iDIDJ Australia Didgeridoo Cultural Hub

I've been asked to put out my feelers to see the level of interest in a series of Masterclasses with Djalu in June and July 2010. The Gurruwiwis are planning on 4 Masterclasses with a limit of around 10 people each time for June-July using the Auriga Bay II cruise ship like what they did last year.

For an idea of what the Masterclasses are about, see the following YouTube clip plus the other 6 clips in the series:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBccckROF-w

There's lots of changes going on in Gove, and the East Arnhem Tourism Hub is now looking after Yolngu tourism businesses in the area including Djalu's Masterclasses.

I haven't kept track of previous expressions of interest and it'll take me quite some time to look through all my emails and personal messages, so if you want to participate, please email or PM me.

Guan

Hi everybody,

I wonder if anybody plans on joining a Masterclass with Djalu around June-July and visiting some parts other than Gove afterwards? Going to Croker Island to see the original Djunggirriny, a stone didgeridoo with mystical powers? Or Goulburn Island as well.?

I am also interested in Beswick area and Maningrida but I'd like to have a very good guide, who in my book is Guan. Guan, would you be interested in that if we have enough folks? Depending on the common interest we can shape the plans accordingly I guess.. Please respond if interested..

Cheers

Mahir

Hi Mahir,

I moved your post here as it makes it a little easier to keep a handle on things.

I'm happy to be present and to help out if there are enough people interested. I just want to say up-front that I'm not a tour guide or tour operator though, but the way to do it is to work with local organisations in Aboriginal communities, some of them already have eco-tourism initiatives. I can help with logistics, coordinating travel, finding accommodation, flights, 4WD rental if needed, food etc. Permits are required on Aboriginal land.

June and July are great months to be in the Top End, there's lots of activity around that time and also a multitude of festivals, many of which have Indigenous themes or content.

Can't wait for the dry season!

Guan

Hi Guan,

Nice to hear that you would be interested if there are enough people interested. Do you have an idea how big the group should be?

I am looking forward to seeing other hands going up so that we can start brainstorming and planning...

Mahir

Hi Guan,
This year it would be difficult to me (job issues...); with chance in June-July it will be stabilized...
Nervertheless I've got some askings.
What is the utility of a boat? (ref. to December cancelled Masterclass)
What is the procedure to get a permit in top end? How long does it take?
Thanks

Mahir, with regards to numbers of people, the limit for Djalu's Masterclass is 10 as the Auriga Bay II can't take more people than that. As for other parts of Arnhem Land, the more the better really so the costs are less per person. We could do it with only 1 person, but it will be expensive.

Anthony, the Auriga Bay II is for transportation from Gove to Gikal'. The Gurruwiwis want to use Gikal' as the location for Masterclasses. Meals and accommodation are also on the Auriga Bay II.

The easiest way to get a permit is to have a 'sponsor' or 'sponsors' in the places you want to go, he or she will do the paperwork for you and inform the local community council of your reason for visiting. Doing it any other way such as applying directly through the Northern Land Council (NLC) will not guarantee success, there must be a good reason for visiting and people who just want to go to a community to take a look around will not get a permit easily if at all.

Cheers,

Guan

Uh ?! A stone Didgeridoo ? What's this story ?
I've checked Djunggirriny's story on Yidakiwuy Dhawu web-page and cannot see any mention of stone-didj... ?
http://www.yirrkala.com/yidaki/dhawu/27 ... rriny.html
Got more infos, Mahir ?

The Galpu - in their manikay - sing about Mawi (Croker Island) and things associated with this theme including Djunggirriny. Djalu's chapter in the "Didgeridoo Phenomenon" book mentions this and parts of the story concerning the origins of the Dhuwa yidaki. Yes, there is indeed a stone instrument there at Croker Island, it is sacred - and dangerous. It is a dream of mine to one day go there to document as much as possible with Djalu and other relevant persons. I raised the possibility of having a very special Masterclass there, it is only an idea and for it to happen would require quite a bit of planning as well as community approval.

I don't think any Balanda has seen it yet, it would really be a huge privilege.

Well, it is only an idea at this stage...

Guan

You mean... like a natural long hole in a big rock, similar to the bore of a didj ?
Or is it still so secret that even the general aspect is unknown to Balandas ?

It is a didgeridoo but made of stone. You can lift it, hold it, play it. Aspects of it I know like it can make storm clouds disappear, or point it at someone or in the direction of someone far away, and it can do harm - but this is no longer practised of course now that Yolngu are God-fearing, bible-abiding people!

Actually my memory is a bit fuzzy now, maybe it is at Goulburn Island, maybe Croker Island... I always get them confused!

Guan

Uh ?!
Hope you'll be able to fulfill your dream of investigating on Djunggirriny... this story sounds very interesting !

Darryl talks about the stone didgeridoo. Attached is the corresponding track from his lovely Mago Masterclass CD. He says it came from Croker Island and was so powerful that it was used to stop big rain or wind..

M

Great memory Mahir, I forgot about that!

So Croker Island it is. There are lots of Gurruwiwis on Goulburn Island, but Mawi is Croker Island and that's where the Djunggirriny is. I got it right now...

Guan

A little bit about the Galpu which I find fascinating... being that they have such close ties to a people so far away. I don't know any other case like this where there is confluence between song matter, genealogical relationships and mythology. Some of you might be asking the question "What's the real meaning of Ba:rra'?" or the significance of the competition where Dhuwa groups competed against each other to see who could make the West Wind blow. Behind every story, there are deeper levels of knowledge, and underlying philosophies. Like with the Wagilak Sisters story and the encounter of the two sisters with Wititj at Mirarrmina. The eating and regurgitation themes (ie. the mythology says the two sisters were eaten by a giant snake, then regurgitated out) being a 'front' or in Yolngu thinking, 'covering' the bottom story involving sexual liaisons of the taboo kind. So it is myth and social landscaping rolled into one, the story is a prescription for social behavior, the laying down of the Law as to what people can and can't do.

Am I making sense here?

Guan

PDF about Djungirriny > LINK <
That's during Garma festival 2002, an interview of Djalu telling the story of Djungirriny (thanks Ciryl for the link !)