Chairperson's Story

This place here, we used to live here, a long time ago. In wiltjas. My Father, my mother, my family. Long time. My mother. My father. My father passed away.

Number One, started work DA (Dept of Aboriginal Affairs) not ATSIC. ATSIC wiya. ATSIC it started after.

Sometimes I go to Fregon. I've got family at Fregon. I worked as a young man at Fregon. I left a long time ago to Nyapari.

My father came here and was working here, looking after Nyapari. Long time.

I got married and moved here. My wife from Areyonga, her and her family.

My father born Kunamata, over there, other side of that hill. That's why I've gotta look after 'em. That big place, Piltati, Wanampi Tjukurrpa. With Witjiti George. I look after the Tjukurrpa for my father's country, here at Nyapari.

My father made the garden. He grew watermelon, tomato, pumpkin. The garden finished and my father passed away. Fregon his funeral. He knew everything my father. About the country. I learned. He told me everything. Nyapari, Piltati and Kunamata. Three places. My father's places.

I was born in Granite Downs. I came here to look after my father's country. My father said, "You sit here and look after that place. Nyapari, Piltati, Kunamata. That Tjukurrpa dreaming."

The site of the original camp at Nyapari, set up by Keith's father. There used to be a large garden here growing watermelon, rockmelon, tomatoes.