RESPECT FOR THE ABORIGINAL PEOPLE

Designed by Indigenous Elder Harold Thomas in 1971, this flag symbolises Aboriginal identity. BLACK represents the Aboriginal people. RED represents the red earth. YELLOW represents the sun.

(from the film: "Rabbit-Proof Fence")

The Aboriginal People from Australia and other places are a delicate and difficult issue. I rekon the main thing is to keep the highest respect while approaching them and their didjeridu while not judging their way of existence.

The didjeridu is spread all over the world and many peole have changed their life throught it. Many others use it personally for research and spirituality and others enjoy it musically while creating new compositions and tunes. I think it is important not to touch in any way the Aboriginal "things" ie. their spirituality and their sacred way of playing. We are in front of a hollow tree opening up infinite worlds to the player ...

we can go there in our worlds.

My Aboriginal friends of Wadumbah Dance Group from Western Australia and also Mark Atkins told me : "Moreno keep playing without taking tunes from our People, no rythms, no sacred decoration... play your music and do not compete with this instrument.

I try to do it with respect.

(The White Cockatoo in Alba, Cuneo, Italy - A recent image of Wadumbah - Mark Atkins)

He collaborates with the WADUMBAH Dance Group, originally from Kimberly,s Walmatjerri tribe, organizing shows and meetings all over Italy.

(James T. Webb) - (Uncle Peter, Lee, Terrence) - (Uncle Peter, Damion, Lee)

The Wadumbah course aims at keeping the Australian Aboriginal culture alive, at improving Aboriginal People,s consciousness and willpower. It should also help the steps of the country's natives and to overcome the gap between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people. Wadumbah,s repertoire includes the dances from Western Australia and focuses mainly on Noongar dances from the Southern part of Western Australia.

www.wadidge.com.au/wadumbah

www.internetexpress.net.au/~jamestwadumbah

ORIGINAL AUSTRALIAN DJALU INSTRUMENTS - Moreno has been accepted as certified dealer of authentic Djalu pieces and this means that you can have authentic DJALU GURRUWIWI didjeridoos from Galpu Clan (Nhulunbuy, Arnhem Land). These very special instruments are collected and decorated by Djalu and his family. Djalu is well-known. Thanks to Gianluca Valentini, philanthropic friend, it is possible to buy those instruments. He has embraced their cause and has created this organisation together with a few Australian friends. This organisation protects Djalu,s interests in terms of trademark and value of his art. After creating the Rripangu Yirdaki everything belongs now to Djalu and his family and the derived profits are exclusively owned by them.

www.djalu.com

"Mutant Message Down Under" (Marlo Morgan) - In 1990, Marlo Morgan published a book, Mutant Message Down Under, which chronicles the journey of a middle-aged, white, American woman with a group of 62 desert Aborigines, the "Real People", across the continent of Australia. The author states the book was written after the fact inspired by actual experience. Mutant Message Down Under quickly attained popularity with the New Age movement in the United States and consequently the book was picked by giant publishing firm Harper Collins. To date over half a million copies of the Harper Collins version have been sold in the United States alone. Ms Morgan has completed many successful tours lecturing on the book in the United States and Europe. In her lectures Ms Morgan speaks of her actual experience with the "Real People" and states she is an Aborigine. A survey of Aboriginal groups in Central and Western Australia failed to uncover any indication whatsoever of Ms Morgan's presence in the area or of the existence of the "Real People" tribe. Aboriginal groups believe Ms Morgan's desert journey to be utterly fabricated and that her book and teaching lack any credibility whatsoever. It is deeply offensive to Aboriginal people for a white woman to be misrepresenting Aboriginal culture for self-promotion and profit. Aboriginal people are appalled that Ms Morgan's false message is being accepted as fact by a naive American and European market and are extremely concerned about the resulting long term implications for their culture. This report details the process undertaken by Aboriginal groups and initiated by their response to Mutant Message Down Under, which has led to a unified voice of opposition to the exploitation of indigenous cultures throughout the world.

www.dumbartung.org.au

--