Name: Roma Butler Peterman

Language: Pitjantjatjara

Community: Irruntyju (Wingellina)

Biography:

Yangyangkari (Roma) Peterman Butler (b.1959) 

Butler was born at Wilu rockhole in South Australia on the Kanyala tjukurpa (Kangaroo creation story) track. Butler spent her early years at Ernabella mission in South Australia before travelling with her family by camel to Warburton in Western Australia where she went to school. Irrunytju is her great uncles country on her fathers side.

Butler is a multi talented artist who was taught to paint and tell creation stories by the minyma pampa (old women), specifically Kunytjil Cooper. Butler directs video content at NG (Ngaanyatjarra) Media and presents a morning radio program featuring local gospel music and news. Butler is also an accomplished story teller and Director for Ara Irititja, an integrative multi-media archive, which collects and shares stories in Pitantjatjara/Yankunytjatjara/Ngaanyatjarra languages.

 

© the artist / art centre