Alhalker
Childrens Learning Resource
Emily Kam Kngwarray painting, Delmore Downs Station, c 1992. Photo: © Steve Strike, 2023
Plants Animals Climate
Mer Alhalkerel, kwerel inngart. Mern arlkwerremel akeng-akeng mwantyel itnyerremel, lyarnayt tyerrerretyart, tyap lyarnayt. Mern angwenh, ker kaperl arlkwerrek, ilpankwer atwerrerl-anemel nyetyepeyel arlkwerrerl … Mam atyenhel mern anatyarl itnyerremel, anaty itnyerremel, mern akeng-akeng lyarnayt, tyap alhankerarl utnherrerl-anem, arlkwerrerl-anemel. Kwerel anerl-anemel, arlkwerrerl-anemel.
[I was born] at the place called Alhalker—right there. We used to eat bits and pieces of food, carefully digging out the grubs from Acacia bushes. We killed different sorts of lizards, such as geckos and blue-tongues, and ate them in our cubbyhouses … My mother used to dig up bush potatoes and gather grubs from Acacia bushes to eat. That’s what we used to live on.
Emily Kam Kngwarray, Anmatyerr people
Emily Kam and other members of her community create works of art about Country including weather, seasonal changes and the various species of animals and plants in Alhalker. These themes represent their deep understanding of their Country and their connection to Country. Members of the community are able to use their knowledge to understand the meaning in Emily Kam’s works of art and identify what stories and knowledge is being shared.
In the above quote, Kam speaks of the different animals and plants that her mother prepared as food for her and the other children.
What were some of the plants and animals mentioned?
Are there any special foods your parents or other people in your life make for you or with you?
Emily Kam Kngwarray, Anmatyerr people, The Alhalker suite, 1993 Emily Kam Kngwarray, Anmatyerr people, The Alhalker suite, 1993, synthetic polymer paint on canvas, 90 h cm, 120 w cm, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, purchased 1993 © Emily Kam Kngwarray/Copyright Agency
In the work of art Alhalker Suite, Emily Kam represents the changes to the land during the rain, storm, and floods in a time of seasonal change. The wildflowers begin to take over, the wattle blossoms, the spinifex bushes begin growing and the desert oak trees get bigger.
The Anmatyerr people have seven seasons.
When you think about the seasons where you live, what are some changes you see in the environment around you?
Create
What plants or animals are in the environment around you?
Using oil pastels and cardboard, create an illustration of a plant or animal you would find in your environment.
Decide as a group how you might group/display your works together?
Once your illustration has been completed, you might like to cut around the outline and attach a stick to the back or attach to a piece of string to hang from a tree. Once you've decided how the artworks will be displayed, find a space outside where your group can place their artworks into the ground creating a group installation.
