'The Indigenous Remote Communications Association says pioneering media figure Belle Karirrka Davidson, a founder of Ngaanyatjarra Media, leaves a huge legacy as a community and cultural leader. Ms Davidson passed away on Saturday July 22 in Irrunytju community a filmmaker, teacher, storyteller and artist. Along with Noeli Mantjantja Roberts, her sister Pantjiti McKenzie and brother-in-law Simon Tjiyangu McKenzie, and Simon and Roma Butler, Ms Davidson was a key player in the establishment of Irrunytju Media from 1992 and its development into the regional media organisation Ngaanyatjarra Media in the late 1990s. She continued to play a lead role as inaugural minyma (female) chair from Ngaanyatjarra Media’s incorporation in 2002 until 2008, and as minyma cultural officer throughout the 2000s. She retired in 2013 although still featured in numerous productions beyond that. Ms Davidson was born in the bush at Lilirr near Papulankutja (Blackstone) in 1944 and lived a traditional lifestyle with her family until she was about six-years-old. She was then taken to the Warburton mission with her sister Tjawina and infant brother after both parents died. She grew up at the mission before marrying Daniel Davidson at age 17 and having five children, all of whom she out-survived. Before her media career, Ms Davidson travelled the region as a health worker. She moved to Irrunytju (Wingellina) with her family in the late 1980s where she became interested in media production. Her interest was sparked by helping her sister and brother-in-law, founding members of Ernabella Video and TV (today’s PY Media), on cultural video productions in the local region. Despite being discouraged from learning her language and culture at the mission, Ms Davidson became a powerful advocate for reinvigorating N g a a n y a t j a r r a c u l t u r e and language for future generations of Yarnangu (Ngaanyatjarra people). She did this by making videos of Tjukurrpa stories in country and Turlku dance performances. She encouraged and trained many other local video producers, especially women, to carry on this vital cultural work across the region. From watching the videos of old people performing Turlku, she became an important cultural teacher for Yarnangu women across the region. She also played a significant role in numerous Turlku tours, nationally and internationally, including performing with Bangarra Dance Theatre and Jimmy Little in Sydney in 1999 and at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Ms Davidson was an active member of NPY Women’s Council from its beginning in 1980 and served as a Director during 1996-1997. She was also a professional translator and sought after for her cultural liaison skills. She won the Preston Award for her lifetime contribution to the remote indigenous media sector in 2010 and received numerous other awards for her extensive video production work in Tjukurrpa r e - e n a c t m e n t s , T u r l k u performance, oral history storytelling and educational videos. The Minyma Kutjara Tjukurrpa (Two Sisters Story), a cultural documentary she directed and co-wrote with Irrunytju Media in 1999, won the Tudawali Award for best language documentary in 2000. In 2009 Ngaanyatjarra Media produced a sequel of that story, which she codirected and acted in. The film won Best Video at the 2009 National Remote Indigenous Media Festival in Darwin. Ms Davidson also co-directed the ‘Ngaanyatjarra Turlku’ performance and multi-media presentation at the 2007 Perth International Arts Festival. She will be greatly missed by all who know her for her wonderful storytelling, wicked sense of humour and generous spirit. Deepest condolences to her family and friends in Irrunytju and Papulankutja communities and right across the Ngaanyatjarra and APY lands, as well as to everyone at Ngaanyatjarra Media.'
(Source : Land Rights News)
