Norwood Flames Basketball Club will celebrate Pitjantjatjara-Yankunytjatjara culture when it proudly wears its 2022 First Nation Jersey in Round 13 and Round 14 (July 8th & 9th) of NBL1’s First Nation’s Round.
Designed by Norwood Football Club’s midfielder Dom Barry’s Mother Joanne Ken a Pitjantjatjara-Yankunytjatjara woman, born in 1968 near Mimili community. The jersey features the Kanpi Rockhole, Kalaya (Emu), ngampu (eggs) for the Kanpi area and Malu (Kangaroo footprints). Joanne Ken is the daughter of Iwana Ken (dec.2014) and Fred Tapatapa (dec.1994).
Iwana (Dom’s Nana) was a Pitjantjatjara woman born in Walytjitjata near the Western Australia, Northern Territory and South Australia tri-state border. Fred was a Yankunytjatjara man whose Country was Mulya Ulpa near Fugon.
The jersey is centred around the events that led to Iwana receiving her new Pitjantjatjatjara name which she popularly became to be known as throughout her life.
Barry said it was an honour for his mother to design the jersey which he describes as a personal reflection of his mother’s connection to culture.
“The design has turned out amazing,” Barry said.
“I am proud of this guernsey for a number of reasons. One angle is how proud I am of my Mum designing the jumper and the other angle is that we get to showcase the story of my Nana.
Norwood Flames will wear the First Nation Jersey in its Round 13 clash against Southern at Morphett Vale on July 8th and Round 14 against West Adelaide at Port Adelaide Recreation Centre on July 9th.
Norwood’s First Nation player, Alex Wilson (Ngarrindjeri Ramindjeri Mimini ‘Woman’), is a superstar who has become synonymous with First Nations basketball. Being a National Team player as a junior and playing WNBL has put her in a great position to highlight and promote her proud culture and promote awareness of First Nation Issues around Australia.
Alex has also recently worked for Patty Mills as a SA State Manager for the IBA (Indigenous Basketball Australia) which runs programs and academies, whilst also having an annual National Tournament.
Alex’s Dad, Bill Wilson, has also been a prominent figure in First Nation Affairs in community leadership roles, advocating for change and positive improvements for many years.
She has also taken on part of this responsibility in leading communities for the benefit of all.
STORY:
When my nana, Iwana was around 6 or 7 years old she was swimming in the waterhole near Kanpi with several of her siblings. One of the older ones Brenton (dec.2018) decided it was time to go back home as it was getting dark, however, Iwana wanted one last dip. She got out of the rockhole and started chasing after the siblings by following their footsteps however still being a young kid, she was not experienced at this yet. This resulted in her losing the tracks and so she started yelling out to them however they were too far ahead.
She sort of remembers the way back home but was getting scared, so she stayed in the one place. When the siblings returned to the camp, her mum Tjinkuma asked the siblings, “where’s Iwana” and they just thought she was behind following them. This is when they sent out the search party looking for her, led by a fit young Mr Baker, nguraritja (traditional owner) for Kanpi and others and eventually found her in the early hours of the morning some distance from the rockhole.
When they found her (Iwana), she was safe but was scared of being alone in the bush. When she returned to the main camp, everyone started calling her Antjakitja. The word Antjaki in Pitjantjatjara means ‘to go on a trip involving camping overnight away from the main camp’. What this design entails is the Kanpi rockhole, Kalaya (emu) ngampu (eggs) for the Kanpi area, and Malu (Kangaroo footprints) for Antjakitja.
