Peppimenarti, Northern Territory

Infobox Australian Place | type = town
name = Peppimenarti
state = nt


caption =
lga =
postcode = 0822
est =
pop = 185
pop_footnotes=
elevation=
elevation_footnotes=
maxtemp =
mintemp =
rainfall =
stategov = Daly
fedgov = Lingiari
dist1 = 250
dir1 = SW
location1= Darwin
dist2 = 134
dir2 = NE
location2= Darwin

Peppimenarti is an Aboriginal community in the Daly River region of the Northern Territory, Australia.

Etymology

The locality name is drawn from the Aboriginal words "Peppi" (rock) and "menarti" (large), referring to the rock formation that overlooks the community. At its base is a wide stream and a series of pools which form a significant sacred site.

History

In the early 1970s, the independent Aboriginal organisation Unia campaigned for the establishment of a cattle station within the Daly River Aboriginal Reserve as a permanent home for the local Ngangikurrunggurr people. As a result a convert|2000|km2|sqmi|0|lk=on pastoral lease was granted, and later consolidated by the Northern Territory Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1976.T

Harold Wilson, a prominent member of Unia, was instrumental in the community’s establishment. Wilson was born in Peppimenarti country, and after being removed from his family and sent to government institutions as a child, he decided to return there as an adult with his wife Regina and family, to set up a permanent settlement. He later became the President of the Peppimenarti Association and used his Aboriginal and European heritage to negotiate the ‘translation of Aboriginal needs into European contexts while preserving authentic Aboriginal voices in the decision making process’ [Peppimenarti Basketmakers, Robin Hodgson, 1975.] .

At the 2006 census, Peppimenarti had a population of 185.Census 2006 AUS
id=ILOC3100703
name=Peppimenarti (Indigenous Location)
accessdate=2007-11-17
quick=on]

Artistic heritage

A group of artists from the community launched an art program named 'Durrmu Arts'in 2001. Durrmu Arts is now renowned for its contemporary acrylic painting and fibre weaving work. Regina and fellow artist Teresa Lemon took part in the 2003 Pacific Arts Festival in Noumea and have since been included in numerous state and regional exhibitions around Australia. Regina Wilson won the General Painting Prize at the 2003 Telstra Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award and her paintings were included in the exhibition 'Dreaming their Way' at the National Museum for Women in the Arts, Washington DC, USA.

References