YINDJIBARNDI ARTIST SHARES SACRED 'BURNDUD' AT PERTH FESTIVAL
Alice at Gregories, Photo by Sarah Landro
BY TANGIORA HINAKI AND LATISHA KADABIL
Lorraine Coppin, CEO of Juluwarlu Group Corporation, has spent more than two decades documenting Yindjibarndi culture with her husband, Michael Woodley. The couple has worked closely with elders, collecting stories and knowledge to create an archive that now houses sound and video recordings, documents, and other resources.
“The elders we worked with are mostly gone now,” says Lorraine. “We go back to the archive when we need information, especially to teach the next generation.”
The materials in the archive are used in various ways, such as in booklets and digital media, to help people reconnect with Yindjibarndi stories, songs, and history. Lorraine explains that elders often use these resources to help remember the language and stories of their people.
One elder, Alice Guinness, is particularly close to Lorraine. “Mum Alice is one of my mothers in the Galharra skin system,” she says. “We grew up together in school. She’s my best friend’s mother.”
Lorraine recalls how Alice, who has an autistic ability, expressed herself through painting. “I always knew Alice had this ability, and when she started painting at Juluwarlu’s art centre, I saw her use the same style every time—painting with her left hand and always focusing on the burndud (circle).”
Lorraine took note of Alice’s art and worked with art teachers to help bring out her talent. “We had Kate Leslie, an art teacher, who helped Alice communicate through her paintings,” Lorraine explains. “Alice gets excited during ceremony time and always claps her hands in joy. There’s an atmosphere around her that’s infectious.”
For Lorraine, Alice’s paintings reflect the Birdarra law ceremony, a significant part of Yindjibarndi culture. “When we gather at the Birdarra ceremony ground, everyone comes together to share meals, perform ceremonies, and celebrate,” she says. “Initiated men sit around an old Yandi (bark) and sing songs passed down through generations.”
Lorraine believes Alice’s art captures the essence of these ceremonies. “When Alice paints, she’s expressing that ceremony, the gathering of people, and the rebirth of men through initiation,” she says. “It’s a very special event for all of us.”