We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we live, and pay our respects to their Elders, past and present, for they hold thememories, the traditions and future of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across the nation.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are advised that this work may contain images, voices and stories of deceased persons. In viewing those images and words, we celebrate the lives of those who have passed away.
“Wannang Biridge, Light of the peppermint tree” brings together the multiple collaborations of photo artist Martine Perret with Elder Vivian Brockman Webb, Mitchella Hutchins, Mabenan Hutchins and Majinda Hutchins with music composer and video/sound artist Roly Skender.
‘Wannang Biridge’, is a digital projection that combines existing and new portraiture of Wardandi Elders with photomicrographs of the land created during Perret’s SymbioticA residency in June 2022.
The subjects and their families played an intrinsic role in the selection of material for ”Wannang Biridge”. Each participant has authorised the use of their narratives, songs and photographs in this project.
Transference is part of Perret’s continuing collaboration and consultation with Indigenous Elders from the Goldfields and the Southwest of Western Australia which investigates the universal idea that everything is connected, and how the memory of the land intrinsically passes through and between us.
Wannang Biridge 1 means ‘light of the peppermint tree’ in the Wardandi language of the Margaret River region.
Perret worked closely with Vivian Brockman Webb and Mitchella Hutchins on Wardandi country (Margaret River), collecting samples of soil, buds, leaves and bark of an old peppermint tree close to Perret’s studio at The Farm Margaret River. Perret remarks that ‘the peppermint tree has been a powerful source of inspiration since I started work at The Farm.’
Wardandi Elder Mitchella Hutchins explains, ‘The peppermint tree, or as we call it the ‘Wannang tree’, is sacred to us women. We use it for so many different purposes, such as making our ‘Warnna’ stick.
The area called ‘Wonnerup’ near Busselton is named after this - ‘the place of the woman’s digging stick’. And we use the rest of the tree too – the leaves to clear the nose and the throat, we chew the leaves to get rid of morning sickness and nausea, and we squash the leaves and put it all over our bodies to keep the mosquitoes away, and we use the very young flexible branches for making spears. So, it has many, many uses.
Significant trees, ones that are much larger and look distinctively different than the trees around them, are often woman’s birthing places. This is because
the placentas of not just one birth, but generational births, have been placed by a family under that tree – the spirit of the tree feeds the baby and the baby’s spirit feeds the tree.’ 2
Wannang Biridge is presented to coincide with and to celebrate the UNESCO ‘Decade of Indigenous Languages (20222032)’ which focuses on the empowerment of Indigenous language users and their
human rights to draw global attention on the critical situation of many indigenous languages and to mobilise stakeholders and resources for their preservation, revitalisation, and promotion.
Martine Perret, Majinda, 2022, Archivable Giclée Fine Art Photographic Print, 70 x 46cm.
Portrait of Majinda Hutchins and photomicrograph of soil from The Farm Margaret River with reflection of the light from the peppermint tree’s oil
Martine Perret, Mabenan, 2022, Archivable Giclée Fine Art Photographic Print, 70 x 46cm.
Portrait of Mabenan Hutchins and photomicrograph of soil from The Farm Margaret River with reflection of the light from the peppermint tree’s oil
Translations
Kaya: welcome song
Traditional song performed by Mitchella Hutchins, accompanied by music composed and arranged by Roly Skender.
Kaya kwoba Djanga
Hello good spirit
Kaya kwoba Djanga
Hello good spirit
Kaya kaya kaya
Hello, hello, hello
Kaya mooditj marman
Hello strong men
Kaya kwoba yorga
Hello good women
Kaya, kaya, kaya
Hello, hello, hello
Kaya mooditj biridia
Hello strong leaders
Kaya kwoba koolunga
Hello good children
Kaya, kaya, kaya
Hello, hello, hello
Kaya yarn ngala wardandi boodja kaya yarn
Hello and welcome to our saltwater country hallo and welcome
Welcome
Vivian Brockman Webb
Kaya noonya boodgera
Hello and welcome to my country
Nyanji kewel dwardinan dordenop wongi dar
My name is Dwardinan, I speak Dordenup language
Djanung boodja bonnor kitche bilya cooya minditj
Look at country, the trees, and the river, it looks weary and sick
Nanga boodjera cooya ni balang
nyangedang djanung wardandi boodja
My country is weary, there is no people looking after Wardandi country
Wannang
Traditional song performed by Mitchella Hutchins, accompanied by music composed and arranged by Roly Skender.
Kabarli wannang manyart gnirri gnirri manyart
Grand-mother peppermint tree beautiful, beautiful tree
Kabarli wannang manyart gnirri gnirri manyart
Grand-mother peppermint tree beautiful, beautiful tree
Djanung gnirri manyart djenanung gnirri manyart
Look beautiful tree look beautiful tree
Kabarli wannang manyart gnirri gnirri manyart
Grand-mother peppermint tree beautiful, beautiful tree
Kabarli wannang manyart gnirri gnirri gnumbit
Grand-mother peppermint tree beautiful, beautiful blossom
Kabarli wannang manyart gnirri gnirri gnumbit
Grand-mother peppermint tree beautiful, beautiful blossom
Djenanung gnirri gnumbit
Look beautiful blossom
Djenanung gnirri gnumbit
Look beautiful blossom
Kabarli wannang manyart gnirri gnirri gnumbit
Grand-mother peppermint tree beautiful, beautiful blossom
Kabarli wannang manyart gnirri gnirri manyart
Grand-mother peppermint tree beautiful, beautiful tree
Kabarli wannang manyart gnirri gnirri gnumbit
Grand-mother peppermint tree beautiful, beautiful blossom
Djenanung gnirri manyart
Look beautiful tree
Djenanung gnirri gnumbit
Look beautiful blossom
Kabarli wannang manyart gnirri gnirri gnumbit
Grand-mother peppermint tree beautiful, beautiful blossom
Whispering Words
Mitchella Hutchins
Koranup Spirit world
Mirawirawalgabi
Spiritual pathway between earth and spirit world
Wardandi
Spirit of the Stars
Traditional song performed by Mitchella Hutchins, accompanied by music composed and arranged by Roly Skender.
Djanga bindi djanga dinbi Spirit of the stars
Meela djenagung djanga bindi Look at the moon and stars
Djanga bindi djanga dinbi Spirit of the stars
Kora kartatjin djanga dinbi old wisdom, spirit of the stars
Kwoba ni biridge djanga bindi kwoba ni biridge good night spirit of the stars, good night spirit of the stars
Djanga bindi djanga dinbi Spirit of the stars
Meela djenagung djanga bindi
Look at the moon and stars
Djanga bindi djanga dinbi Spirit of the stars
Kora kartatjin djanga dinbi old wisdom, spirit of the stars
Bindi djindang Djanga bindi bindi djindung djanga bindi Kora kartidjin djanga dinbi
Stars of tomorrow spirit of the stars looking at the sprits of the stars and ancient wisdom of the spirit of the stars
Spoken Words
Vivian Brockman Webb
Ni morditj djanga
Look strong spirit
Nitche wardan
Take notice of Wardandi country
Nyangi wongi dar I speak Dordenup language
Nayan dwonkebula niche wongi da Listen to me speak, speaking my language
Nayan dwanka djanung wardan You are listening and seeing Wardandi
Earth Song
Traditional song performed by Mitchella Hutchins, accompanied by music composed and arranged by Roly Skender.
Ngala boodja gnirri boodja ngala boodja
Our country beautiful country our country
Ngala boodja gnirri boodja ngala boodja
Our country beautiful country our country
Noonook boodji noonooda
You gave birth to all of us
Noonook boodji noonooda
You gave birth to all of us
Ngala boodja gnirri boodja ngala boodja
Our country beautiful country our country
Ngala boodja gnirri boodja ngala boodja
Our country beautiful country our country
Bullargar bullargar bullargar
Together, together, together
Nyoonya boodjera
My country
We wish to thank:
All other photomicrographs of the peppermint tree details ( bud, soil, leaves, bark) at The Farm Margaret River by Martine Perret.
We acknowledge Wardandi peoples of Wardan country and all involved for saving language and culture.
Cultural protocol and permissions to share words and story, to photograph, to record and to film, courtesy of:
Elder Vivian Brockman Webb and family
Video: 14 min
©Martine Perret, 2022
Martine Perret
www.martineperret.photoshelter.com
Tel: 0403 501 644
E: martina_perret@hotmail.com
