Audio: Archie’s Message to His Sons
});]]>
Click here for a pdf file of the transcription.
Sample Ilgar text: The last speaker’s lament
Transcription (pdf)
Out of respect for the recent death of the speaker, the recording is not currently being made available on the web.
Audio: The coming of the missionaries
});]]>
Click here for a pdf file of the transcription.
Jurtbirrk (love song)
});]]>
To our knowledge, the Iwaidja Jurtbirrk (lovesong) genre has never before been recorded. Songs are individually composed, and performed for entertainment by one or two singers, accompanying themselves on clapsticks (arrilil). The didjeridu player alternates two didjeridus; one high-pitched (ardawirr yitalka), and one low-pitched (ardawirr urrunburr). This recording features the lower instrument, pitched about E2.
Milinyukuk
});]]>
This text was recorded on 24th January 2004 on the road to Jimurtbab (Third Bay), Croker Island. The speaker, Joy Williams, briefly points out the relationship between the flowering of the indigofera saxicola plants and the fattening of the cockles in the bay at Minjilang. This is one example of the many correspondences between sea and land which are part of the Iwaidja oral tradition. Frequently, as in this case, there are no common English equivalents for the flora in this region.
Green Sea Turtle Butchering
});]]>
This text was recorded by Bruce Birch and Nick Evans on 23rd July 2003 at the Visitors Quarters, Minjilang, Croker Island. The main speaker is Khaki Marrala with David Minyamak adding occasional comments and clarifications. The purpose of the text was to identify all body parts, incuding internal organs, as well as the various cuts of meat and fat taken from the Green Sea Turtle, one of the most important food sources for the people of the Cobourg region.