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A Walbiri Fire Ceremony: Ngatjakula

Publication date

Thursday, 30 June 1977

Type

DVD

Roger Sandall

Ngatjakula is one of the most spectacular ceremonies of central Australia, employing fire to inflict real and symbolic punishment on those responsible for a social transgression. It serves to resolve conflict and, in the process, makes manifest underlying structures of Warlpiri (Walbiri) society.

Originally shot in 1967, the footage in this film is re-examined ten years later by anthropologist Nicolas Peterson.