Yamma Festival, Bourke, 2005. Yamma means WELCOME! Yamma was the first of ongoing festivals involving the meeting of Aboriginal groups from around Australia. Gathering to share ideas, dreams, dance, food & culture among the groups and the community of Bourke, it was a meeting to show unity and discuss issues of Aboriginal health and the direction of young people.
I was privleged enough to be invited by the Pitjantjatjarra women, through Greg Snowden (who has worked with their community for many years) to document the festival, their dance and journey through the festival. All images were donated to the Pitjantjatjarra women. I thank them for the honour of spending time with them. I still hear their songs in my ears.
You can read a transcript of Dreamscapes, a Radio National story in which Greg Snowden talks about the role of dreams in Pitjantjatjarra culture. Greg Snowden.Rachel Kohn Dreamscapes or visit http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/spiritofthings/dreamscapes/3491176#transcript
Greg Snowdon has lived in the Centre of Australia for the past 20 years, most of that time living and working with Pitjantjatjara people. He began working in community development with remote Aboriginal communities and regional councils, then cultural tourism and later land management.
all content copyright rebeccawilson 2014
rebeccawilsonart.com 