The Story of the Spinifex People
Over 1,000 historical photos of the Cundeelee mission have been handed back to their Anangu descendants.
Cultural Warning: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains images of deceased persons.
By: Ali MC with the assistance from the Tjuntjuntjara Community
Produced by: Sophie Verass and Daniel Gallahar
All historical photographs taken by Robert McKeich. Present day photos by Ali MC and Yamali. Thanks to the Tjuntjuntjara community for sharing their stories and giving permission to use the photos.
The remote community of Tjuntjuntjara has recently had a huge boost to their historical archive, with over 1,000 historical photos handed back.
The collection of photos were taken by former teacher and missionary Robert McKeich over more than forty years, spanning from the early 1950s to 2000.
Photograph as pictured above. From left to right: Bobby Jones, Ted Grant, Robert McKeich, Reggie Anderson, Ned Grant, Bert Jackson (and FM, child). Cundeelee, 1975.
Photograph as pictured above. From left to right: Bobby Jones, Ted Grant, Robert McKeich, Reggie Anderson, Ned Grant, Bert Jackson (and FM, child). Cundeelee, 1975.
These photos not only depict the warm smiles and stoic faces of people in the community, but documents the history of the Spinifex People (Pila Nguru); the traditional owners of land around the Great Victoria Desert that lies on the border of Western Australia and South Australia where Spinifex grasses form the arid environment.
The photo collection documents the days of first contact and removal from their traditional homelands when the Australian and British Governments were conducting nuclear testing on Anangu country in South Australia.
Jessie Walker (front, with children Luana Walker and Marna Walker) with her sisters Carol Walker and Kathleen Walker, ‘found’ in the bush by missionaries led by tracker Jimmie Maadi.
Jessie Walker (front, with children Luana Walker and Marna Walker) with her sisters Carol Walker and Kathleen Walker, ‘found’ in the bush by missionaries led by tracker Jimmie Maadi.
Tom Underwood, Bill Jamieson, Roy Underwood, Roger Jamieson after being ‘found’. Roy Underwood would become an internationally recognised Spinifex Artist and would travel the world to tell the story of his people through his art.
Tom Underwood, Bill Jamieson, Roy Underwood, Roger Jamieson after being ‘found’. Roy Underwood would become an internationally recognised Spinifex Artist and would travel the world to tell the story of his people through his art.
Jack Jamieson, Albert Jamieson, Frank Hogan, Arthur Jamieson and Bill Jamiesonwith tracker Jimmy Maadi at the ration station near present day Tjuntjtuntjara, after being ‘brought in’ from Spinifex Country and given clothes to wear.
Jack Jamieson, Albert Jamieson, Frank Hogan, Arthur Jamieson and Bill Jamiesonwith tracker Jimmy Maadi at the ration station near present day Tjuntjtuntjara, after being ‘brought in’ from Spinifex Country and given clothes to wear.
They show missionaries and teachers being led by Anangu trackers to Spinifex country to locate Anangu people, resulting in ‘first contact’ experiences.
The Spinifex People were first taken to a ration station near present day Tjuntjuntjara, where they were given clothes, flour, tea and sugar.
They were then taken by jeep to a mission called Cundeelee, a few hundred kilometres to the west towards Kalgoorlie.
The original name of Cundeelee is Urpulurpulila, which means ‘tadpole’ in Pitjantjatjarra language, due to the large amount of tadpoles found in the rock hole there.
The rockhole named Urpulurpulila, which means ‘tadpole’ in Pitjantjatjarra language, at Cundeelee.
The rockhole named Urpulurpulila, which means ‘tadpole’ in Pitjantjatjarra language, at Cundeelee.
The mission was established on a hill 40 kms north of the railway station of Zanthus on the Trans-Australian line that runs from Kalgoorlie to Port Augusta, ostensibly to draw Anangu people away from the railway line, where living it was said the rough conditions were causing an ‘embarrassment’ to travellers on the train.
Cundeelee would eventually become home to many Anangu from the region, including the Spinifex People.
Jack Jamieson, Albert Jamieson, Frank Hogan, Arthur Jamieson and Bill Jamieson stand together on the right, newcomers to the mission at Cundeelee
Jack Jamieson, Albert Jamieson, Frank Hogan, Arthur Jamieson and Bill Jamieson stand together on the right, newcomers to the mission at Cundeelee
In 1954, Robert McKeich travelled to Cundeelee with his wife and four small children from Auckland, New Zealand, in order to become a school teacher and missionary.
It was here he would begin a decades-long relationship with the Spinifex People, dispensing with his missionary ideals to instead learn language and become a positive advocate for Anangu living at Cundeelee.
Over the course of his work, he would take over a thousand photos, many of which have not been accessed by the community until now.
Earlier this year, elders in Tjuntjuntjara — some of whom had been removed from their homelands in the first contact ‘clearances’ of the early 1950s — gathered together to view the photos, many of which depicted their relatives and family members.
Much time was spent discussing each photograph, as memories and recollections came flooding back.
Elders including Marliyn Walker, Mr Grant and Mr Walker identify relatives in the collection of photographs.
Elders including Marliyn Walker, Mr Grant and Mr Walker identify relatives in the collection of photographs.
In one instance, a photo of ‘first contact’ depicting three young women nursing their children turned out to be the mother and aunties of community members, one of whom, Mrs. Kathleen Donegan, still lives in Tjuntjuntjara.
A copy of the photo was printed out and taken to her house, where the family gathered to show her and talk about the time the photo was taken.
“We feel happy to see the photos,” says niece Marilyn Walker about the experience.
The family gathers together to look at a photo of first contact, which pictures Mrs. Kathleen Donegan and her two sisters Jessie Walker (front, with children Luana Walker and Marna Walker) and Carol Walker in 1954. (Front, left to right):Nancy Donegan, Maureen Donegan, Mrs. Kathleen Donegan, Marilyn Walker; (back, left to right) Alex Donegan, Maylene Goodwin (child) Suzina Goodwin.
The family gathers together to look at a photo of first contact, which pictures Mrs. Kathleen Donegan and her two sisters Jessie Walker (front, with children Luana Walker and Marna Walker) and Carol Walker in 1954. (Front, left to right):Nancy Donegan, Maureen Donegan, Mrs. Kathleen Donegan, Marilyn Walker; (back, left to right) Alex Donegan, Maylene Goodwin (child) Suzina Goodwin.
Sadly though, as community member Debbie Hansen explains, “some of the old people are losing their memory so they can’t remember who is in the photos. It’s up to the kids to remind them. It is interesting and exciting for the young people to see where their grandparents came from.”
Cundeelee would eventually close in 1985 due to a lack of fresh water supply, and the community was relocated to Coonana, which would become a second home for Anangu from Cundeelee.
In 1986, the last Anangu person living a traditional lifestyle in the desert would eventually be found and brought in from the bush.
That same year some of the old people returned to their original homeland at Yakatunya on Spinifex Country, and eventually, the community of Tjuntjuntjara would be established.
Today, Tjuntjuntjara is thriving, with many of the elders from those early photographs now internationally renowned artists of the Spinifex Arts Project.
Tjuntjuntjara community today.
Tjuntjuntjara community today.
With the return of the collection of photographs, the history of the Spinifex People can now be archived and accessed by children and grandchildren.
“While some people have passed away, it’s good for the next generation.” says Debbie.
For more information about the collection of photographs from Cundeelee mission, please contact the Tjuntjuntjara Community Resource Centre on 08 9037 1117.
Ali MC (Alister McKeich) is a writer, photographer and legal professional who holds a Masters in Human Rights Law. His work documents global human rights issues, and he has had the privilege of working with a number of Aboriginal communities here and internationally. Follow @alimcphotos
National Reconciliation Week, 27 May - 3 June, is a time to strengthen relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous peoples, for the benefit of all Australians. This years' official theme is #GroundedInTruth, Walk Together in Courage.
