Getting the goodness out of culture

Research into the Bardi/Jawi people of the West Kimberley Coast is not unusual. For decades, anthropologists from around the world have visited these remote communities, trying to understand their cultures and traditions. 

Now, one of their own, Ngardarb Riches, a professional artist and Masters of Fine Art/Research candidate at the Victorian College of the Arts’ (VCA) Wilin Centre, has the opportunity to study her people. 

Ms Riches’ research looks at the many influences that have impacted greatly on the lives of the Bardi/Jawi people, from the mission era to the pearling industry, and how this has impacted on their kinship laws and governance systems. 

She is investigating how the ripple effects of these influences have broken down strong family traditions and demolished kinship laws. She is examining these lost pieces and finding solutions that can evolve and be adapted to modern living.

“What I’d like to do with my research is look to the past with my kinship system and get a lot of the goodness out of that. This can then be used to create or develop programs that would assist in family parenting issues or marital support or even problematic relational issues,” says Ms Riches.

“Quite a large number of Aboriginal communities were severely affected by settlement and their cultural practices were forced to diminish or even dissolve. Especially the languages, so it may help those people who never experienced traditional culture to revisit or read about what we did and hopefully this may give guidance in some way.”

Ngardarb has been a practising visual artist for over 25 years. Some of her sculptures can be seen in parks and gardens in Perth, and as part of the walls at Broome’s hospital. The inspiration for her work comes from her own experiences and the lives of her people. 

“I learned a love for art and storytelling from my uncles and others of the tribe. It’s our way of passing down our knowledge and history. It’s always been like that in my culture. Our visual art or through song and dance, it’s telling a story and educating us,” says Ngardarb.

Ms Riches grew up on Sunday Island in the traditional way, with her mother’s people – grandparents, uncles and aunts – living off the land, hunting and fishing for food, as her ancestors did thousands of years before. 

Growing up this way immersed in the traditions of her people is reflected in her artwork, which teaches the way of her community and the Bardi/Jawi kinship system. 

All of Ms Riches’ people are back in the Kimberley and she returns there once or twice a year to do her research, getting the older folk to tell their stories through art.

“For my research project, I’m going to create pieces that relate to our kinship system. I’m thinking along the lines of fishing and fish schools. Fish schools have this systematic structure that keeps out predators with the way they behave. I find this very interesting and similar to our kinship family system that kept the bloodlines pure.”

Late in 2012, the Wilin Centre celebrated its tenth anniversary. On display at an exhibition at Federation Square was Ms Riches’ work Ilgnaam, or Poison Root, which tells the story of traditional fishing.

“There’s a particular plant that grows on the island or the edge of the mainland, which can be used for fishing. It takes the oxygen out of the water. It’s a plant that is used to catch fish in the rocks and the pools that are impossible to catch with fishing line. This knowledge was passed on very strongly to my people from our ancestors and it’s a method still practised today.” 

One of the ways Ngardarb currently helps to restore the lost kinship system with Indigenous people is through art therapy. She works with Indigenous elders here in Melbourne who were part of the stolen generation.

“I encourage them to talk about what they remember that was positive from their past before they were taken away and create a space for this by doing any visual art work that reflects their stories. The art gets them together and they slowly open up. It directs them back to the past and it’s a really good healing thing. Revisiting the past with people who care about them gives really good outcomes after some horrific times. I’ve seen them on their journey to recovery,” Ms Riches says.

Ms Riches is appreciative of the support she has received from the Wilin Centre and the opportunities it offers Indigenous artists.

“The Wilin Centre understands that we’re community people and it has made it so much better having other Indigenous people around. Wilin has been so supportive and understanding of our culture and how things should be. I am so happy with the people who run Wilin.”

Following her MFA/Research, Ngardarb may continue her research and do a PhD. 

“My supervisor, Su Baker, the VCA Director, has been amazing. She really understands me and my culture, so I may continue on to a PhD,” she says.

“Either way, I’m looking forward to continuing with my art. I’ll be looking at experimenting with other techniques of painting, apart from my usual styles. It’s always exciting coming up with new ways of expressing my passion for creation.”

www.vca-mcm.unimelb.edu.au/wilin