Biography:
Donny Woolagoodja was born at Kunmunya Mission on the remote NW Kimberley coast in 1947. He is one of a large family and son of Sam Woolagoodja, a renowned lawman who passed away in 1979.
Donny was educated in two worlds; this nurtured his understanding of both the white world and the deeply held traditional beliefs of his people. Like his father, he worked on boats and became a skilled navigator.
The waters off the coast of the Wororra lands are some of the most treacherous in the Kimberley, with huge whirlpools, and an extreme tidal range. Donny was named after one of these powerful whirlpools.
He says about his Wororra name: “This is my Ungud. I was named for this whirlpool Karram Muddu. It’s up near Augustus Island. That’s where my Ungud comes from. My father Sam Woolagoodja named me. There’s a snake in that saltwater whirlpool, Warndum”
As a small child, Donny and his family were moved to Mowanjum, near Derby, far south of their Worrorra homelands. Here Donny watched his elders paint the Wandjinas on bark and boards, and learnt the stories of Lai Lai [creation].
After his father's death in 1979, Donny took responsibility for the land, and for passing on the traditions of his culture. He became active in the pursuit of native title, and continues this work today. Donny also began to paint, and quickly became one of the foremost artists of the Mowanjum Art and Culture Centre.
Donny's commitment to passing on the traditions of his culture culminated in the feature of his epic Wandjina Namarali at the Opening Ceremony of the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
In 2005, “Keeping the Wandjinas Fresh”, the story of Donny’s inheritance of his father's Law responsibilities and his commitment to his art and culture, was published by Fremantle Press WA.
Donny has maintained his strong connection to Worrorra country, living for long periods at Yaloon (Cone Bay), visiting and looking after Wandjina sites, and teaching the new generation of artists.
In 2021 Donny was the recipient of the prestigious First Nations Arts Awards 'Red Ochre Award for Lifetime Achievement' through the Australia Council for the Arts.
Publications.
'Yornadaiyin Woolagoodja' a Biography. 2020 Magabala Books Broome WA.
'We Are Coming to See You' Donny Woolagoodja, Sylvester Mangolamara, Lily Karadada, Janet Oobagooma and Jack Karadada. Complied by Kim Doohan 2019. Dambimangari Aboriginal Corporation and Wunambal Gaambera Aboriginal Corporation Derby WA.
'Keeping the Wandjina Fresh' co-authored with Valda Blundell 2005 Fremantle Press Fremenatle WA. This has become a classic publication for the many people interested in learning more about the unique Wandjina beliefs of the Western Kimberley language groups.
