Pantjiti Unkari Mckenzie was awarded the Order of Australia Medal on the 26th of January for “service to the Indigenous community of the Northern Territory”, on Friday the 5th of April NPY Women’s Council hosted the official ceremony to celebrate this amazing achievement.
Pantjiti has spent much of her life living in the Ernabella Community. Pantjiti and her husband set up EVTV which made films on many subjects. She estimates that they made over a thousand films. They also worked for PY Media on the Broadcasting for Remote Aboriginal Community Services program (BRACS). Pantjiti enjoys acting. She has appeared in films about bush tucker, bush medicine, the Seven Sisters and she also performed in the stage play, Ngapartji Ngapartji.
A skilled artist in paint, batik and weaving tjanpi (grass) baskets and a teacher of the Pitjantjatjara language, Pantjiti is also a traditional healer or ngangkari, specialising in treating women’s problems. Her work in archiving and sharing knowledge around cultural heritage are renowned. Recently Pantjiti worked on the Smiling Mind Meditation app with the Uti Kulintjaku team.
Pantjiti was presented with her OAM medal by the Administrator of the Northern Territory, Her Honour the Honourable Vicki O’Halloran AM.
The official ceremony was followed by performances from the Central Australian Aboriginal Women’s Choir and and inma lead by Rene Kulitja and _____
NPY Women’s Council is very proud to have such a long and close relationship with Pantjiti and was extremely happy to host such a prestigious occasion recognising such a vital strong woman!
Thanks to everyone who attended and staff who worked behind the scenes!
