Jajirdi is the Warlpiri word for Native Cat, or Western Quoll
a small carnivorous marsupial that used to range across all of Australia’s Central and Western arid regions but now survives only in the South West. It is a totem of the Jungarrayi/Nungarrayi and Japaljarri/Napaljarri skin groups. It’s Dreaming Track, uniting the countries of the Luritja, Western Arrernte, Warlpiri and Anmatyerre, is part of the great web of paths of the Creation Ancestors criss-crossing the desert giving spiritual meaning to the landscape, explaining its creation and the origins of Aboriginal Law.Bess Nungarrayi Price
Bess Nungarrayi Price was born at Yuendumu. Her first language is Warlpiri. She also knows Luritja and Western Arrernte. Bess has a Bachelor of Applied Science in Aboriginal Community Management and Development from Curtin University and has worked in education and training, public administration, the media, community development, interpreting, translating and language teaching and has experience in small business management. She has represented Central Australia at conferences in Québec, Vancouver and Beijing. She currently chairs the NT’s Indigenous Affairs Advisory Council. The Jajirdi Dreaming belongs to Bess, her brothers and sisters, fathers and aunts.
Dave Price
Dave Price has worked in Aboriginal education and training and public administration in the NT, the Kimberley in WA and in South Australia for over twenty years. He has qualifications in secondary and special education and a Master of Letters in Linguistics from UNE. His eight and a half years of teaching experience includes over seven years in remote Aboriginal communities. He also has substantial experience delivering training in the Public Service and has taught courses in Warlpiri language and culture and lectured to visitors to the Centre on Aboriginal issues for several years. Dave and Bess have been married for over thirty years.
Jacinta Nampijinpa Castle
Jacinta Nampijinpa Castle was born in Darwin but grew up and was educated in Alice Springs. She has been involved in several theatrical, musical, and film projects in Alice Springs and the Adelaide Festival. Jacinta is a singer/songwriter and is currently the presenter for Imparja’s ‘Yambah’s Playtime’ children’s program. She has also acted as facilitator and co-ordinator in community service and research projects as well as lecturing on Aboriginal culture and cross cultural communication for over ten years.