Topsy Dodd Ngarnjal Topsy Dodd Ngarnjal i(12109373 works by)
Born: Established: 1934 Daguragu / Kalkaringi / Wave Hill, Victoria River area, Central Northern Territory, Northern Territory, ;
Gender: Female
Heritage: Aboriginal ; Aboriginal Gurindji
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Works By

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1 1 y separately published work icon Tamarra : A Story of Termites on Gurindji Country Violet Wadrill , Topsy Dodd Ngarnjal , Leah Leaman , Felicity Meakins , Gregory Crocetti , Briony Barr (illustrator), Richmond : Hardie Grant Children's Publishing , 2023 25994826 2023 single work information book children's Indigenous story

A colourful, fun and educational First Nations book about bugs!

'Tamarra: A Story of Termites on Gurindji Country is a fascinating, illustrated science book that takes kids inside the life of termites through storytelling from the Gurindji People.

'Did you know there are four types of termite poo? Or that a warm paste made from termite mound is used to strengthen a Gurindji baby’s body and spirit? Or that spinifex (which termites eat) is one of the strongest plants in the world?

'Created as a collaboration between over 30 First Nations and non-Indigenous contributors, the story and artworks explore how termites and their mounds connect different parts of Country, from tiny Gurindji babies and their loving grandmothers, to spiky spinifex plants growing in the hot sun.

'Written in traditional Gurindji, Gurindji Kriol and English (with a QR code to an audio version spoken in language), Tamarra is a truly original story with beautiful artwork that takes readers on an educational and cultural journey through Gurindji Country.' (Publication summary) 
1 y separately published work icon Karu : Growing up Gurindji Violet Wadrill , Biddy Wavehill Yamawurr Nangala , Topsy Dodd Ngarnjal , Felicity Meakins , Connie Ngarmeiye Nangala , Theresa Yibwoin Nangala , Pauline Ryan Naminja , Rosemary Johnson Namija , Sarah Oscar , Serena Donald Larrpingali Nimarra , Desmarie Morrison Dobbs Napurrula , Rachael Morris Namitja , Narelle Morris Nampin , Brenda Croft , Violet Wadrill (editor), Biddy Wavehill Yamawurr Nangala (editor), Topsy Dodd Ngarnjal (editor), Felicity Meakins (editor), Mission Beach : Spinifex Press , 2019 16668661 2019 multi chapter work autobiography short story non-fiction Indigenous story

'Gurindji country is located in the southern Victoria River in the Northern Territory of Australia. Gurindji people became well known in the 1960s and 1970s due to their influence on Australian politics and the Indigenous land rights movement. They were instrumental in gaining equal wages for Aboriginal cattle station employees and they were also the first Aboriginal group to recover control of their traditional lands. In Karu, Gurindji women describe their child-rearing practices. Some have a spiritual basis, while others are highly practical in nature, such as the use of bush medicines. Many Gurindji ways of raising children contrast with non-Indigenous practices because they are deeply embedded in an understanding of country and family connections. This book celebrates children growing up Gurindji and honours those Gurindji mothers, grandmothers, assistant teachers and health workers who dedicate their lives to making that possible.  (Publication summary)
1 Living in the Victoria River Bed Topsy Dodd Ngarnjal , 2016 single work prose
— Appears in: Yijarni : True Stories from Gurindji Country 2016; (p. 188-189)

'True - women used to live in the Victoria River bed north at Pawulyji - lots of women. Some men used to live in the north too. (Husbands and wives lived together.) In the Wet Season they used to go up on top of the bank of the river at the Compound and camp under the bauhinia trees. In the cold season they would come here and camp.' (Introduction)
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