Linking Culture and the Environment

A. Trau and R. Bushell 271
1
4
Good
5
Enjoy
1
5
Happy
Proud
Future
Community
3
Fig. 15.4. Key words expressed and frequency of times cited by community
interviewees when asked ‘why do you work?’ (From Trau, 2006).
for them to do’ and it is ‘close and easy’ to the gratification and pride linked
with the portrayal and teaching of culture.
Reasons for not working (see Fig. 15.5) were communicated as powerfully.
Reasons such as ‘shame’ (a lack of language and power), alcoholism, individual
and family conflicts, different social/cultural values, lack of training and
education, poor method of payment, and outside interests and influence were
recognized as having the power to erode motivation and support for Gunya
Titjikala, indicating the delicacy of the enterprise as theatrically demonstrated by
a respected community elder tiptoeing the pavement edge to stress the fragility
of the enterprise and the thin line on which it exists. The quotes below from two
community members actively involved in the enterprise provide further insight
into the most common reason for not working, i.e. ‘shame’, articulated during
interviews. They highlight some interesting constraints to indigenous represent-
5
6
Shame
Community politics
2
Payment method
Alcoholism
2
3
No tourists
Lack of training/education
5
2
Social/cultural values
Fig. 15.5. Key reasons for not working at Gunya Titjikala and frequency of times
cited by community interviewees. (From Trau, 2006.)