'NGURRA
WARDINGKI'
On
Walpiri Culture…
Walpiri is the first language of about 4000 people living north-west
of Alice Springs. Yuendumu was established in 1946 as a government settlement
and is now home to about 500 Walpiri people. The Walpiri language is
one of only a handful of vigorously surviving indigenous languages –
a stark contrast to the 200 or so languages which thrived prior to the
arrival of the First Fleet. The ultimate aim of this play is to convey
the rich significance of the dreaming and to attempt to create a greater
understanding and appreciation of indigenous culture, both in the audience
and in you the performer.
Scene
– out in the bush somewhere near Yuendumu
(The Chorus address the audience. As each group of animals is introduced,
they leave the Chorus, moving in a stylised manner which evokes their
particular species – sort of more like Movement Theatre than conventional
acting.)
Chorus: On the edge of the Tanami Desert, north-west
of Alice Springs, the animals gathered – marlu (kangaroo),
yankirri (emu), walparjirri (bilby) and jurlpu (birds)
of all sizes and colours. They gathered at Yuendumu, a traditional Yarrampi
(honey ant) Dreaming site and, as was their custom, began to
dance. As they danced, a small group of Walpiri yapa (aboriginal
people) stood and watched.
(The animals begin to dance. As each group is mentioned, they take
the centre of the stage)
Chorus: Through their dance the marlu told of the hot
red sands of the desert. The jurlpu danced their intricate paths across
the sky. The yankirri and walparjirri retraced their steps from the
low land acacias to the wind blasted crags. The yapa stood and watched
their steps as they had so many times before.
(Gradually each animal leaves the dance and sits in a semicircle)
Chorus: But something was wrong with the dance - the
stories became confused, the steps soon raised only dust. The animals
sat on the hot walya (ground) and the dance ceased to be.
(The Yapa come to the centre of the stage and talk to the animals)
Yapa: Since the days before the sun woman began her
trek across the sky, you danced these songs. You danced them before
the purlka (old men) sang. You learned the steps before the
first kurdu (children) were born to us. Why do you now sit
while the yama (shade) grows long?
Yinarlingi: We can see no future for the dance, only
the pain of the past.
Jurlpu: What would the yapa know of suffering?
Yapa: How have you suffered?
Chorus: Each animal stepped forward and told their
tale.
