Traditional Knowledge Project at work on Wik lands

Traditional Knowledge Western Cape York Peninsula

The Traditional Knowledge Recording Project (TKRP) has joined with people from western Cape York to ensure the rich heritage of the Wik language groups is preserved for the future. Using video cameras and a multi-media database, the knowledge of the elders will be recorded and catalogued in a manner that maintains the integrity of the culture's oral traditions.

The Traditional Knowledge Recording Project (TKRP) has joined with people from western Cape York to ensure the rich heritage of the Wik language groups is preserved for the future. Using video cameras and a multi-media database, the knowledge of the elders will be recorded and catalogued in a manner that maintains the integrity of the culture's oral traditions.

Founded by Dr. George Musgrave and Dr. Tommy George Snr. from the Laura basin in central Cape York, the TKRP has spent several years building a database suitable for storing video files of traditional indigenous knowledge. The project was looking to share its tools and methodology with other language groups in the peninsula, and found a willing partner in Wik country.

The Wik Traditional Recording Project in Aurukun has been recording events such as house openings and making copies for the families, but a lack of modern equipment and other support has restricted their activities. They approached TKRP who, with the help of the philanthropic Victor Morgan Charitable Trust, have since provided digital video cameras, playback decks, and a computer with the TKRP database installed.

"What we have in Aurukun are people who have experience behind the camera and are passionate about recording traditional knowledge," says TKRP Project Manager, Victor Steffensen. "So the essential ingredients are there."

While those behind the camera know what they're doing, some of the Wik elders are not as accustomed to being in front of it. This led Dr. Tommy George Snr. to make the journey out to the west coast of the cape, to demonstrate how to do a piece to camera.

"I show them how we do it... you know, talk to the camera in their own language." said Dr. Tommy George. "They'll pick it up quick alright."

In 2003 Aurukun produced a CD Rom phrase book of the Wik Mungkan language which was recently sold to educational institutions. The recent upgrade of their audio-visual equipment will allow them to focus on one of their greatest visual assets.

"This area is famous for dance so we have started documenting some of the dances with an explanation of their significance and history," says the Wik Traditional Knowledge Project Officer, Daniel Bracegirdle. "TKRP has also been supporting us to begin documenting traditional burning practices and assess their impact on the country."

For many of the holders of the knowledge in Aurukun it has been some time since others have taken an interest in the old ways. Anthropologists have been rare in the region since the 1980's.

"I've been waiting a while for this to happen," says Wik elder Stanley Kalkeeyorta. "We need to pass on what we know about our important places so the young ones will understand where they come from."

The difference this time is that rather than non-indigenous academics writing down their interpretation of the traditional knowledge, local people are now creating audio-visual documents of the information, presented on location in the original language. As the Wik are traditionally an oral culture, audio-visual material is far more useful than text based information. These AV files are managed in the community and available to the people for whom they have the greatest value.

"What we're doing is gathering the information on country, delivered by the individuals with the wisdom and the authority to transfer it," says TKRP Project Manager Victor Steffensen. "This is the way indigenous knowledge has always been passed on to the next generation."

With many remote communities facing difficulties engaging their young people in constructive activities, the strength of this project is that it brings the generations together in a way that values the technical skills of the young, and the experience of the old.

"A strong sense of identity and to know where you come from is number one when we're talking about the development of our youth", says Community Pastor Ralph Peinkinna. "For the young people of Aurukun this means they have to spend more time out bush, at the outstations, learning to live off the land again. That's why this traditional knowledge recording is important for us."

Background:

The Wik Traditional Recording Project is supported by the Aurukun Shire Council and TKRP through contributions from the Victor Morgan Charitable Trust.

The Wik Traditional Recording Project includes Wik Elders Ralph Peinkinna, Silas Wolmby, and Arthur Pambegan, as well as Cultural Advisers Stanley Kalkeeyorta, Thomas Toikalkin, Roxanne Yunkaporta, and Sharon Ngallametta.

The TKRP is funded primarily through the contributions of private individuals and philanthropic institutions including The Christensen Fund (USA). The project is also supported by the University of Technology Sydney, The Wilderness Society, Telstra, The University of California and the Natural Heritage Trust (NHT). TRKP is administered by Balkanu Cape York Development Corporation.

Pronunciation:

Aurukun - [ARE-oo-koon]

Kalkeeyorta - [kal-kee-YORT-a]

Peinkinna [pine-KIN-ah]

Caption to attached picture. Note: higher resolution images and additional images are available on request.:

House opening ceremony in Aurukun, western Cape York. Wik Traditional Knowledge Recording Project Cultural Advisor Thomas Toikalkin with the Apelech traditional dancers. Front left to right , Gabriel Pamtoonda, Selwyn Nanponan, Thomas Toikalkin, Thaapich Nanponan. Back left to right, Clinton Pamtoonda, Dion Pootchemunka, Lex Tony Nanponan.

Contacts:

Victor Steffensen: Project Manager, Traditional Knowledge Recording Project. 07 4051 9089 (w) 0437 330 132 victor.steffensen@balkanu.com.au ; www.tkrp.com.au (under construction)

Daniel Bracegirdle: Project Officer, Wik Traditional Knowledge Project

07 4060 6834 (w), 4060 6244 (h). Aurukun. dbracegirdle@hotmail.com

Jake Krausmann: Mediated Projection. 0427 339 450

For further information