Blood Brothers: Jardiwarnpa - A Warlpiri Fire Ceremony

1993 • Directed by

Ned Lander

Law man Darby Jampinjimpa Ross and other Warlpiri elders introduce us to their community's fire ceremony. Made with the close co-operation of the outback Warlpiri community of Yuendumu, the film follows the staging of the ceremony, involving hundreds of people, over several weeks - part of the process of retaining traditional law and culture within the community. Anthropologists describe the ceremony as a means of resolving personal conflicts in society; the elders speak of paying tribute to their ancestors.