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The Doctor Man’s lair: a sonic journey with Anangu Ngangkari

Broadcast 
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The Doctor Man’s lair: a sonic journey with Anangu Ngangkari(Liz Thompson)

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Producers Simon Green and Liz Thompson document their exploration deep into the geographical and ontological heart of the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) lands in South Australia. Here, they meet with Anangu Ngangkari, or traditional healers, Cyril McKenzie, Gordon Ingkatji, Kunmanara Ken and Sam Watson, and learn about the Central Desert people’s healing traditions.

With the aid and instruction of these Ngangkari, together we venture through various Tjukurrpa (a word used to describe the force which unites the Anangu people with each other and with the land) and meet Tjukuritja, or ancestor spirits, along the way who have travelled these trails many times in the distant past. Whilst the journey follows well defined paths mapped over a millennia, be prepared for various aural detours which take you into landscapes rarely seen or experienced by European Australians.

A note to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander listeners: This program may contain the voices of deceased persons.

Gordon Ingkatji, Liz Thompson, Simon Green & Cyril Nalkin McKenzie

Many thanks to Dr Francesca Panzironi, CEO of the Anangu Ngangkari Tjutaku Aboriginal Corporation for support and assistance, Thomas Holder of PY media for so generously providing the Pitjantjatjara translations and to Bill Davis for facilitating that process.

Thankyou to Caroline Bush, Richard Anderson Mango and Billy MacPherson for providing translation voice over.

Liz Thompson is a photographer, writer, radio producer and documentary filmmaker.

Simon Green is a Huachumero, Curandero, sound designer and radio producer.

Credits

Broadcast 
Alice Springs, SA, Indigenous (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander)