emu) as it flies through the Milky Way. The sculpture is surrounded by burning stars. The Yankirri (Emu) is the symbol of knowledge and it’s pathway follows the changing of the seasons and the movement of the stars in the night sky.
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.”
There is lots more information on the Ngurra Kurlu fire sculpture and its meaning in the Milpirri Banners Home Page
Yungkaju Kurdari (Milky Way Song)
This is crown land
Crowned well before the queen
Do you want to see the crown
Do you want to see an emu fly
Look above- see the Milky Way
Don’t let others do the hunting for you
Known your strengths
Know your weaknesses
Like a star
Let the law of the land be the light that can shine out in us all
Let it bind us together
Learn the laws of this land
Yungkaju Kurdari
Yungkaju Kurdari
Yungurnaju, Milyapinyi
Ngrarrpara warnarna
Yanirini manu yanirri
Kumumju Ngurlu-rna
Parrpardimi
Kankanlarra kari
Yungkaju Kurdari
Hear this song by watching the 2009 video on this page.
From original Milpirri soundtrack 2009
Words: Steve Wanta Jampijinpa Patrick
Music: Zac Jakamarra Patterson, Kenneth Jungarrayi Martin, Steve Hannon
Vocals: Zac Jakamarra Patterson, Kenneth Jungarrayi Martin
Men's and Women's Dance
Through the Men's and Women's Dance Wulparri (Milky Way) - Wantarri Tarri (Earth Trading Route, Sky Gift Road) dance we are reminder to pass on deep learning. You can learn everything on earth by learning from the sky, the gift road.
Men's Dance
The Yankirri (Emu) is the teacher and represents both the teacher and the taught. This relationship can be seen in the early Milpirri yankirri (Emu) men's dances.
