It started with a few boxes of donated clothes – formal dresses, two-piece suits, tiaras and jewelry.
In the remote desert communities of Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara, which stretches on the borders between the Northern Territory, Western Australia and South Australia, young people dress, pose and show their power in a new magazine.
Rikina, Pitjanjatjara’s word for “cool, with style,” was produced by the NPY Women’s Council (NPYWC), with youth workers becoming fashion photographers in the desert response to Vogue.
And they say it gave young Anangu confidence.
The fashion show is coming to life in the press
“We had big plans for [NPYWC’s 40th anniversary] AGM organized a fashion show last year and we were really excited about it, “said boarding school education officer Tamika McMasters.
“But we couldn’t continue because of COVID.”
However, the boxes of clothes, donated by the social enterprise Thread Together, were not thrown away.
Photographing was done in communities including Kaltukatjara (Docker River) and Mutitjula in NT, Papulankutja (Blackstone), Mantamaru (Jameson) and Irrunyntju (Wingellina) in WA, and Putkatja in SA.
“They were very happy to wear older dresses and dress up and laugh with all their friends, they really enjoyed it.”
With slogans like “Desert Diamonds – Strong and Beautiful”, “Wiyantja wiya – Never Give Up”, “Kings and Queens of the Desert” and “Kungkas [Pitjanjatjara for girls/women] in the countryside “, the magazine shows teenagers at home, behind which are spacious mountain ranges and posing with rusty emergency cars that match the red dirt.
Some took on fierce facial expressions and cheeky poses, some pensive, others radiant or on the verge of giggles next to their friends.
‘Nervous, shy, proud’
Three friends from Docker River, Anne-Marie, Cynthia and Delicia, were excited to see themselves and their friends and relatives in the press with the release of Riki’s debut release.
Anne-Marie, who started working with young people in her community, said she helped convince the other two to join the photography.
Delicia said she initially felt “nervous and shy,” but all three agreed that they felt “proud” of the experience.
Tamika McMasters said the project instilled confidence in young Anangu.
Young Aboriginal people are often at a disadvantage in terms of health, housing, services and employment opportunities in remote communities, compared to their non-Aboriginal and urban peers.
So part of Ms. McMasters ’work with NPYWC involves helping them acquire skills that will help them find work and inspire them for possible careers.
Pointing to a “powerful” portrait of one of Ricky’s models, Ms. McMasters explained that before filming, a young girl “never came to the youth shed” in her community for harassment and teasing.
“But one of the youth workers told her that they were taking photos and that they received donated clothes, and she was at the photo shoot that day. They took these photos,” Ms. McMasters said.
“After that photo shoot, she now goes to the toilet every day.
“In this photo, you can see that she is very confident. She [now] she feels more comfortable in the youth home because she may have been with all the children and enjoyed painting. “
Ms. McMasters said the June 2022 issue of Rikina is being distributed across Central Australia and the photos have already proven popular on social media, and the NPY Women’s Council hopes to publish another 2023 issue of the magazine.
The NPYWC was launched in 1980 as an advocacy body for Aboriginal women and children, and today it is managed and administered by Aboriginal women, providing a range of social, artistic and health services throughout the region.
