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How the Faith came to the desert
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The following story was told by Veronica Lulu,
Bessie Doonday, Rex and Anna Johns to accompany the painting presented by the
people of Mulan, to the Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Canalini, on the occasion of
his visit to the Kutjungka Parish, 20 May 2001. Painted by Veronica
Lulu. |
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Long time ago we didn’t know about God. That Bishop (Bishop Riable) was coming
from Beagle Bay trying to make a mission. Only little bit of road, dirt road,
not tar road. He came from Beagle Bay right up to Rockhole, near Halls Creek,
trying to set up mission. Ngarpu (God) was talking to him telling him to go out
into the desert. Ngarpu was looking at the people. The Bishop came preaching,
long time ago people didn’t know Ngarpu |
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From Rockhole Ngarpu told him to go more further to the desert and he came to
the Walmajarri people. When the Bishop came to them the people were
frightened. He came and showed them holy pictures and read them the Bible. He
told them about heaven too. People thought he was talking about another house
up in the sky. The Bishop had to go, but he was still looking for a mission to
build. Bishop had some sheep. He went to Comet and tried to build a mission
but no water so they had to go. |
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He drove all the sheep from Rockhole through Ruby Plains, along the river down
toWolfe Creek. He followed the Sturt River and ended up at Kiji, the fishing
place today. The station owner didn’t want sheep he wanted cattle. So they
took all the sheep along Pangkupiti Creek to Comet Bore.
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The
Catholic Church first made contact with desert people in this region in the
1930's. The early
missionaries moved around with their sheep and goats, meeting
Aboriginal
people, and looking for an appropriate site eventually establishing Balgo
Mission in 1942.
In
1965, the Mission was relocated to Wirrimanu,
along the Dreaming path of the Luurnpa (Kingfisher). In
the late 70's, Wirrimanu
ceased to be a church-controlled 'Mission' and became an Aboriginal community
under an elected council. At the same time many Balgo people took the
opportunity to move back to their own lands. One group moved to Lake
Gregory station, now known as Mulan (the Walmajarri name for a gum tree found
near the lake), and set up a community there. Another group did so at Billiluna
station, now also known as
Kururrungku (Walmajarri for Wallaby, the Dreaming for that
site).
In 1985, another group moved to Yagga -Yagga ( a Kukatja word for 'quiet', a
key word in the Wati Kutjarra Dreaming).
The
people of this region live according to a tribal heritage in an isolated part of
the Kimberley. They attempt to adapt and to cope with changes introduced
by a modern and dominant culture.
The staff working in this region support culture and encourage leadership which
will empower and enable local management of education, parish and health
services.
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