Pila Nguru: Art and song from the Spinifex People

These artworks present the stunning and detailed commentary of Spinifex Country by the Traditional Owners of the area, as part of a successful native title consent determination in Western Australia. 

This exhibition is a unique opportunity to contemplate the depth and cultural range of traditional attachment to land. In 2000, Traditional Owners from Spinifex country in the far east of Western Australia negotiated a successful native title consent determination. Paintings produced as documentation during the native title process supported the Native Title agreement. The historic agreement represented the fulfillment of a community vision, to be recognised as the rightful owners of the Spinifex area.

Moved from their lands due to the Maralinga nuclear trials in the 1950s, Traditional Owners returned to Country in the late 1980s. They set about establishing a community centre at Tjuntjuntara, and following the 1992 Mabo Native Title determination, began their own pursuit of native title recognition, mapping Country and negotiating cultural boundaries with neighbouring groups.  By 1998, a Framework Agreement was complete and had been signed by the then Western Australian Premier, Richard Court.    

In response to this Agreement and drawing on the information and knowledge recorded during the native title process, the Spinifex people began producing artworks that celebrated the successful outcome of their claim. Two large canvases, one painted by the men and one painted by the women, were produced which documented birthplaces and associated Jukurrpa's (lore/stories) from Spinifex Country. Both paintings were then formally included in the preamble of the final land agreement between the Spinifex People and the Western Australian Government passed through state parliament. As a celebration of the successful land negotiation process, a series of ten large canvas paintings depicting the claim area were gifted to the People of Western Australia by the Spinifex Claimants in a symbolic exchange of land and paintings. 

Today, these incredibly significant artworks continue to make clear the link between people and Country. 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander visitors are advised that this exhibition may contain images and voices of people who have since passed.

Spinifex Arts Project 

The Spinifex Arts Project began in 1996 as part of the broader Native Title process when Traditional Owners from the Spinifex Area moved to document and then secure an acknowledgement of Native Title across their lands.  

The Spinifex Arts Project continues to develop and extend community-based opportunities for cultural documentation and to present quality works of traditional ownership. This presentation of Pila Nguru reaffirms the Museum’s commitment and relationship to this project and recalls the historic moment when two striking paintings of Country supported a successful Native Title claim. 

The touring of these works is supported by Metal Manufactures Electrical Merchandising.