Gun-ngaypa Rrawa

Gun-ngaypa Rrawa My Country

This book presents stories from the Gun-nartpa people who live in North-Central Arnhem Land. An-nguliny clan leader and celebrated artist England Banggala tells of Ancestral Spirits who created the country around Gochan Jiny-jirra on the Cadell River, and who are celebrated in ceremonies and visual arts. Banggala and other elders also tell stories from the old days, when hunting, bush foods, warfare and sorcery were part of everyday life. They describe the Second World War, the coming of the Welfare Time and the settlement of Maningrida and outstations. The book celebrates the diversity of languages in the region by presenting the stories in both Gun-nartpa and English.

The book is printed with the technology of sound printing – you can listen to the songs using a ‘speaking pen’. For more information about sound printing and for access to pens and sound files, visit http://soundprinting.batchelor.edu.au

This project has been produced by Batchelor Institute’s Northern Territory Language Support Program with support from the Australian Government’s Indigenous Languages Support Program.

Cover photograph of England Banggala taken in 1994 by Margie West.