TANGKI (DONKEY)

Three Aṉangu women of different generations tell the story of how donkeys came to be malpa wiru, valuable friends and helpers, to families in the desert community of Pukatja /Ernabella in the APY Lands of northern South Australia. At first wary of these strange animals, Aṉangu quickly became fond of the donkeys. They would set off on them for picnics and longer journeys, always returning home safely. With the arrival of cars, people’s relationship with donkeys changed. But one special donkey found a different way to remain a good friend to people in Pukatja.

This film was supported by the Australian Government’s Indigenous Languages and the Arts program.

Film Locations: Palpatjara, APY Lands (South Australia), and Mparntwe, Arrernte Country (Northern Territory) - Australia.

Length

6 mins

Cultural Director

Tjunkaya Tapaya

Storyteller

Akitiya Angkuna Tjitayi, Imuna Kenta, Anne Karatjari Ward

Director/Animator

Jonathan Daw

Executive Producer

Michelle Young (Tjanpi Desert Weavers)

Creative Producer

Karin Riederer

Character Artists

Tjunkaya Tapaya OAM, Carolyn Kenta, Imuna Kenta, Stacia Yvonne Lewis, Atipalku Intjalki, Lynette Lewis, Elizabeth Dunn, Cynthia Burke

Set & Prop Artists

Elizabeth Dunn, Erica Shorty, Carolyn Kenta, Julie Anderson, Margaret Ngilan Dodd, Cynthia Burke, Carlene Thompson, Imiyari Yilpi Frank (Adamson), Charmaine Buzzacott, Francie Ingkatji, Noreen Heffernan, Janice Stanley, Loretta Carroll, Chriselda Farmer, Margaret Heffernan, Yarral Lewis

Creative Development Technical Construction

Emma Franklin (Tjanpi Desert Weavers)

Interpreters

Beth Sometimes, Loria Heffernan, Muyuru O’Toole, Katrina Tjitayi

Subtitles

Beth Sometimes

Camera

Jonathan Daw, Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Media (live action)

Original Music

Akitiya Angkuna Tjitayi, Katrina Tjitayi, Umatji Tjitayi

Sound Design

Jeremy Conlon

Credits

Amber Stacey

Advisors

Kate Cawley (RMIT University)