Kathy Marika, who was born on a mission at Yirrkala, North East Arnhem Land, speaks about her country, language and what she learnt from her mother and father, especially respect and discipline in relation to the land. She talks about the work of the Dhimurru Land Care Council which she founded with her sisters and cousin in 1987. She is a teacher of Aboriginal culture, particularly weaving and explains the process and significance as well as how bark and colours are prepared for painting.
While living in Sydney, Kathy worked with Bangarra Dance Theatre. She talks about why she joined the company and Bush, the first work she performed in which toured to America. She reflects about her role, initially as Cultural Consultant and later as Artist in Residence, in other works with the company and how the dance works evolve. Kathy also worked with Bangarra dancers on projects in Northeastern Arnhem Land, teaching the women weaving and helping them to respond to country and talks about other projects she worked on with Bangarra.
[It was] when I was starting to get up and walk. Sometimes listening to the song, the family thing, you know, all the men sit down with their clap sticks and sing along with didgeridoo …….., you know, I’d sometimes get up and start dancing. But once you reach the age of three or four we are taught how to balance our body and use our feet properly, instead of mucking around. It’s like full-on education but from the family, aunty and mother and plus more. The grandmothers; they watch. If we make a mistake or if I made a mistake they say “No, that’s wrong. Do it again, do it again. Get up, do it again. Do your feet properly”. And it’s like encouragement, they encouraged me to dance. But sometimes they’d say “If you want to be a good dancer” sometimes maybe the uncle or the fathers hit our knees or elbows, just to straighten the knees for dance, with the clap stick. It’s to straighten the legs so it’s not crooked when you’re dancing, your elbows stay nice and straight, not crooked. So they’re the things that I’ve learnt.
