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Article: UPK6 launches into the stratosphere

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UPK6 launches into the stratosphere

UPK6 launches into the stratosphere

In August NPY Women’s Council celebrated its first involvement with the UPK music program; an initiative of the Nganampa Health Council that uses music to create awareness and inspire action about issues faced by Anangu (people of the Western Desert).

On Thursday a USB carrying the sixth UPK album was launched into the world aboard a balloon ship, it comes almost 30 years after the first instalment was recorded at Mutitjulu in 1989. The current album was also released on Bandcamp and Soundcloud.

UPK stands for Uwankara Palyanku Kanyintjaku; a Pitjantjatjara expression meaning ‘everybody building and caring for the future’.

Using music is an agent of change, the songwriters involved take aim the root causes of hurt they see around them, like petrol sniffing, alcohol and drug addiction, waste management, care-for-country, hunting, and homesickness.

The content of UPK songs is not about blame or victimhood but a musical effort to address the factors that contribute to, or impact on, good living.

Creating awareness is the intention of UPK music because it is the key precedent to positive action.

UPK6 was recorded at West Bore in the APY Lands using an open-air studio with a hessian fence for wind-break, used carpet to keep the dirt down, and digital recording gear housed in the front room of an old outstation home.

The resulting album was released on the APY Lands in the form of a USB slap band containing the whole album, plus a karaoke version complete with scrolling Pitjantjatjara lyrics.

The Launching of UPK6

The launching of the long-awaited sixth album of the UPK series, UPK6, takes place today at the offices of the Pitjantjatjara Council. The intention of UPK music is to draw attention to the elements of life that constitute lifestyle, either negatively or positively and therefore influence the quality of life.

The long history of UPK music as a generic form of contemporary Aboriginal music has been an effective and stimulating – from the very first recording made at Mutitjulu in 1989 to the most recent recording made at West Bore a long way to the south, on the APY Lands.

UPK Music

UPK Music is about Life. Its songs reflect the elements needed to make Life good. However, to continue the time honoured practice of songwriters everywhere, UPK Music songwriters take aim at the root causes of unwellness and social malaise.

UPK music has been the most popular music on the APY Lands in far north SA for more than 30 years.

UPK6

The music of UPK6 is the most recent original music to spring from the music scene on the APY Lands. The songs have a fresh, content-rich, contemporary feel. Pitjanjatjara rock anthems, lush desert dub, poignant acoustic ballads; all songs of the UPK music genre, rich, and varied.

As with all other UPK albums the recording of UPK 6 occurred in a remote bush location, away from all distraction. West Bore, in the very centre of the APY Lands, was the location visited by musicians from right across the Lands who came to record their songs and support one another. An ‘open-air studio’ with a hessian fence for wind-break, used carpet to keep the dirt down and digital recording gear housed in the front room of an old outstation home was the scene of recording action. All UPK music has been recorded this way.

Contact person:

UPK6 Music Director Bill Davis 0407 527706

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Tjanpi in Timor-Leste

Tjanpi in Timor-Leste

Weavers in Timor-Leste received a dose of Central Australian inspiration when representatives from Tjanpi Desert Weavers took their story to the nation during NAIDOC week.

On invitation by the Australian Embassy, artist Rene Kulitja and Tjanpi Manager Michelle Young travelled to Dili to showcase the achievement and beauty of the desert weavers’ work and share the way their artistic practice has developed.

For Timorese women, weaving is currently seen as a handicraft and cultural expression. In contrast, Tjanpi has grown their practice to a contemporary art form, and their artists exhibit work around Australia and the world.

Ms Young said the way Tjanpi has positioned itself was of great interest the Timorese women.

“Tjanpi has evolved its arts practice over many years, developing a distinctive and innovative art form and they found that very interesting,” Ms Young said.

“They saw the artistic achievements of Tjanpi as a great example, and I think it planted a seed for those women that doing things differently can have great value.”

During the week, Ms Kulitja and Ms Young took part in several NAIDOC week events in Dili to showcase the Tjanpi story to NGOs, government ministers, and women weavers, before travelling to Maubara to spend time with local weavers in their community.

Ms Young said the experience was “affirming”.

“It reminded us to be mindful of what we have achieved over the years; we’ve done a lot of work in this space that we can be proud of,” she said.

“After twenty plus years we’re a well-oiled machine, and it really highlighted our ability to evolve and adapt our practice and model of working, which I think they found inspiring.”

Tjanpi Desert Weavers is a social enterprise of NPY Women’s Council. They represent more than 400 Aboriginal women in the NPY Lands, enabling them to earn their own income from fibre art.

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NINU Grandmother’s Law book launch

NINU Grandmother’s Law book launch

The life and teachings of the late Nura Ward are now available to everyone through her autobiography Ninu: Grandmother’s Law, which was launched last week.

Mrs Ward, who passed away in 2013, was a true leader of the NPY region and is remembered as a generous cultural teacher and a relentless advocate for indigenous health.

Speaking at the launch last Thursday, Mrs Ward’s niece Melissa Thompson, who wrote the forward for the book, said she was proud to see the publication finished.

“Her (Nura’s) life was so powerful; she was a leader,” she said.

“When I was growing up she used to teach me, and I’ve written those stories in the book.”

The content for Ninu: Grandmother’s Law, which was compiled by NPY Women’s Council and Ara Irititja, was gathered over the last eight years of Mrs Wards life.

It features a detailed account about how she and her family lived, providing a rich documentation of her life and culture.

NPY Women’s Council director Rene Kulitja described Mrs Ward as a “truly marvellous, and big, important woman”.

“It’s because of women like her that we all know so much; we can all say that our lives have been enriched by her,” she said.

Ninu: Grandmother’s Law is available for purchase at the Tjanpi Desert Weavers Gallery at 3 Wilkinson Street. Proceeds from the book will go to Mrs Ward’s family.

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NPY Women's Council is grounded in, and continues to live and work on, the sovereign Lands of the Arrernte people, and the Aṉangu and Yarnangu people - the rightful custodians of the Ngaanyatjarra, Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara Lands.