KAPULULANGU ABORIGINAL WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION c/- Pacific Connections, PO Box 172, Annandale, NSW 2038, Australia ph: +61-2-96603670 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] website: Pacific Actions http://www.pasifika.net/pacific-action KAPULULANGU - AUSTRALIA'S MOST ISOLATED WOMEN'S CULTURAL CENTRE Kapululangu Aboriginal Women's Association has established a women's cultural centre in Wirrimanu (Balgo) Aboriginal Community, on the edge of the Western Desert in the East Kimberley Region. Wirrimanu, home to 350 Aboriginal people, is one of Australia's most isolated communities. Because Kartiya (whites) didn't access this country until the late 1950 - only 40 years ago - the people maintain one of Australia's strongest traditional cultures. The Wirrimanu people are recognised internationally as maintaining strong cultural practices and the women continue to enjoy yawulyu - women's culture - as part of every day life. There is a lot of energy in Wirrimanu these days around taking care of women's culture. They have organised themselves as an incorporated cultural organisation. They have recently begun to renovate an old shed (built in 1989) and are using it now as a cultural centre, tjilimi ("single" women's house), and a safehouse for women escaping or avoiding domestic violence. They have built a keeping shed for their ceremonial equipment, a kitchen to support those living at the centre, and are in the process of establishing an office. Lack of adequate funding and resources however is undermining that strength. Wirrimanu women are inviting you to join with them in a partnership to take care of this sacred treasure - important not only to them but to all global citizens that respect the indigenous cultures. They are in most urgent need of a vehicle (Aust$30,000) as a means to enable them to access their ancestral country for ceremonial purposes, food gathering and passing their wisdom onto the younger generations. They are also trying to obtain funding to administer their cultural program. If you feel able to take up their invitation to work with them on this very important project please contact us. Any way that you can help is appreciated - donations, potential funding sources, time - whatever. We particularly need money. At the moment we have almost no funds at all. You can deposit funds for Kapululangu into the following bank account: Name of Account: "Pacific Connections" Name of Bank: Commonwealth Bank of Australia Address of Bank: Booth St, Annandale, New South Wales 2038, Australia Account Number: 062 102 1005 2883 Or send a cheque to the address above. Please earmark your cheque for "Kapululangu". Please inform us if you deposit funds directly. Please copy and distribute this request widely. Thank you, Zohl de Ishtar Coordinator, Kapululangu Aboriginal Women's Association (July 1999) -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/index.html Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
