Wannang Biridge - Light of the Peppermint Tree

Simulation tree projection: Mabenan Hutchins photographed by Martine Perret and digitally edited by Roly Skender WANNANG BIRIDGE / A

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.

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Martine Perret, Dwardinan, 2022, Archivable Giclée Fine Art Photographic Print, 116 x 46cm.

Portrait of Vivian Brockman Webb and photomicrograph of soil from The Farm Margaret River with reflection of the light from the peppermint tree’s oil

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 Biridge1 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.’

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The project title was chosen by Wardandi Elders Vivian Brockman Webb and Mitchella Hutchins during development discussions with Martine Perret in February 2022.

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Martine Perret, Waljin, 2022, Archivable Giclée Fine Art Photographic Print, 116 x 46cm.

Portrait of Mitchella Hutchins and photomicrograph of soil from The Farm Margaret River with reflection of the light from the peppermint tree’s oil

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 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

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

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Extract from a conversation between Martine Perret and Mitchella Hutchins, 20 April 2022.

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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

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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

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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 manyart Look beautiful tree

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

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

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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

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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.

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

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

Noonook boodji noonooda You gave birth to all of us

Nyoonya boodjera My country

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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