This film item documents the Board for Anthropological Research (BAR) University of California Los Angeles and the University of Adelaide (UCLA) expedition, during 18 October 1952 - 10 September 1954.
This expedition travelled through South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory. For a listing of the locations visited by the expedition party see: JB Birdsell's 'Australian Daily Field Journal 1953-1954' (AA 689/1/2) and NB Tindale's Journal 'Anthropological Field Notes on the University of California at Los Angeles - University of Adelaide Anthropological Expedition, North West Australia. Volume 1-2.' (AA 338/1/19/1-2).
UCLA 'North Western Australia 1953' Reels 1-10 is the Master Positive footage documenting the BAR expedition to Moola Bulla, Pilgangoora and Mandora, Western Australia. See: NB Tindale's 'Notes on partly processed 16mm films,' July 1974. (AA 346/9/27/6).
The film was shot by NB Tindale. See: NB Tindale's 'Notes on partly processed 16mm films,' July 1974. (AA 346/9/27/6).
This expedition film was previous held in the NB Tindale collection (AA 338) as UCLA item [1A] and was transferred into the BAR collection (AA 346) in December 2005.
The method adopted by BAR expeditions to undertake research and record the results involved assigning a unique number to each individual (here called 'individual subject number'). This number was given the expedition symbol as a prefix, and remained consistent throughout the research. This expedition was assigned the symbol 'R.' All individuals recorded during the expedition were assigned an individual subject number, for example [R1018]. Where possible the 'individual subject number' of those who appear in film have been noted.
Note that the time coded summary is in minutes and seconds. Following the summary of this film is a list of references and further notes.
Formats Held: 16mm, B&W, Silent, SP Betacam, Digital Betacam, Access DVDs.
Summary (Time Coded): Taken from Access DVD 3 (AA 346/9/16/1/6)
00:00 'UCLA, North Western Australia, 1953.'
00:00 'Cultural Sensitivity Warning.'
00:00 'The Museum Board of South Australia © 1933.'
01:30 'UCLA, North Western Australia, 1953.'
01:30 Roland Palungwadj [R1018] of the Kitja people demonstrating pressure flaking. Moola Bulla, Western Australia. See: NB Tindale Journal (AA 338/1/19/1), pp. 945-955, 999-1002.
01:56 Roland Palungwadj [R1018] of the Kitja people demonstrating pressure flaking, watched on by Dilly Dilinu [R1022] of the Djaru people. Moola Bulla, Western Australia.
02:15 Close up of Roland Palungwadj [R1018] of the Kitja people, using a kangaroo bone compressor (A45327) to shape a stone spear head. Moola Bulla, Western Australia. See: NB Tindale Journal (AA 338/1/19/1), pp.947-949.
04:23 Australian Aboriginal men, women and children in various stages of processing and separating the metal columbite from dirt. Pilgangoora Bore Camp, Western Australia. This footage has been rearranged into logical sequence in (AA 346/9/16/2) Time Codes 1:30 – 4:15.
07:18 Roland Palungwadj [R1018] of the Kitja people using spinifex gum to mount a stone spear head. 'We filmed the making of the hafter spears using one of the heads made on 25 September but not the actual one made when filming the pressure flaking.' See: NB Tindale Journal (AA 338/1/19/1), pp.1023-1025.
08:38 'Roland demonstrated the spear in use, stalking the camera until his eye was only 1 foot from the lens; he seems to be a born actor and entered into the spirit of it.' See: NB Tindale Journal (AA 338/1/19/1), p.1025.
09:53 Close up of the stone spear head mounted in spinfex gum.
10:11 Dilly Dilinu [R1022] of the Djaru people demonstrating pressure flaking. See: NB Tindale Journal (AA 338/1/19/1), pp. 954-955, 993-999.
13:03 Close up of Roland Palungwadj [R1018] of the Kitja people using a wire compressor (A45328) to shape a stone spearhead. See: NB Tindale Journal (AA 338/1/19/1), pp.947-949.
14:45 Close up of the finished stone spear point.
15:04 Roland Palungwadj [R1018] of the Kitja people softens spinfex gum by a fire and begins to secure the stone spear head.
15:48 End of footage.
15:53 Dilly Dilinu [R1022] of the Djaru people demonstrating pressure flaking. See: NB Tindale Journal (AA 338/1/19/1), pp. 954-955, 993-999.
16:09 Roland Palungwadj [R1018] of the Kitja people walks towards the camera, painted and holding spears.
16:21 Dilly Dilinu [R1022] of the Djaru people and Roland Palungwadj [R1018] of the Kitja people sit together demonstrating pressure flaking methods.
16:36 End of footage.
16:45 Unidentifiable footage.
16:54 Close up of Roland Palungwadj [R1018] of the Kitja people using a wire compressor (A45328) to shape a stone spearhead. See: NB Tindale Journal (AA 338/1/19/1), pp.947-949.
16:59 Close up Roland Palungwadj [R1018] of the Kitja people, using a kangaroo bone compressor (A45327) to shape a stone spear head. See: NB Tindale Journal (AA 338/1/19/1), pp.947-949. Note: The section of film from Time Codes 17:30 - 18:09 is double exposed.
18:10 Roland Palungwadj [R1018] of the Kitja people secures the mounted stone spear head with spinfex gum.
18:40 End of footage.
18:45 Several Australian Aboriginal women sitting beside a shelter winnowing columbite. Kuli Kuli Camp, near Pillgangoora, Western Australia. This the original picture positive that has been rearranged into logical sequence in (AA 346/9/16/2) Time Codes 04:16 – 05:49. Note that the master positive has sufferer deterioration not evident in the duplicate positive (AA 346/9/16/2).
20:24 Restricted Content Starts.
21:34 Restricted Content Ends.
21:39 Close up Roland Palungwadj [R1018] of the Kitja people using a kangaroo bone compressor (A45327) to shape a stone spear head.
25:19 Dilly Dilinu [R1022] of the Djaru people using a wire compressor (A45328) and a kangaroo bone compressor (A45327) to shape a stone spearhead.
26:54 Dilly Dilinu [R1022] of the Djaru people shows the finished stone spear point.
27:16 End of footage.
27:22 Restricted Content Starts.
29:03 Restricted Content Ends.
29:03 End of footage.
In the BAR data cards 'Tindale Tribes' and groups recorded at the locations of:
Pilgangoora (Western Australia), R418 - R724, on the dates of 6 May to 23 June 1953.
Badjar, Bailgar, Bailgu, Indibandi, Jauar, Karadjari, Kardadjeri, Kardjeri, Kardudjara, Kariara, Mandjiljara, Mangala, Nagamada, Nanjamada, Ngalibarda, Ngalibardu, Ngarla, Ngerla, Niabali, Njamal, Njamarda, Padjima, Potidjara, Swan River Tribe, Talandji, Wanman.
Mandora (Western Australia), R781 - R809, on the dates of 12 to 15 July 1953.
Julbaritja, Mangala, Nangamada, Wanman.
Moola Boola [Moola Bulla] (Western Australia), R1008 - R1175, on the dates of 9 to 18 September 1953.
Bugai, Djaru, Jalharitja, Jawaru, Kitja, Konegandis, Konejandi, Malngin, Mandjildjara, Mangala, Miwa, Nardi, Ngandi, Ola, Potidjara, Walbaridj, Walmadjari, Walpiri, Wanman, Wardaman, Witjari (Whadjak).