Keeping the Wanjinas Fresh : Sam Woolagoodja and the Enduring Power of Lalai

Aboriginal Studies. Keeping the Wanjinas Fresh is the story of the people of the Wanjinas and their unbroken living cosmology of Lalai The Dreaming. The power of Lalai was manifest most visibly in the dazzling giant Wanjina, designed by Danny Woolagoodja, that presided over the opening ceremony of the Sydney Olympics. Keeping the Wanjinas Fresh describes how the Worrowa people of the Kimberley ensured that the sacred Wanjina paintings remained fresh and of their efforts to ensure a distinct place for their culture in the world. This is also the story of Dannys father, Sam Woolagoodja, a talented man of vision who played a vital role in refreshing the Wanjinas in the many rock shelters that dot the Kimberley landscape. Sam was amongst the first to paint the sacred stories on bark and board to bring the events of Lalai to the children now living far from their homelands. Sensitive and multi-textured, this book is a unique record of the Worrorra people and their paintings of the Wanjinas. pp. 293 colour illusts #0118 (5 pages are creased without damage)

Aboriginal Adbalandi adults Akerman animals anthropologist Arngkarngoya artists baler shell boat bush called Camden Harbour camp child-spirit clan country coastal Cockatoo IslandCrawford culture depicted Derby Donny explains Donny Woolagoodja Donny’s Doubtful Bay dream Dumbi father Glenelg River goanna groups Guyon Guyon Janet Oobagooma Jebb Jeffrey BurguJilanbaya Jilinya joonba Junkun Karndirrim kids Kimberley coast Koolan Island Kunmunya Lalai land Langgi language Larrinyu lived lugger Malandum mission missionaries Montgomery Island mother Mowanjum Mungulu Munja Namarali native title Ngarinyin Norman Cameron Photo courtesy Plate police Prince Regent River Pudja Barunga repainting Reverend Love Riverrock art sites rock cod rock shelter Sam’s spear spirit station story told Top Worrorra totems traditional Ugerti Umida Unggarrangu Wadoy Walcott Inlet Wanalirri Wanjina paintings WanjinasWestern Australia wife Worrorra Worrorra country Worrorra homeland Wotjulum Wunambal Wunggurr wurdoo wurnan Yalun Yampi Peninsula Yardarra Yawijibaya

Art / Subjects & Themes / Religious
Social Science / Anthropology / Cultural & Social