RANGERS USE PUPPETS TO SHARE CULTURAL KNOWLEDGE

The Ngurrara Rangers used puppets to share knowledge of country. CREDIT: Sarah Duguid.

In the Kimberley’s Fitzroy River Valley, A team of artists has spent five weeks with the Yakanarra Community assembling a puppet show to share language and culture.

The Big Country Puppets project brought together Elders, the Ngurrara Rangers, school children and visiting artists to tell stories about Walmajarri country.

Lead artist Bernadette Trench-Thiedeman said the project helped Rangers share their knowledge of country in a new way.

“The Aboriginal Rangers … have all these amazing ways they look after country and all this this different type of work they do with fire management and biodiversity surveys,” Ms Trench-Thiedeman said.

“[The Big Puppet Project] is about showcasing their work on country and for them to find a new way through theatre to deliver their messages.”

Ngurrara Ranger Sumayah Surprise said participants created a puppet called Jilji the Skink to share lessons about fire management.

“Fire is important,” she said.

“When we do fire management out on country, it means we get to protect these animals such as the skink and many other native animals on country.”

Yakanarra’s performance is coming soon to the ICTV network.