Nyangumarta Massacre Songline

 

In 2008, Wangka Maya launched a new DVD and CD of the Fitzroy Crossing women passing on a songline to the Nyangumarta people of the Pilbara.

 

The songline iself it thought to be very old. Part of the songline documents an Indigenous massacre on the west coast of Australia, most likely of Nyangumarta people. For many years the elderly women of Fitzroy Crossing were very concerned that the songline would die with them. They repeatedly requested it be recorded and preserved. Wangka Maya responded to this request after being approached by Lorraine Injie.

 

The elderly women wanted the song to be recorded and listened to by young people to learn the songline. There were many smiles at the launch as the singers saw the DVD and associated CD finally produced. This recording was mastered by Bill Davis of CAAMA Music. CAAMA also funded production of the CD.