Session

In 1966, 200 Gurindji workers on the Wave Hill cattle station in the Northern Territory walked away from the station, back to their own Country. They stayed away for seven years, a decision that developed into a landmark event in the fight for Aboriginal land rights.

The story of the "Wave Hill Walk-off" came to the attention of a brilliant young economics student in Japan who was inspired to try to find a way of studying Gurindji history and culture. Our film is the story of this student, Minoru Hokari, and the close connection that developed between him and the Gurindji.

It's a story of spiritual transformation, and how he was, in Gurindji terms, "called" by Country to help the Gurindji tell their story to an international audience. "Japarta" was the skin name given by the Gurindji to Minoru. He eventually spent many months living with the Gurindji, studying with Elders and writing an influential book (in Japanese) about the Gurindji understanding of history.

Minoru wrote: "For the Gurindji people history is not a subject that you 'choose' to learn. Instead history is happening
everywhere in their everyday life. ... History should be listened to, seen and felt around yourself in your everyday life ... History is something your body can sense, remember and practice. ... The art of knowing is often the way of paying attention. ... Use your senses to receive information from the world."

Before his untimely death in 2004 from cancer, at the age of only 32, Minoru also completed his PhD on the Gurindji at the Australian National University.

The filmmakers thank the Gurindji community and Karungkarni Art and Culture Centre for their support and encouragement in the making of this film. With special thanks to Yuki Hokari and the Hokari family, and to Sasakura Irumi.
Directed by Andrew Pike and Ann McGrath
Produced by Andrew Pike
Translator, Text Editor and Language Advisor, Sara Kitaoji
Interpreter Tobias Rushbrook
Music performed by Russell Wombey (guitar), and Rupert Summerson (shakuhachi)
Produced with the support of Screen Canberra and the ACT Government

Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to help Ronin Films to cover the marketing costs for their production, Japarta, including the preparation of a Japanese language version. Our donation page on the Documentary Australia platform is here. In the process you would be supporting Ronin in its work for independent ilmmakers.