Tiwi Islands Aboriginal Cultural Experience

Make your way to the General Aviation Terminal, Darwin Airport by 7.30am (own expense). Depart at 8.00am for the 30 minute flight to Bathurst Island to join a guided journey through the modern day Aboriginal community of Nguiu.

Visit the museum with its displays of traditional art and depictions of the Tiwi 'Dreamtime' stories and the Early Mission Precinct with its unique Tiwi style Catholic Church. Visit the Arts and Crafts Centres for the opportunity to purchase Tiwi arts and crafts at island prices. At morning tea spend time with our guides and Tiwi ladies enjoying billy tea and damper. Witness traditional totem dances and hear about the meanings behind them. Attend a smoking ceremony to bless the visitors. Visit a Tiwi burial site and learn some of the complex rituals associated with the Pukamani Poles (burial poles).

Meals: L

Creation Stories: Purukuparli and Bima

Long long ago there was a man called Purukuparli and he had a wife called Bima. They were the first people on the Tiwi Islands. Their son was called Jinani. One day Purukuparli told his wife that he was going out. He left his wife and Jinani at home on the eastern side of Melville Island and went looking for food. While Purukuparli was away, Bima went in search of her lover, Tapara, the moon man. She went for too long and left Jimani in the sun. He started to cry for Blodi (milk), he cried and cried until he died from the hunger and heat. When Purukuparli came back he found his son dead and he called out to his wife. Bima tried to call back but Tapara was blocking her mouth. Purukuparli called again and this time Tapara let her go. She ran to find her dead baby and angry husband. Then Tapara, the moon man, came and he said to Purukuparli, 'give me our little boy, I'll take him up with me for three days and he will come back alive'. Purukuparli said 'no'.

Then Purukuparli picked up a fighting stick and he threw it at Tapara. Tapara was hurt and went back up into the sky. Then Purukuparli picked up his dead son and walked towards the sea saying 'my son is dead and now we shall all follow him'. Purukuparli kept saying over and over as they both disappeared into a whirlpool in the winga (ocean). When death came to the Tiwi islands we Tiwi had to start to have ceremonies to bury our dead and make sure they entered the spirit world in the right way. Purukuparli passed down information about how to do this properly and today we still remember the dances, songs and designs which go with our ceremonies. We also have other traditions for ceremony passed down from Purukuparli, this includes placing burial poles around the graves of our dead and placing a taboo on the name of the deceased.