YUBULYAWAN DREAMING PROJECT
The Yubulyawan Dreaming Project (YDP) is a collaborative effort with senior Aboriginal Elder Yidumduma Bill Harney to document primarily using video, the culture, oral tradition and corresponding rock art sites of the Yubulyawan clan of the Wardaman people of the Victoria River region of the Northern Territory of Australia. Documentation has been carried out under the direction of the Elder. The YDP has recorded over 40 rock art, sacred sites and captured over 150 hours of cultural footage.
The Director Paul Taylor has been visiting and a student of Yidumduma's for over 30 years. The project was initiated by the Director in 2002 at the request of Yidumduma Bill Harney. Fieldwork began in 2004 and has been graciously supported by our FUNDERS & DONORS, WESTERN ROCK ART RESEARCH, FILMMAKERS, VOLUNTEERS.
Fieldwork and Archive
From 2004-14 YDP has amassed over 150 hours of video footage that has been archived for safekeeping and research in Canberra at AIATSIS, Australia's premier institution for Aboriginal studies and with the Northern Lands Council NLC in Darwin, NT. Copies have been placed directly with Yidumduma. Highlights of this footage are shown on this site with permission of Yidumduma. Fieldwork, processing and research has continued to present day with the Director currently engaged in bringing international students and educators out to visit Bill and his sacred sites.
Yidumduma and the Director together toured the US in 2008 and 2011 on extensive 8 week tours of Universities, Art Councils and schools. Yidumduma was Artist in Residence at the University of Wyoming and celebrated his star knowledge at the Fiske Planetarium at Colorado University in Boulder on both tours.
The groundbreaking work with Dr. Hugh Cairns in their 2003 publication of Dark Sparklers,has conceived this planetarium show. Produced in the US by the Director, in collaboration with Colorado University Astronomy Professor,Dr.John Stocke. Presented for over 15 years at CU Fiske Planetarium, this show has been endorsed and co-presented with both Yidumduma and Dr. Cairns. The Director continues to present this show in the US and at the Adelaide Planetarium.
Thanks
Sincere thanks go to our principal advisors, Mick Peirce and Dr. Hugh Cairns for invaluable support over many years and Peggy Baldwin & John Loyd of LOYD Artists who seeded Yidumduma's US tours, exposure, funding and supported the Australian fieldwork as volunteers at the same time!!!
Australian of the Year 2013: NT Finalist
Director Paul Taylor was honoured for his work with Yidumduma and the YDP. Yidumduma accepted the award on his behalf and in recognition of their work together over many, many years.
Jalala: Director's Naming Ceremony
YDP Dreaming Project director Paul Taylor is adopted into the Wardaman tribe, Yubulyawan clan, by Elder Yidumduma Bill Harney and receives his name Jalala, 2004. Jalala means "long, tall skinny fella" and everything connected to the long tall funnel or tube, the didgeridoo and further... the grass, the bird feather, the ant and termite nests, the cyclone, the hurricane, the whirlpool, the spinning Milky Way and the black holes.This event marked the formal beginning of the filming work for the YDP Project.
