‘This is from before when Aboriginal people were using canoe. When the Makassan came my ancestors paddled to the Makassan boats in their canoe and gave the Makassan’s food from our country.
Before white man the Makassan travelled around and traded tobacco, rice, flour, sugar, square teabag made of leaves. My old man used to tall me these stories.’
Joy Garlbin 2022
Name: Joy Garlbin
Language: Ndjébbana
Community: Maningrida
Biography:
Joy is an integral member of the Bábbarra Women’s Centre and traditional owner of Maningrida.
She has been around since the early years of Bábbarra Women’s Centre. Joy is a textile artist and also a highly regarded bark painter, creator of mimi spirits, as well as weaver of pandanus fibre.
Joy depicts the story of her ancestral dreaming the Djomi in her textile work, with permission from her djunguys.
Joy is a Kunibidji woman. She speaks Kunibidji and Ndjébbana. These languages are one language but with hard and soft tonal differences. Ndjébbana is one of the least commonly spoken languages in Arnhem Land and is the language of the traditional owners of Maningrida.
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