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Mowanjum: 50 years of Community HistoryBy Steven Moorethe Worrorra, Ngarinyin and Wunambaltribes have lived there.1000 nearly sold out plans are afoot toprint a second edition of the history.MOWANJUM: 50 years ofcommunity history published bythe Mowanjum community inassociation with Fremantle Presshas been successfully launched bythe Minister for Aboriginal Affairsand Deputy Premier Dr Kim Hamesat The Lawrence Wilson Gallery inPerth, and at Gleebooks in Sydneywith guest speaker Phillip Adams.Over 200 people attended the Perthlaunch of this fascinating book withcommunity leaders Nelson Barunga.Eddie Bear, Chairman of MowanjumCommunity and Donny WoolagoodjaChairman of MASWAC present.Vinka Barunga granddaughter of famousWorrorra Mowanjum leader, activistAlbert Barunga, read from the bookan extract by Hugh Edwards recordingBarunga’s description of anguisheddislocation in the Northern Kimberley toforced resettlement near Derby in 1956.Mowanjum community was establishedafter the Presbyterian Board of Missionspurchased land near Derby. Since thenSo how did the book come about? Itbegan with research being undertakenby historian Dr Mary Anne Jebb inpreparing an archival collection for theMowanjum Art and Culture Centre.With research funded by the WALotteries Commission a large volume ofhistorical material began to amass.Mowanjum Artists Spirits of theWandjina Aboriginal Corporationmembers, Council members and othersin the community recognised thatthe collection of old photoraphs andrecordings of traditional culture andpersonal stories from the past was thebasis for a book that could do manythings for the community. It was, assuch, an effort to move away from thebackground of a tragic situation ofcultural dislocation, through a positiveact to ensure the history and culture ofpeople of the region is kept intact forfuture generations *When not enough money was availableto produce the book the artists ofMowanjum decided to ‘paint the money!’Senior artists, Donny Woolagoodjaand Gudu Mungulu completed a largepainting that was auctioned at Sotheby’sin November 2007. The saleprovided a sum of $35,000allowing the publication togo ahead. The painting wasbought by a Los Angeles basededucational facility where it is nowheld. With an initial print run ofMowanjum Art and Culture CentreManager, Jenny Wright notes fondlythat the best launch of the book was atMowanjum, where every family from thecommunity was present and receivedcopies, a wonderful moving experiencefor all involved.The Mowanjum Art and Culture Centreis currently completing the second stageof it’s building and will be a major focalpoint of the communities’ developmentupon completion.Below left: Painting auctioned at Sotheby’s by DonnyWoolagoodja and Gudu Mungulu assisted byGabriella Dolby, Leah Umbagai, Mildred Munguluand Margaret Mungulu, depicting the three mainWandjinas, Namarali, Wannalirri, and Rimmijmuddu.Also included are all Ungud animals andrepresentations of Wodoi and Jungun, the nightjarbirds which denote the Wunan marriage moieties.Several other important law aspects are also included,including Dumbi (owl), Jilinya (female spirit), andNgallagunda (snake dreaming). Photo: Mowanjum.Below: MOWANJUM: 50 years of communityhistory cover courtesy of Freemantle Press 2009.Top: Vinka Barunga with the minister for AboriginalAffairs and Deputy Premier Dr Kim Hames at thelaunch of Mowanjum: 50 years community history.Photo: Dr Mary Anne Jebb.Volume 9: Issue 1 June/July 2009 Books – Arts Backbone 11