In February 2002 a new QANTAS aircraft flew across the Australian skies.
The original motifs of Uluru and the surrounding landscape on the fuselage were designs created by Walkatjara artist Rene Kulitja. Since the early 90's when Rene started to paint, she has become well known for the bright colours and bold shapes she uses to share her stories of the Tjukurpa - Anangu law.  Her large slumped glass panels are in the Sails in the Desert Hotel at Ayer's Rock Resort and several of her works are in the National Gallery of Australia.

Rene also painted some of the art work in the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park Cultural Centre and talks about her 'Bush Tucker Story', painted directly onto the mud brick walls of the Tjukurpa Piti, the area designed to teach about traditional Anangu culture. Her words in describing this painting illustrate her approach to her art work in general:

'Nyangatjana ngayuku kuliningi yaaltji yaaltjina paint-amilalku. Mununa kulinu muntuwa! Tjinguru ngayulu irititjanguru palyalku. Panya Untalnga, kaminya nyinapai iriti nikiti kutjupa kutjupa wiya ngaltutjara, wana munu piti munu tjungaritjara kutju. Ka ngayulu nyangatja paint-amilanu, nyura pitjala nyakula kulintjaku mulapa tjana iriti alatji nyinapai pika wiya munu kunpu mai nyanganguru. Ka tjukurpa nyangatja ngaranyi.'
   
'I thought a lot about how I should do this painting and then I realised of course! I should paint something from traditional times; from those days when my great grandmothers and grandmothers were alive; when they went naked and travelled with nothing more than their digging sticks, collecting bowls and grinding stones. So I painted this for you to come and see and really understand how people used to live. Existing on these bush foods was a healthy life free of sickness.
This story is in my painting.'  Rene Kulitja, 2004.

Walkatjara Exhibitions:

2004, Desert Mob, Araluen Centre, Alice Springs, NT
2004, 'Apu Wiru Nyangatja Tuulpakani', Araluen Centre, Alice Springs
2003, 'Desert Mob Show" Araluen Centre, Alice Springs
2002, 'Desert Mob Show', Araluen Centre, Alice Springs
2001, 'Desert Mob Show', Araluen Centre, Alice Springs
2000,  Desert Gallery, Rose Bay, Sydney
1999,  Desert Fox Studio Gallery, Sydney
1998-99, 'Straight from the Heart', Regional Touring Exhibition, Australia.

Acquisitions/Commissions

2002, QANTAS aircraft design, 'Yananyi Dreaming'
2000, Environment Australia Collection, Canberra
2000, Walkatjara Art, Uluru, painting for Yeperenye Festival
1999, Museum of Ethnology, Osaka, Japan, paintings on canvas
1999, UNESCO, Brussels, ceramic exhibition vase
1997, Australian National Gallery, glass work
1995, & 1996, Araluen Art Acquisition, slumped glass, enamel silk screened bowl and glass work
1995, Walkatjara Art Archive
1994, Environment Australia, paintings for the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park Cultural Centre
1994, Environment Australia, Handback Commemorative card design
1994, Ayers Rock Resort, glass panels

© 2005 Walkatjara Art Uluru

Christine Brumby is a young grandmother living with her family in Mutitjulu. She began working with Anangu Tours through its first official training program in 2001 and she is very proud of her work taking visitors on the 'Kuniya Walk' to teach them about the culture, lifestyle and artwork of her ancestors.  and sees her art work as a strong and rewarding way of doing the same.

Christine has also worked at the Mutitjulu Child Care Centre helping her daughter Samantha with the care of the young children there. Her mother, Julie Brumby, is an experienced painter and wood carver and she has grown up learning not only from her but from aunties, cousins, grandmothers and great grandmothers. She enjoys painting canvases to sell through Maruku Arts and Walkatjara Art. She is also learning the art of etching designs on the artefacts her mother carves and sells through Maruku Arts.

She is currently studying through Batchelor College to learn more about the media and is interested in community radio and learning about film making.

NB Anangu Tours would like to acknowledge the help of Walkatjara Arts in recording part of Christine’s story

“Iritinguruna waakaringi punungka arkarana nintiringu wiraku, tjatiku panya Barbaraku ngunytjungka nintiringu Tjulula. Ka ngayulu waaka kutjupa palyanu startara NTCC-ngka Ulurula, Yularanya wiyangka. Tourist tjuta Ulurula palyara tjilamilapai Maruku Arts wiyangka. Tjana buy-amilapai ngananala mani kulunypangka.

Ngayulu Ranger waaka startaringu National Park-ngka Handback Time munu ranger-ngku ngura tjunu atunmanangi minymaku ngura miilmiilpa, Tjukatjapi, munu Pularinya. Ka nganana bushtucker-ku nintilpai piranpa tjuta, tjinaku, punu tjutaku animal tjutaku minkiriku, murtja munu tjakuraku. Nganana tjungu waakaripai, 'Joint Management'-ngka.

Ngayuku ngura Tamuntjiranya, Docker River-la wilurara, Tjukurpa pulkatjara. Ngayulu atunmankupai, wangkapai wiya, wiyaringkupai wiya, kanyini titu. Ngayulu waakaripai Tjukurpa ngayuku wirura kanyintjaku.

Anangu Tours-ngkana waakaripai. Ankupaina Kuniya Walka-ngka munu Dot Painting-ngka. Nganana Tourist tjutangka tjakultjunkupai mai irititja munu Wati Liruku, Minyma Kuniyaku Tjukurpa munu nganampa walka munu tjina kutjupa kutjupaku nintilpai.”

The first work I did a long time ago was learning to make small bowls and lizards at Tjulu (Curtain Springs) from Barbara's (Tjikatu) mother. Then I began a different kind of work with NTCC (Northern Territory Conservation Commission) at Uluru, before the existence of Yulara. It was before Maruku Arts as well and we made craft and sold it to tourists at Uluru. They would buy from us really cheaply.

I started work as a ranger for National Parks at Handback time when rangers fenced off and protected the women's sacred and restricted sites, Tjukatjapi and Pulari.  We taught non-Aboriginal people about bush tucker, about tracking, plants and animals like the marsupial mice, mulgara and great desert skink. We work together in 'Joint Management'. 

My place is Tamuntjira, to the west of Docker River and it holds very powerful Law. I am responsible for protecting this; I never speak of it; it will never disappear; I will keep it forever. I work in order to look after my culture.

I work with Anangu Tours going on the Kuniya Walks and Dot Painting Workshops.  We explain to tourists about traditional foods and the Venomous Snake Man and Python Woman’s Creation Law. We also teach them about our symbols and how we learn to track animals. 

NB Anangu Tours would like to acknowledge the help of Walkatjara Arts in recording part of Edith’s story

Born in Alice Sprigs, Gloria Moneymoon grew up in Areyonga and Docker River She has lived for many years in the community of Mutitjulu where she worked until recently with the local Job Network. She also worked for a long time with Maruku Arts in their warehouse helping to document paintings and wood carvings as well as advising on their data base of artists. She says she enjoys painting bush tucker from her country and the Tjukurpa she has been taught as she's grown up here.

Gloria began working with Anangu Tours when she and her partner, Wayne Curtis, joined its first official training program in 2001 and has gone on to become a confident and experienced Tour Guide. Gloria has also played a large part in the running of the indigenous Job Network that was setup in Mutitjulu also.

Cassidy Uluru was born on Walatina Station, in the north of South Australia, the youngest of a large family (his two older brothers are also tour guides with Anangu Tours).  He is a member of the Yankunytjatjara language group, but also speaks Pitjantjatjara and two other Western Desert languages, as well as some English.

Cassidy went to school for a few years in the northern South Australian mission (as it was then) of Ernabella, but ran away before too long!  His main education was from his grandparents and parents, who passed on to him the knowledge he needed to survive in the deserts of Central Australia.  Cassidy’s father was a very important man not only in Aboriginal law but also in the struggle for land rights for his people.

Cassidy first saw Uluru when he was a very young boy, and accompanied his father and some other men on an expedition across the sand dunes to Uluru.  He says he first thought it was a huge sand dune, and kept pestering his father with questions!  Cassidy remembers that his father refused to tell him what it was, telling him instead to be patient and to work it out as they got closer.

It was of course his father and other elders of the Yankunytjatjara people who taught him the important creation stories of the region, and taught him the laws, ethics and social codes that underlie these stories and are written in the scars and features of Uluru.  It is introductory versions of these stories that Cassidy now tells visitors who accompany him on tour.

Cassidy has worked with Anangu Tours since it first opened for business in 1995.  Cassidy, his wife Tiku, his brothers and other members of his extended family knew that visitors to the region were intensely interested in Aboriginal culture.  They also wanted to start a business that would create profit and jobs for them and their grandchildren.  Thus Anangu Tours was born.

Cassidy has been a guide with Anangu Tours ever since, combining it with his other occupation of being an artist, creating dot paintings that he sells in the local Art and Craft co-operative.  He also makes weapons (spears, boomerangs and spear-throwers) for sale as well as for everyday use.

On an official level, Cassidy is on the Executive of Nyangatjatjara Corporation, the parent body of Anangu Tours.

Ngayulu iritinguru nyinangi Docker River la mununa nyakupai ngurpangku punu palyanyangka Anangu tjuta. Mununa Ulurulakutu pitjangu nyinantjaku kana kulinu, Uwq, tjinguru ngayulu nintiringkuku pun uku mununa arkara palyanu ngurpangku, walatjununa nulla nulla palyara. Munna ngintaka lulunmypa Liru, mingkiri palyanu mununa kulinu ' Hey Ngayulku nintiringu wanyukana palyalku painting asrkara' munu ngayulu palyanu painting wirunyas, fauna survey mingkiri tjina ngayulu pa;lyalpai paintingka. Ngayulku tjina mun ranger tjina tjungu palyanu. Mununa titutjarara palyalpai Tjukatjapinya, Lirunga wintalykanya, ngauku mamaku ngura palyalpai. Uwankara Tjukurpa pulka mulapa tjara.

A long time ago I was living in Docker River and before I ever tried it myself I would see people making wood carvings. Then I came to live at Uluru and I thought perhaps I could learn to carve myself so I tired it out and made some small clubs. Then I made some small perentie lizards, deadly snakes and marsupial mice and thought, hey I can do this, maybe I'll try painting as well so I did and was pleased with the results. I made some paintings about the Fauna survey showing my tracks together with those of the white ranger's. The other themes I always paint are Tjukatjapi (women's sacred site at Uluru), Deadly Snake and Mulga Seed. All of these have really important Law and Culture associated with them.

Daisy Walkabout works in the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park as a senior traditional ranger and enjoys painting in her spare time. Daisy works for Anangu Tours on a casual basis to take the pressure off our full time guides over the weekends when she is not working for UKTNP. She has been involved with the Mutitjulu Health Council for a number of years and only recently resigned when she became a Mutitjulu Community Council member.
NB Anangu Tours would like to acknowledge the help of Walkatjara Arts in recording part of Bonnie’s story

'Ngayuku kami nyakupai mai runkanyangka munu ngayulu nintiringkupai maiku kutjupa tjutaku. Ngayulu Wallara Ranch-ala pulkaringangi mununa waaka tjukutjuku palyalpai.

Ngayulu Anangu Tours-nguru waakarinyi Kuniyangka munu ngayulu minga tjutangku photo-milanyangka wangkapai, “Ara! Nyuntu pina pati? Nyuntu painyangka kulini?” Alatji ngayulu ngunti wangkapai, ikaritjingalpai minga tjuta. Kaya ngayuku pukularipai. Munuya pulkara kulilpai, “Uwa palumpa Tjukurpa pulka wangkanyi” Ka nganana pukularipai.”

'I would watch my grandmother as she ground and prepared the food and I grew up on those delicious bush grains and fruits so I learnt about bush foods and everything else. I grew up and first started working at Wallara Ranch.

I work with Anangu Tours on the Kuniya Walk and when tourists are taking photographs I always say, “Get away! Are you completely ignorant? Do you understand when you’re being told not to do something?” That’s how I tease the tourists and make them laugh. They really realise: “she is talking about her strong traditions” And we all enjoy it.

Elsie's ancestral country is around Kanpi in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Lands of northern South Australia. After many years raising her family in Imanpa she is now based in Mutitjulu. When not working as a senior tour guide for Anangu Tours she enjoys making baskets and has been a wood carver for a long time. She has often worked with Maruku Arts at the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park Cultural Centre demonstrating dot painting for visitors and thoroughly enjoys her interactions with them.

NB Anangu Tours would like to acknowledge the help of Walkatjara Arts in recording part of Elsie's story

“Ngayulu wangkara palyalpai Tjukurpa kamiku, tjamuku mamaku ngunytjuku nguranguru. Ngayulu ngura iti ngarintja palyalpai. Uluruku pitjangi Liru paluru pitjangi wiluraranguru, Docker River-lawanu, Tjukurpa pulkanya. Mununa mai putitjangka ngayuku ngunytjulu mamalu pulkanu ngayunya. Docker River-nguru nganana anu tjina ngayulu tjitji tjukutjuku, Utjulakutu mununa ngura nyara palula pulkaringu, kuulangka. Ka kuwari ngayulu Mutitjulula nyinanyi kulira palyalpai mamaku Kuniya, Liru, munu Kungkarangkalpa, ngayuku ngunytjuku nguranguru.”

“I speak and paint for the Creation Law of my grandparents' and parents' country. I paint for the place I was born. The Deadly Snake Ancestors came to Uluru from the west, through Docker River and this is a very significant part of our culture and history. I also paint and teach about the bush foods my parents raised me on. We left Docker River when I was very young and travelled on foot to the community of Areyonga where I grew up and went to school. I now live in Mutitjulu and whenever I work I'm thinking of the Python and Deadly Snake from my father and the Seven Sisters story from my mother's country.”

Happy Reid has lived with her children and grandchildren in Mutitjulu for a long time now. She first lived here as a young single woman when she came from Docker River to work in the Community's very first store. This was before the Handback of the Park to Traditional Owners in 1985 and well before the resort was established. She returned to Docker River to get married and began training as a Health Worker in the local clinic. Returning to Mutitjulu with her family, she began working in the Mutitjulu Clinic and has only recently retired. Her children are now grown and she believes it is important for women like herself to keep speaking out strongly about community and family issues. Happy plays an active role in this, attending the many community and National Park meetings while helping in the rearing of her grandchildren.

She spends much of her spare time painting and carving artefacts and has recently begun working as a Tour Guide for Anangu Tours. She enjoys being able to actively teach visitors about the Creation stories and traditions she grew up with.

NB Anangu Tours would like to acknowledge the help of Walkatjara Arts in recording part of Happy’s story