© ATOM A STUDYGUIDE by Katy Marriner
http://www.metromagazine.com.au
ISBN-13-978-1-74295-070-9 http://www.theeducationshop.com.au CAAMA Productions
Keepers of the Story was produced by Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association (CAAMA) Productions, the film and television production branch of CAAMA, in association with Imparja Television and Wawili Pitjas.
The Central Australian Indigenous Media Association (CAAMA) began operations in 1980 and was the first Aboriginal group to be allocated a broadcasting license. The Aboriginal people of Central Australia own CAAMA and its objectives focus on the social, cultural and economic advancement of Aboriginal peoples. CAAMA caption produces media products that engender pride in Aboriginal communities, while informing and educating the wider community.
Keeping the story of Jandamarra alive This study guide to Established in 1988 CAAMA Productions is is the responsibility of the Bunuba accompany Keepers of the Story, a part of the CAAMA media group. CAAMA people. For the storytellers, Jandamarra documentary written Production’s primary purpose is to represent is an unsung hero of whom the whole and directed by Mitch Indigenous people, culture and language in film Torres, provides and television. CAAMA Productions was the Australian population can be proud. information and suggestions for learning recipient of the 2005 Film Australia Stanley Hawes Since the passing of the key story holder Banjo activities in Civics and Award for Outstanding Contribution to Australian Woorunmurra, other senior people like George Citizenship, Australian Documentary. Brooking, Dillon Andrews, Selina Middleton and History, English, Danny Marr have all played an important role in the Humanities and Social Visit CAAMA at www.caama.com.au to learn more Sciences, Indigenous preservation of Jandamarra’s story. Studies and Media. about CAAMA and CAAMA Productions. About the filmmaker Teachers should Nganampa Anwernekenhe preview Keepers of the Story before showing ‘When we began talking to Bunuba storykeepers Keepers of the Story is part of the Nganampa it to students. The about the Jandamarra it was clear that they felt film would appeal Anwernekenhe television series. Nganampa that the keeping of the story of Jandamarra was to students in upper Anwernekenhe is produced by Central Australian very important to them. This keeping of story is primary classes and is Aboriginal Media Association (CAAMA) evident in the projects they have done in the past: suitable for secondary Productions, the film and television production students at all levels. a book written in collaboration between white branch of CAAMA, in association with Imparja historian Howard Pederson and Bunuba elder Keepers of the Story is Television. Mr Wooranmurra (deceased) and key Bunuba in Bunuba and English people, a play written with Steve Hawke and now languages with English Over 180 programs have been produced since the subtitles. Bunuba is the documentary Jandamarra’s War made for Nganampa Anwenekenhe television series was one of at least forty- television.’ - Mitch Torres, Director four languages that initiated in 1988. The primary aim of the series were spoken in the is the maintenance of Aboriginal languages and Mitch Torres is the writer and director of Keepers Kimberley. Some are culture. Nganampa Anwernekenhe also provides of the Story. Her credits as a director include the no longer used, but an opportunity for Indigenous filmmakers to work approximately thirty are award winning documentary Whispering in our on an Indigenous language television series. Each still spoken to varying Hearts as well as Case 442, Saltwater Bluesman, degrees. program must have an Indigenous Australian SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM The Healing Sounds of the Bungarun Orchestra, in the key creative roles which include writer, Behind the Ball and Memories of Iwany. Torres has Duration: 25 minutes director, cinematographer and sound recordist. recently directed Jandamarra’s War for ABC TV, and the series Milli Milli Nganka, and has written an Visit Australian Screen at http://aso.gov.au/titles/ episode for the television series The Circuit. series/nganampa-anwernekenhe/ to learn more about Nganampa Anwernekenhe.
2 Credits
Director and writer Mitch Torres Producer Eileen Torres Imparja Television Using Keepers of the Story Photography Dan Woods, in the classroom Imparja Television is an Australian television Clinton Ferstl network broadcasting to remote eastern and Teachers may select from the following information Editor central Australia. ‘Imparja’ is an Arrernte word Clinton Ferstl and activities to support students’ viewing and meaning footprints. The word is used to indicate close analysis of Keepers of the Story. Sound recordist that Imparja Television aims to service Arrernte Petris Torres people wherever they may live. Imparja Television Making a start Theme music describe their range as a footprint. The network Petris Torres is unique in Australia and the world, being totally . Did you enjoy watching Keepers of the Story? Original music owned and controlled by Northern Territory and Bunuba Joonba, . As you watch Keepers of the Story, make South Australian Aboriginal shareholders. Andrews Family, viewing notes about Jandamarra and the George Brooking people both past and present who are part of Imparja Television delivers information and Production his story. Use a data chart like the one below to communication services to the community, while assistant help you organise your notes. promoting Indigenous culture and values. Ebony Hill Drawing on the contents of your data chart, Director’s assistant spend time as a class discussing Jandamarra Visit Imparja Television at http://www.imparja.com/ Catriona McKenzie and the people who are part of the Jandamarra
Series producer story. SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM Find out more about Imparja Television at http:// Tanya Fraser . Draw a concept map that shows the en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imparja_Television Executive producer connections between Keepers of the Story and Ray Lillis your world.
3 The 19th police force Bill and Western Australian George, Dillon Jandamarra Richardson government of and Selina Jandamarra’s time
The Bunuba people of The 19th century Mingo Banjo Woorunmurra and Jandamarra’s time pastoralists Mick the other storytellers SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM
4 That night, after speaking with his captured uncle, Jandamarra was remorseful. Jandamarra chose to be loyal to his people. He shot Richardson, armed the Bunuba people and began a guerilla campaign against the colonists.
On November 10, 1894, Jandamarra and some of his followers attacked a party of white men who were driving cattle to set up a large station in the heart of Bunuba land. Two of these men, Burke and Gibbs, were killed. This began what became known as ‘The Bunuba War’.
When news of Jandamarra’s action became known, a posse of armed police and settlers attacked Jandamarra and his followers in Windjana Gorge. Jandamarra was wounded but escaped. Intent on retribution, police attacked Aboriginal camps around Fitzroy Crossing. Many Aboriginal people were killed.
For three years, Jandamarra led a resistance against police and European settlers in defence of Jandamarra his lands and his people. His ability to elude the police and disappear without trace made him a Jandamarra, also known as Pigeon, was born legend amongst Bunuba people of the time. They in 1873. He was an Indigenous Australian of the believed that Jandamarra had magical power. Bunuba people. The Western Australia police recruited Mingo Mick, At an early age, Jandamarra and his mother came a talented Aboriginal tracker. Mingo Mick was in from the bush to live on Lennard River Station, also reputed to possess magical powers. Mingo one of the first pastoral stations in the Kimberley. Mick tracked Jandamarra down and shot him to It was during this time that Jandamarra was death at Tunnel Creek on April 1, 1897. The police nicknamed ‘Pigeon’ and became an exceptionally cut off Jandamarra’s head as proof that he was talented stockman. As a young adult, Jandamarra dead and it was sent to England as a trophy. His returned to a traditional life with his people. family buried his body. The police showcased a head of another Bunuba man in a glass case Like other Aboriginal people, Jandamarra which everyone thought was Jandamarra’s head was imprisoned for stealing stock. After he but his had already been sent to London to a gun was released from jail, Jandamarra worked at manufacturer. Lillimooloora Station with a white man called Bill Richardson. When Richardson joined the police . Imagine that you are a journalist working for a
force, Jandamarra rode with him when the police Western Australian newspaper in the 1890s. SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM captured many of his own people. Write a newspaper report about Jandamarra and one or more of his exploits. During a patrol of the Napier Ranges in the West or Kimberley in late 1894, Jandamarra helped to Imagine that you are a citizen living in arrest a large group of his people, men and women. Western Australia in the 1890s. Write a letter Above: ----- They were held at Lillimooloora Police Station. to the newspaper expressing your opinion of 5 Kimberley Region in the far north of Western ‘He started Australia. It stretches from the town of Fitzroy Jandamarra and one or more of his exploits. a fight for Crossing to the King Leopold Ranges. Bunuba . Jandamarra is referred to as a freedom fighter, lands include the Napier and Oscar Ranges. a warrior, an outlaw, a murderer, a notorious country, his native and as the Aboriginal Ned Kelly in spirit country, . Have you ever visited Bunuba country? different versions of his story. Which label do you think best describes a long time Locate Bunuba country on a map of Australia. Use Jandamarra? Explain your decision to the class ago against print and electronic texts to find out more about by drawing on evidence from Keepers of the Bunuba country and about the people who live Story. whiteman.’ there. Share your findings with others in the class. . ‘He started a fight for country, his spirit country, Danny Marr (ABOVE) a long time ago, against whiteman.’ (Danny A useful starting point is the Indigenous Language Marr) Map located at http://www.abc.net.au/indigenous/ Why did Jandamarra become a legend to the map/. Bunuba people of the time? Do you think Jandamarra was a hero? . Draw a map of Bunuba country. Show the . Write the story of Jandamarra that would places that are key to Jandamarra’s story on appear in a tourist guide to the Kimberley. the map. Annotate the map or use a key to . For more information about Jandamarra, provide more details about each place. Make visit: sure that your map has a title, a border and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jandamarra a north point and that you have indicated all http://www.jandamarra.com.au/ sources. The National Library of Australia provides . ‘The story of Jandamarra is the story of the a comprehensive index of resources on Bunuba people.’ Jandamarra. What do you understand this statement to Visit http://trove.nla.gov.au/ mean? result?q=jandamarra to view newspaper articles . What problems currently face the Aboriginal
from the time and the bibliographic details of people of Fitzroy Crossing? SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM books, journals, magazines and articles, as well Investigate how the media has portrayed these as music, sound and video. problems. How is the community addressing these Bunuba country problems? The keepers of Jandamarra’s story believe that Bunuba country is in the southern part of the Above: ----- the spirit of Jandamarra is still alive and present 6 in their community. Can the story of Jandamarra help Bunuba people of today?
George, Dillon and Selina
Keepers of the Story features George Brooking, Dillon Andrews and Selina Middleton. These stories link past, present and future . What do we learn about George, Dillon and generations of Indigenous Australians. Keepers of Selina as they tell Jandamarra’s story? the Story is about the passing on of a life history. . Use ‘Think, Pair, Share’ to discuss your impressions of George, Dillon and Selina. George Brooking, Dillon Andrews and Selina Review the notes that you have made about Middleton are among some of the keepers of George, Dillon and Selina in the table. Talk Jandamarra’s story. Since the passing of Banjo about your impressions of George, Dillon and Woorunmurra, George, Dillon and Selina have Selina with a partner. Share your conversation played an important role in the preservation and about one of the keepers of Jandamarra’s story passing on of Jandamarra’s story. In Keepers of with the rest of the class. the Story, Dillon speaks about the kind of man . What words would you use to describe the Jandamarra may have been given the evidence relationship between George, Dillon and Selina? that has been passed down through oral history Match the words that you have selected with in the Bunuba community. George describes the moments from Keepers of the Story. witty charms of Jandamarra. Selina explains why . Why does the filmmaker show George, Dillon the story of Jandamarra is important to present and and Selina camping out in Bunuba country? preserve for future Bunuba people. SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM The Keepers The storytellers value their cultural stories and recognise the importance of sharing these stories. The practice of telling oral stories is an important The stories were passed onto them by elders aspect of Aboriginal culture. Specific cultural in their community and as elders they are now practices, histories, languages, laws and family responsible for passing on the stories to the next relationships have been passed on in this way. Above: ----- generation. 7 written by Howard Petersen in collaboration with Bunuba elder Banjo Woorunmurra (deceased). A stage play titled Jandamarra was produced by the Black Swan Theatre Company and Bunuba Films in 2008. In 2011, four performances of Jandamarra are scheduled at Kimberley venues. A documentary about his life is currently in production (2011) and a feature film is in development.
. Why do you think so many writers, performers and filmmakers have adapted Jandamarra’s story? . ‘Jandamarra’s story is not dead’ (Danny Marr) Why keep the story of Jandamarra alive? Who is Danny Marr? What role does he play in the keeping of Jandamarra’s story? . Australian singer-songwriter Paul Kelly wrote the song ‘Pigeon/Jundamurra’ in 1989. Read about Kelly’s trip to Fitzroy crossing and his interest in Jandamarra at http://www. paulkelly.com.au/index.php?page=RollingSton eTourDiary. The song was released on the 1989 album, So Much Water, So Close To Home. You can read the lyrics of the song at http:// www.amws.com.au/pk/lyrics/pigeon- jundamurra.html
Both sides of the story
. Mitch Torres, the director of the documentary, . Why have George, Dillon and Selina become Jandamarra’s War intends to tell ‘both sides of keepers of Jandamarra’s story? ‘Jandamarra’s the story’. . Spend time as a class, discussing the different story is not What are ‘both sides’ of the story? Why is it roles that the keepers play in the telling of the important to tell ‘both sides’ of the story? Jandamarra story. dead. We . ‘When I was in school all I heard about was . George, Dillon and Selina claim that telling the made a book. Christopher Columbus. William Dampier and all story is their responsibility. that. We wasn’t taught about Jandamarra. We Why do they make this claim? We did a wasn’t taught about our own people.’ (Dillon . ‘Jandamarra’s memory is still strong in the stage play. Andrews) Bunuba people and they speak about him as Do you think that the teaching of Australian if he were present today in their lives.’ (Mitch And now we History has become more inclusive? Torres) are making a Who is Mitch Torres? What role does she play Betrayal and Loyalty in the keeping of Jandamarra’s story? documentary. And one day, The police recruited Jandamarra to track down Adapting the Jandamarra story we will make Aboriginal offenders. ‘Jandamarra’s story is not dead. We made a book. a feature film.’ . Why do you think Jandamarra worked with We did a stage play. And now we are making a Richardson? Danny Marr (ABOVE) documentary. And one day, we will make a feature . ‘He had to choose between his people and his film.’ (Danny Marr) friend.’ (Danny Marr) As a class, discuss Jandamarra’s decision Jandamarra’s war against the white settlers is a to shoot Richardson? Would it have been a source of pride and inspiration for the Bunuba difficult choice to make? people. . What role did Bunuba men and women play in SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM the Jandamarra story? Jandamarra’s life has been the subject of two novels, Ion Idriess’s Outlaws of the Leopold (1952) Injustice and Mudrooroo’s Long Live Sandawarra (1972). The definitive historical account of Jandamarra’s In the 1890s, European settlers claimed large story is Jandamarra and the Bunuba Resistance parts of the Kimberley as their own. In the process
8 THE NOTORIOUS “PIGEON” SHOT DERBY, April 7 News received from the Lennard River states that the head police Chisholm and a party consisting of Anderson and Buckland, after following “Pigeon” for some days, came upon him on the morning of the Aboriginal people were driven from their lands 1st, and after a severe contest shot him. This ends that career of the most or rounded up and forced to work on newly desperate native that the colony has known. It is hoped that the police will established cattle stations. now turn their attention to capturing his associates. The public here are jubilant over the event. Aboriginals no longer had access to their land. The following telegram has been received by the Commissioner of Police They could not hunt. They could not visit sacred from Corporal Pearson of Derby: - “Derby, 7th April. – “Pigeon, was shot sites. They were deprived of resources and dead by Lennard River police on the 1st inst. Full particulars on arrival of resorted to spearing stock. If Aboriginals were Lennard party.” caught, they were chained around the neck, Source: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article33131970 marched to Derby, and forced to work or put on state ships to Rottnest Island off the coast of Perth; most of them never returned to country and are Jandamarra’s rebellion was used to justify buried on the now tourist destination. attacking and capturing hundreds of Aboriginal people, many of whom had nothing to do with him Jandamarra led one of the longest and most or the Bunuba people. successful campaigns to defend Aboriginal country in Australian history. . Based on Keepers of the Story and internet research, what does Jandamarra’s story reveal For the Western Australian Government, about the 19th Century conflict between Jandamarra’s war against the pastoralists was a Aboriginal people and white settlers? disaster. Western Australia’s first Premier, John . Was Jandamarra’s rebellion and the rebellion of
Forrest, was under mounting pressure to bring an the Bunuba people justified? SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM end to Jandamarra’s rebellion. Britain insisted the . Read the newspaper report, above, from Aborigines be treated justly but the pastoralists, the Western Mail. The report was published believed the Kimberley could only be settled with on Friday 9 April 1897. It was published in a force. Forrest enlisted extra police, and settlers column titled ‘NATIVE TROUBLES’. were even sworn in as special constables. o Share your observations about this report of Above: ----- Jandamarra’s death with your peers. 9 How does the report portray the police? How does the report portray Jandamarra? Who are the ‘public’ referred to in the report? Why do you think Mingo Mick isn’t mentioned? Keepers of the Democracy Story is a CAAMA Production . Jandamarra is recognised as one of the people for Imparja TV, in who helped shape Australian Democracy the Nganampa by the Museum of Australian Democracy at Anwernekenhe Old Parliament House in Canberra - http:// series. moadoph.gov.au/.
Read the overview of Jandamarra’s contribution . Discuss the filmmaker’s use of archival material. and view the photograph of Jandamarra at http:// . How does the filmmaker portray Bunuba explore.moadoph.gov.au/people/131-tjangamarra- country? jandamarra/list#description. Spend time as a class, discussing the filmmaker’s Were you surprised to learn that Jandamarra has Keepers of the Story decisions about the settings featured in Keepers of been recognised in this way? is available on DVD the Story. from Ronin Films, What does his inclusion reveal about the views and PO Box 680, Extended analysis values of a contemporary Australia? Mitchell, ACT 2911. Phone . Complete a detailed analysis of Keepers of the Who are the other Indigenous Australians named (02) 6248 0851 Story. Your analysis should provide: as making a positive contribution to Australian Email: orders@ Õ A synopsis of the documentary democracy? Begin your search at http://explore. roninfilms.com.au Õ A description of the roles played by moadoph.gov.au/people. Indigenous Australians. Õ An explanation of the filmmaker’s purpose. . Drawing on Keepers of the Story and other Õ An assessment of the documentary’s primary and secondary sources, explain portrayal of Indigenous Australia. Jandamarra’s legacy. Õ A comment on how the film uses various documentary techniques. Behind the scenes Õ Your judgement of the documentary’s worth.
. Who do you think is the intended audience for Create Keepers of the Story? . Why do you think the filmmaker used the . How would you tell the story of Jandamarra? shooting of the documentary Jandamarra’s War Working with a partner, adapt the story of Above: ----- as a backdrop for Keepers of the Story? Jandamarra for a selected audience. You may choose the form of your adaptation.
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