The Worora and Ngarinjin tribes

Title
The Worora and Ngarinjin tribes
Repository
Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS)
Reference
BALFOUR_001
Date Range
1933
Creator
Balfour, H. R. (Harry Rainy)
Description

Records some aspects of material culture and ceremonial life of the Worrorra and Ngarinyin communities living at the Presbyterian Mission of Kunmunya, Port George IV, Western Australia. The mission station superintendant at the time was Rev. J.R.B. Love. Footage includes ceremonial dances, spinning of human hair string, making axe heads and a fire lighting competition. Footage includes: Aboriginal man (in European clothes) paddling log raft up to side of boat; another man paddles raft in open ocean; Ngarinyin men arrive in Worrorra camp; Ngarinyin men painted up dance around fire holding spears; pan along row of dancers; men dance in circle; men sitting after dance; Worrorra women spinning human hair string on crossed stick spindle; hair to be used for belts; men making stone points with quartzite, jasper, agate and chalcedony and using large stone as anvil; Worrorra men walking to sacred ground carrying spears and other wooden implements; men dance around tree in circle holding spears; single man dances painted up and with other adornments; scared objects are brought out one at a time; group of men dancing with loin cloths and pubic tassels; pan along group of dances - old and young men, close ups and medium shots; Worrorra Emu dance; large circle and lines holding sacred objects; Eaglehawk dance by one man; Emu man dances; four men collecting stone and knapping axe heads; stone is used as an anvil by one man; axe heads ground on large flat rock by a group of five women; Two women sitting next to them are spinning on crossed stick spindles; three women sit by fire in sandy clearing and are hafting axe heads to handles; teeth are used as an aid; two finished axes are shown; three old men make fire by drilling method; ashes are put in grass bundle and waved in the air till alight; next man does the same.

Quantity
1 Film reel
Access
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People

Created: 24 March 2026