A funeral has been held for five-year-old Kumanjayi Little Baby- three-and-a-half months after she was found dead near Alice Springs. Her alleged abduction and murder sent shockwaves throughout the country, with her family today inviting Central Australia to come together to mourn and remember who she was.
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TRANSCRIPT
Solemn silence for Kumanjayi [[KOOM-uhn-jigh]] Little Baby - as mourners gather at a cemetery south of Mparntwe [[m-barn-twa]]/Alice Springs.
Warlpiri [[WOL-pree]] Elder and family spokesperson Robert Granites [[gran-nets]] says many attending the funeral are wearing pink in honour of the five-year-old girl.
"Pink reminds us of the clothes she used to wear and the times when we would go in the evening, you see the sunset and even the early morning, you see the pink colour of clouds."
Little Baby's extended family, including her aunt Senator Jacinta Nampinjimpa Price, are among the hundreds who have come to pay tribute.
In a eulogy read on her behalf, Little Baby's mother made a plea for her daughter to be remembered for who she was - not just how she died.
"As a mother, my heart breaks into a million pieces. She was a gift. She was everyone's beautiful baby girl. She loved playing games on mum's phone. She learned to play Minecraft because she watched her big brother playing Minecraft too. She lived watching (the TV show) 'Masha and the Bear' and 'Bluey'. She loved cuddling puppies. She loved music. She loved going to kindy (kindergarten)."
The service was opened to the public.
And amid the singing were cries of grief.
Pastor Rejieli Paulo-Smith led the prayers.
"United by hearts that are both broken and grateful. Broken because a precious little life has been taken from us far too soon. Yet, grateful because Kumanjayi Little Baby was here. She was known, she was loved, she mattered."
A private burial followed at her final resting place - not far from where she was last seen alive.
The search for Kumanjayi Little Baby three-and-a-half months ago has had a lasting impact on the community.
While her death has sparked a national debate, her family wanted this occasion to simply bring everyone together.
The multi-agency operation to find the little girl - and the person who took her - was one of the largest in the Northern Territory's history.
47-year-old Jefferson Lewis was charged with murder and two other offences.
Ever since, communities have been in cultural grieving, known as sorry business.
Robert Granites says it is an important way of marking the loss.
"Making sure that you you are being there to be help and represent on your family from the your communities. And that way we know that we are all connected in culture."
The case has also prompted controversial reform to the Northern Territory's Child Protection laws, with fears that it will erode the Aboriginal Child Placement Principle, which is designed to keep children connected to family and culture while in out of home care.
Robert Granites says it has been healing to see the community come together to farewell Kumanjayi Little Baby.
"And this has been the very first time that we're doing it for a little child. And this little child was so beautiful and everyone all remembered her with all these flowers; and all the photos of her. Jintangka ((jin-tahn-gah)) means all in one. Everyone together we are doing it in one."
