Gurindji Freedom Banners & Wave Hill / Jinparrak / Canberra Exchange

Overview

Gurindji Freedom Banners
Mumkurla-nginyi-ma parrngalinyparla - From the darkness into the light.

The 10 iconic banners on display tell the Gurindji account of the Wave Hill Walk-off, which was led by Vincent Jurlama Lingiari AM with Gurindji, Ngarinyman, Mudburra, Bilinara and Walpiri workers from Wave Hill Station, located in the Victoria River District on the northern edge of the Tanami Desert. This strike was a response to the unfair working and living conditions for Aboriginal people under the station’s management; Vestey’s Group.

This exhibition was developed by Charles Darwin University Art Gallery in partnership with Karungkarni Art and Culture, Kalkarindji, Northern Territory.

Wave Hill / Jinparrak / Canberra Exchange
The exchange recognises the significant connection between the Gurindji people of the Daguragu and Kalkarindji communities, whose groundbreaking strike in the 1960’s heralded the birth of the national land rights movement. Canberra played a significant role in this seminal moment in Australian history as the Gurindji people and their supporters dealt with governments and politicians from 1966 to 1975.

Six Indigenous artists travelled to Canberra spending two weeks making new work at Megalo Print Studio. Their prints express country, history, the past and the future as well as the impact of decisions made at Parliament House.

This project was developed by Megalo Print Studio, Canberra in partnership with Karungkarni Art and Culture, Kalkarindji, Northern Territory.