This documentary puts the spotlight on the inspiring, moving and enduring work of the Ngannyatjarra, Pitjantjatjara, Yankuntjatjara Women’s Council whose malpa teams travel as far across each other’s cultural terrain as they do in miles.
Minymaku Way challenges views of Aboriginal community dependence on outside bureaucracy.
52 minute documentary
Directed by Erica Glynn
Focused on dynamic long time malpas, NPY Women’s Council coordinator Maggie Kavanagh, a non-Anangu woman based in Alice Springs and aged care worker and public spokeswoman Tjikalyi Colin, an Anangu woman from Ernabella. Both women have been working for the Women’s Council for over a decade. Both speak the other’s language. Both are driving forces within the organisation. Maggie is thirty-nine and Tjikalyi is in her mid fifties yet they share an Anangu relationship of kinship where Tjikalyi is grandmother to Maggie. Maggie is a fiery, energetic red head with a warm and vivacious sense of humour. Tjikalyi is a gentle quite, affectionate women yet has royal like presence that commands respect.
We follow them on their journey to a general meeting where hundreds of women from the lands, past workers and malpa teams will converge at the inaugural site in Kanypi to sort out problems of the day and celebrate NPYWC’S twenty year history. Starting in the year 2000 we will return to that first meeting in 1980 when the main issue of the day was land and move back and forth through the most significant milestones in the organisation’s twenty-year evolution. We gain insight into a painful ten year battle to stop a roadhouse selling take away alcohol, important trips to country, the work to support the continuation of women’s traditional Law and Culture and protection of women’s sacred sites and often unorthodox work in mental health, domestic violence protection and petrol sniffing support.
The narrative of Tjikalyi and Maggie’s working and personal relationship provides essential links to other malpas and to the NPY Women’s Council’s culturally and politically potent, yet largely unknown working life.
DVD available from Ronin Films.
Further clips and teachers notes are available from Australian Screen. If you intend to use this film in the classroom please purchase an educational copy from Ronin Films.
Credits
Director Erica Glynn
Producer Cilla Collins
Writer Kate Gillick
Editor Denise Haslem
Cinematographers Helen Barrows, Allan Collins, Chris Tangey
Music Bill Davis
Sound Recordists Flavia Abduraham, Katy Wood, Mylene Ludgate, David Tranter
Production Manager Jacqueline Bethel
Production Assistant Dena Curtis
Translators: Lorna Wilson, Linda Rive
Talent:
Maggie Kavanagh
Tjikalyi Colin
Nura Ward
Bernard Tjalkuri
John Harvey
Puni Puni
Special Thanks:
Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Womens Council
Anangu Pitjantjatjara
Aged Care Disabilities Home Mutitjulu
Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Media
Erwin Chandler
Commisioning Editor SBS Independent: Courtney Gibson
Post Production Facilities: Beyond Productions
Sound Post Production: Mark Tanner Sound
Produced in association with SBS, Principal Investor FFC
Thanks To:
Pitjantjatjara Womens Council
Police
PY Media
