International Women’s Day is when we celebrate being women and acknowledge the challenges we face and often overcome. These Aboriginal artists lived a traditional nomadic lifestyle before the “white fella” found them in the desert. Given the lack of valuable resources and remoteness of the Warlpiri land the skin groups were mostly left to continue their life unhindered. However, some were pressed into domestic servitude as well as experiencing violence at the hands of the white settlers. The Coniston massacre was amongst some of the worst violence visited upon them seeing many retreating to place like Mt Theo to hide.
The spirit the Warlpiri people retained despite the harshness of the new life thrust upon them has passed onto future generations. Judy ( in the forefront) was instrumental in retaining knowledge of Country by sharing her life stories and Mina Mina Dreaming with the younger children. She was the embodiment of strength and wisdom who became an internationally renowned artist despite all the challenges she and other Warlpiri woman faced.
