Anmatyerr
Childrens Learning Resource
Lily Kngwarrey Sandover and Emily Kam Kngwarray making tie-dye, Utopia Station homestead, 1977. Photo: © Toly Sawenko, 2023
Alhalkerarl anwernekakerrenh. Anwerlarr. Atyenh arrernek mern, mern ayengarl inewelhek—mern annga yanh-lkwer ayengarl inewelhekek. Kam arreyn ap ra. Kam. An mern anwerlarr-warl inewelhek. Me Kam now.
Alhalker Country is ours—so is the anwerlarr yam. I paint my plant, the one I am named after—those seeds I am named after. Kam is its name. Kam. I am named after the anwerlarr plant. I am Kam!
Emily Kam Kngwarray, Anmatyerr people
Emily Kam Kngwarray, Anmatyerr people, Anwerlarr Anganenty (Big Yam Dreaming), 1995, National Gallery of Victoria, Naarm/Narrm/Melbourne, presented through the Art Foundation of Victoria by Donald and Janet Holt and family, Governors, 1995 © Emily Kam Kngwarray/Copyright Agency, 2023. Image courtesy of National Gallery of Victoria, Naarm/Narrm/Melbourne. Photo: Christian Markel © Emily Kam Kngwarray/Copyright Agency
Installation view, Emily Kam Kngwarray, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, 2023. Photo by: Jed Cooper
Edible roots of the anwerlarr (pencil yam), 2023. © Utopia Art Centre / Copyright Agency, 2023. Photo: Sophia Lunn
Emily Kam Kngwarray was known to her community and family as Kam (Kah-mah), a name that was given to her, meaning anwerlarr or the seeds and seedpods of the pencil yam plant. The pencil yam plant is an important plant on her Country. Kngwarray is her second name, this is her skin name. All Anmatyerr people are born into one of eight skin groups to show who they are related to and what their responsibilities are in the community. The name Emily is her whitefeller name and was given to her much later in life. Being named after Country demonstrates the intertwined nature of First Nations people to Dreaming and their connection to Country.
Emily Kam was an Elder in her community. She had a deep understanding of her Country and what it meant to be an Anmatyerr woman. She used her knowledge to paint about the eco systems around her, oral stories, songs, and ceremonies that have been passed down from generation to generation.
Although the community relied on the pencil yam as a food source, kam was Emily Kam’s responsibility and part of her identity. In Anwerlarr Anganenty (Big Yam Dreaming), Emily Kam shares her connection and Dreaming. She represented kam in many of her paintings.
Create
Answer each of the questions below in one or two words:
What is your name?
What is something that makes you special?
What is something you share with your family?
If you had to pick a symbol or shape to represent you, what would it be?
What is something you love to do?
Using the word responses, create a poem that represents you.
Can you represent your poem in a drawing?
