Puppets help preserve country and culture in a northern WA town

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Preserving stories told for millennia has been the key to ensuring the continuation of Indigenous culture. In Wyndham, WA's northernmost town, giant puppets are being used as a new way to share ancient stories.

Transcript

00:00An ancient story takes a new shape.

00:07I'm at the big giant puppet show about the rainbow serpent creating the rivers.

00:14Calling in my turkey.

00:17Rangers, elders and puppeteers working together to bring local characters to life.

00:23This is a bush turkey. Language name is panhard.

00:30We made it with just a paper plate and a bit of fabric from the old dresses.

00:38It's an opportunity for the rangers to show off the work they do to protect country.

00:43It's a big thing and it would be good for people to really understand what we've been doing.

00:49Out everywhere in the country.

00:53We just don't want people destroying it before the young ones get all done.

01:00The young ones are involved in every stage of the production.

01:04Little dragonfly.

01:06There's also some little sparkles on the tips of his wings.

01:10It's important to our kids.

01:13When they grow up they can tell their own kids too.

01:18The next generation is learning and telling these stories in their own way.

01:23I like the wraps to be like that because it feels more authentic.

01:27I think it's very important not only for the kids but for the community as well.

01:31And then for the community to see the kids bringing their story to life.

01:35It really empowers, if anything, but it also helps to keep the story around for generations.

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