Tjapukai Dancers

Mum and I went to see the Tjapukai Dancers (for our non Aussie folks it is pronounce Jabbukai) These folks are the local Indigenous people of Cairns. The Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park is literally only ten minutes down the road and embarrasingly we have been in Cairns 18 months and never been in, but like all touristy things in your own back yard you don't always appreciate what you have on your doorstep! The Tjapukai at Night is a 'dinner and a show' kind of set up but you are expected to help out and participate in the story.

We took a photo before we left this is after we had covered ourselves from head to toe in carcinogenic deet!!!! We smelled lovely-  just like a mossie coil!

The obligatory front door touristy shots!

On arrival at Tjapukai at Night you were given a complimentary drink (catering for drivers and non-drivers alike) and were given the opportunity to browse the gallery where they display the local Indigenous art work. In fact the lady that was working that night was very generous and showed us her own art work that she had made earlier in the week and shared her local knowledge of her people with us. The table with the oyster shells was painted by herself using locally sourced berries etc. from the rainforest around us. "Women's Business" depicted on the story board on the shells.The women are responsible for gathering, medicines and manufacturing, whilst the men hunt. Culturally they are a very matriarchal society and women are respected for their skills and knowledge which they guard well and share with their daughters. The kangaroo painting is a typical example of the line paintings and in general done by the women. It took this woman about 6 months to paint, because she had to source the materials in season paint it leave it to dry etc. a laborious process. The dot paintings are very often done by men. The van you see in the top of these pictures is a Medicine Van that has travelled across Australia delivering medicinal aid across remote and rural communities as well as offering counselling support for mental health issues and providing a link with outside tribes.

We were then accompanied by the didgerido into the first room to be told the beginning of the story. Story telling and Dreamtime is a very important aspect of the Aboriginal culture for obvious reasons and as a people the Tjapukai love a good yarn and natter. Very often my job with these women is based on talking rather than doing and they will share their culture with you if you are prepared to swap a story! This picture shows you the earth (the circle) made by the god (the serpent)  and the line in the middel of the circle is the Barron River which is the regions largest river. Either side is the wet season and the dry season and the animals and plants that could be found in the appropriate season.

 Birds feature largely in the tropical Tjapukai culture and the Cockatoo and Cassowary are no exception. Indeed, these birds are found drawn on most surfaces in and around Cairns and the Tablelands.

This fetching fellow is the god I mentioned before and I apologise but I can't remember his name.

After the introduction we were then escorted outside to help with the fire making ceremony where our faces were painted and we were given musical percussion wooden maracas type instrument

and taught the fire song and chant. Outside - hence the need for mossie repellent! 

Our singing must have been exceptional because not only did it work it was lit across the Barron River in spectacular style...

Yeah now we can eat.....
We were then musically ushered into the dining hall where we were treated to a buffet meal which consisted of fresh sea food and array of salad, misoh soup, hot dishes of steak, chicken fish and a fantastic display of puddings unfortunately no pics of this as I was too bust enjoying the fayre!
After dinner the Tjapukai Dancers came into their own and put on a fantastic display of dancing and music...

Didgerido never far away, boomerangs as percussion

and singing

Again depicted in dance the local wildlife...

Cassowary
and a kangaroo

Audience participation was mandatory and names were called out by the dancers mum escaped this but others of the party were not so lucky and if it was your birthday they definitely wanted you on stage as these two found to their cost. (Maybe a trip here on the 27th Jan is a must!) They were however, rewarded with a small gift from the Tjapukai a story stone and a boomerang, so not all in vain!

 Lastly our hosts were very happy after the show to allow a photograph as a memory of sharing the experience of Tjapukai at Night.

A great night that I would highly recommend!