“This is all the different skin groups coming together, they having a meeting about a couple that was wrong way. The circles are the elders and the one in the middle is the couple.”
– Rosetta Wilberforce
Name: Rosetta Wilberforce
Language: Martu Wangka
Biography:
I was born here in Newman. I lived with Mr Tinker, my grandfather. He’s an important elder here in town. I went away to Marble Bar to live for a while after that. It’s a good place, but it’s too hot! We’d go swimming in the waterholes, getting minta (edible gum), hunting for goanna and kangaroo, and fishing. It was good. My other grandfather, Colin Peterson, he took me to Kunawarritji community then so I could learn to speak Martu Wangka. My first language is English. I learned about Martu culture, dancing, and following the right skin group. I went to Punmu high school, near to Kunawarritji. I came back to Jigalong community and went to school there too. I liked moving around a lot, seeing a different lot of faces, getting to know the families.
I’ve been in Newman a long time now, but I only just started painting here at Martumili. My uncle Jason Tinker is teaching me dot painting, telling stories about it. It’s good painting- better than doing nothing!
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