"A story in Kune, a language of north-central Arnhem Land, Australia.

Nga-ni kun'red ngarduk man-djewk na-kudji: A year in my country tells a story about the life of Kune people who live near the community of Maningrida in north-central Arnhem Land, Australia. This is rich hunting country, abundant in plant and animal life, that shifts and changes through the yearly seasonal cycle."

Publisher: Batchelor Press, Batchelor Institute of Indigneous Tertiary Education, Batchelor NT 0835, Australia 

This collection of woven sculptures has been chosen to reflect a sample of bush foods collected in the desert. Traditional bush tucker such as Tinka (Goanna), Kalaya (Emu) and Maku (Witchetti Grub) are highly sought after and require considerable knowledge and skill to hunt and collect. Contemporary tools such as pannikins, water bottles and saucepans reflect the ongoing evolution of food preparation, connecting contemporary weaving techniques and utilisation of western everyday objects.

"Tjanpi Desert Weavers is a social enterprise of the Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (NPY) Women’s Council created to enable women in remote central deserts to earn their own income from fibre art.

Tjanpi represents more than 400 Aboriginal women artists from 26 remote communities on the NPY lands. The NPY lands cover approximately 350,000 square kms across the tri-state (WA, SA, NT) border region of Central Australia. Tjanpi field officers regularly travel to these communities and purchase artworks from the artists, supply art materials, hold skills development workshops and facilitate grass collecting trips. These trips also allow a number of other cultural maintenance activities to take place."

(Tjanpi Desert Weavers - NPY Women's Council)

Native Plants of Northern Australia presents a comprehensive coverage of the trees and shrubs of the region - 450 species are described, with 700 colour photographs and 26 line drawings. Each species is individually presented with photos, extensive descriptive information and distribution maps. Aboriginal plant usage is also recorded, including food, craft and medicinal uses. 

This book will prove a valuable reference for native plant enthusiasts, botany students and naturalists.

By John Brock.

original artworks - acrylic on timber

Artist: Dale Austin
Moiety: Dhuwa 
Skin: Kodjok
Dreaming: Ngarradj (sulphur crested cockatoo)
Clan dreaming: Dalken (dingo)
Clan: Ngombur
Country: South Alligator region

"There is a wealth of knowledge in Australia's Indigenous communities. The Jawoyn people living at Barunga in the Northern Territory were keen to record some of the stories about the things around them so that their young people would know about them and so 'white people can learn'. Not all of those stories can be told because some of them are secret or belong to some people and not others.

The Jawoyn Association in Katherine encouraged this project which was funded by Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education. It was a privilege to work with the people at Barunga." (Foreward except, Sonia Tidemann)

Phyllis Wynjorroc, Henry Long, Penny Long, Nikapinni Avalon, Margaret Coleman, Lynette Ranch and Sonia Tidemann

Publisher: Batchelor Press, Batchelor Institute of Indigneous Tertiary Education, Batchelor NT 0835, Australia 

"This second edition of the Karrwa bush food and medicine book has been produced due to demand from people keen to learn about Indigenous Australian plant uses. The book is also popular because it is bilingual and the Karrwa language can be listened to on the accompanying CD." 

Publisher: Batchelor Press, Batchelor Institute of Indigneous Tertiary Education, Batchelor NT 0835, Australia 

 "We are Gun-nartpa people from the freshwater country in North-central Arnhem Land.

We celebrate our Ancestral Spirits through ceremonies, stories and art.

Our elders remember the old days, when hunting, bush foods, warfare and scorcery were part of everyday life.

They also tell us stories about the Second World War, the coming of the Welfare Time, the settlement of Maningrida and our outstations.

Most of all, our story is about our family and our country.

We tell it in language Gun-nartpa, and we keep this story strong."

Publisher: Batchelor Press, Batchelor Institute of Indigneous Tertiary Education, Batchelor NT 0835, Australia 

The area around Nauiyu (Daly River) is home to many plant types that form part of Ngan'gikurunggurr and Ngen'giwumirri people's traditional diet. Depicted in these artworks are the Mimuy (Long Yam - Dioscorea transversa), Mipiyagany/Misyiwirr (Big Cheeky Yams - Amorphophallus paeoniifolius) and Mimalabuk (Blue-flowered Water-lily - Nymphaea violacea).

(Source for plant identification: "Ngan'gikurunggurr and Ngen'giwumirri Plants and Animals - Aboriginal biocultural knowledge from the Moyle River area, north Australia")

"Merrepen Arts is a well established art centre with around 20 artists working in a variety of traditional and contemporary mediums painting regularly in a custom designed building located in the community of Daly River, south west of Darwin. A number of the most established artists from the region are now recognised on a national level. The number of working artists rises to approximately 80 during the annual Merrepen Arts and Sports Festival.

The Art Centre opened in 1986 and the artists are famous for their etchings and printmaking but also produce a number of artifacts in addition to paintings, using a multitude of materials and techniques in their creative expression. Using zinc plates, or lino plates, coloured ink and a press machine they produce etchings and prints, batik techniques using wax and silk painting to make t-shirts, scarves and sarongs, paper-mâché techniques to make bowls and animal figures, screen printing for tea-towels and other kind of fabric and weaving of Merrepen (sand palm) and Pandanus leaves to make dilly bags, fishnets, baskets and sun mats.

The painting is done using acrylic colours on canvas. The artists have always been open to new ideas on how to express their stories. They have become accustomed to each new medium introduced by early art coordinators or workshops, constantly improving in their art producing skills.

The beautiful paintings produced by the artists of Merrepen Arts are stylistically very different to what is generally expected of Aboriginal art."

(Merrepen Arts)

"Jilamara artists have world renowned reputations of producing high quality traditional Tiwi art. Working only with natural ochres from the immediate surrounds, Jilamara artists create paintings, works on paper, barks, ironwood tutuni and pukamani poles and pandanus weavings. Keeping culture strong and handing down knowledge to Tiwi youth are core values of this not for profit indigenous owned organisation. Jilamara is a creative place where artists, work, learn and grow together." (Jilamara Arts - Melville Island)

Mary Elizabeth Moreen

Born: 1946

Region: Tiwi Islands

Country: Wulurangku (Karslake)

Language: Tiwi

Skin group: Yikwani (Fire)

Dance: Yirrikipayi (Crocodile) and Tarnakini (Flying Fox)

 "This book preserves and promotes the Marri Ngarr and Magati Ke names and traditional knowledge of over 600 plants and animals from the floodplains, beaches, jungles, stone country, rivers and woodlands of this wonderful country.

It has been prepared by Marri Ngarr and Magati Ke Elders with support from the Department of Natural Resources, Environment, the Arts and Sport, Wadeye Languages Centre, Merrepen Arts, Thamarrurr Rangers, Asutralian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, and the Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education."

Ngarul Jimmy Nambatu, Palibu Patrick Nudjulu, Lungung Johnny Nama, Kurrangu James Munar, Dittin Aloysius Kungul, Larri Rex Munar, Killinang Benedict Tchinburrurr, Mawanyngu Jeannie Jongmin, Yilimu Bernandine Kungul, Patricia Marrfurra McTaggart, Mark Crocombe and Glenn Wightman

Publishers: Batchelor Press, Batchelor Institute of Indigneous Tertiary Education, Batchelor NT 0835, Australia 

Department of Natural Resources, Environment and the Arts, PO Box 496, Palmerston NT 0831, Australia

 "This book tells the Marri Amu and Marri Tjevin story of plant and animal knowledge. This knowledge is ancient, detailed and complex. It has been part of the north Australian landscape for thousands of generations.Keeping this knowledge alive and strong is a key responsibility of Marri Amu and Marri Tjevin elders.

We are very proud of this book and hope it will keep our knowledge strong, and will allow new generations to learn it.

We hope this book keeps the knowledge strong forever."

Malhima Marie Long, Alitj Ambrose Piyalam (Pulda), Atu Frank Dumoo, Yilimu Bernadine Kungul, Deninh Denise Perdjert, Alunga Les Kundjil, Melvuyin Claver Dumoo (Wanybu), Pinpirrith Majella Chula, Vivil Marina Tchinbururr, Memerlk Martin Mullumbuk, Maree Klesch, Dittin Aloysius Kungul, Mark Crocombe and Glenn Wightman

Publishers: Batchelor Press, Batchelor Institute of Indigneous Tertiary Education, Batchelor NT 0835, Australia 

Department of Environment and Natural Resources, PO Box 496, Palmerston NT 0831, Australia

Provides information on all aspects of bushfood plants from growing whole fruits, nuts, seeds, and vegetables to preparing and cookinig them in everyday dishes such as sauces, flavourings and teas. The book includes plants which are both ornamental and edible. A fascinating introduction describes Aboriginal uses of plants. 

By Keith Smith, Irene Smith, Illustrated by Beth Norling.

 "In this book we tell the Wadjiginy, Emmiyangal and Mendheyangal story of our plants and animals. We have worked on this book for a long time, and before us, our elders passed on knowledge of country for thousands of generations. We have made this book from our own plant and animal kowledge to keep it strong, and to allow the next generations to learn it, understand it and use it. We want the children, the rangers, future elders and all our countrymen to be able to learn about their culture and to look after it forever."

Alice Djorrk, Esther Burrenjuk, Imelda Wood, Rosie Bigfoot, Maudie Bennett, Marjorie Bilbil, Agnes Lippo, Ruby Yarrowin, Teresa Timber, Gracie Binbin, Lysbeth Ford and Glenn Wightman

Publishers: Batchelor Press, Batchelor Institute of Indigneous Tertiary Education, Batchelor NT 0835, Australia 

Department of Land Resource Management, PO Box 496, Palmerston NT 0831, Australia

"This story tells about Old Man Tulh who comes back from hunting and is very hungry. He eats a cheeky yam that isn't cooked properly which makes him really angry. He runs down to the sea at Nidin and turns into a rock at that dreaming site."

Publisher: Batchelor Press, Batchelor Institute of Indigneous Tertiary Education, Batchelor NT 0835, Australia 

"Gurindji country is located in the southern Victoria River District in the Northern Territory of Australia. Gurindji people became well known in the 1960-70s due to their influence on Australian politics and the Indigenous land rights movement. They were instrumental in gaining equal wages for Aboriginal cattle station employees and they were also the first Aboriginal group to recover control of their traditional lands.

The Kawarla: How to Make a Coolamon book and accompanying DVD shows how coolamons are carved and the types of trees and tools used to make them. Coolamons are an important part of Gurindji culture. They are used to carry young babies, collect bush foods and medicines and they have an important place in many ceremonies."

Publisher: Batchelor Press, Batchelor Institute of Indigneous Tertiary Education, Batchelor NT 0835, Australia