In the small Aboriginal community of Gurka’wuy, 170 kms. south of Yirrkala, a baby dies. Subtitled “a way of coping with death in north-east Arnhem Land through ties of clan, religion and land”, this film, photographed by Dean Semler, depicts the three day long preparations for the funeral, and the funeral itself. The ceremonies, dances, songs and paintings are described in detail, as the child is symbolically returned to its clan lands further south.
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How to watch
Collection
In ACMI's collection
Credits
Collection metadata
ACMI Identifier
303255
Language
English
Subject categories
Aboriginal Australia → Aboriginal Australians - Northern Territory
Aboriginal Australia → Aboriginal Australians - Rites and ceremonies
Anthropology, Ethnology, Exploration & Travel → Funeral rites and ceremonies
Anthropology, Ethnology, Exploration & Travel → Yirrkala (N.T)
Documentary → Documentary films - Australia
Economics, Philosophy, Politics, Religion & Sociology → Ethnology - Australia
Feature films → Feature films - Australia
Food, Health, Lifestyle, Medicine, Psychology & Safety → Funeral rites and ceremonies
Sound/audio
Sound
Colour
Colour
Holdings
VHS; Access Print (Section 1)