Bill Yidumduma Harney facts for kids
Bill Yidumduma Harney, born around 1931, is an important elder of the Wardaman people in Australia. He is famous as an artist, storyteller, and musician. He lives on his traditional lands near Katherine in the Northern Territory of Australia.
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Bill Harney's Early Life
Bill Harney Yidumduma was born around 1931 in the Northern Territory. He was raised in a traditional Aboriginal community by his adoptive parents, Joe Jomornji and Ludi Yibuluyma. His sister was taken from their family, but Bill was hidden by his mother to keep him safe.
When he was 12, Bill started working as a stockman on cattle stations. Between the ages of 13 and 19, Wardaman elders taught him how to paint traditional rock art and body painting as part of his initiation.
Art and Tourism Work
From 1974 to 1994, Bill Harney lived in Katherine. He started a business as an artist, creating paintings and selling didjeridus. This helped him support his large family. Later, he became a tour operator, showing visitors his culture and land. In 2004, he won an award for his tourism work.
Since 1979, Bill has painted on bark and canvas using ochre paints. His artworks have been chosen many times for the National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Awards. His art is often shown at Mimi Aboriginal Art and Craft in Katherine.
In 1989, Bill had his first big art show at the Darwin Museum. The museum bought a large sculpture from him. In 1990, another of his paintings, called Junganninna (a creation story), was bought by Parliament House in Darwin. Parliament House in Sydney also bought one of his paintings.
Protecting Wardaman Land
In 1999, Bill Harney helped the Wardaman people win back land rights for Menngen Station. This land was once called Innesvale Station. Today, the Wardaman Aboriginal Corporation, with Bill Harney as its leader, manages Menngen.
Sharing Aboriginal Knowledge
Bill Harney is well-known for speaking up for Aboriginal Australians. He has traveled around the world to share knowledge about Aboriginal culture. He also appears on TV, radio, and in films, often talking about Aboriginal astronomy. In 2003, he wrote a book called Dark Sparklers with Hugh Cairns, which explains the astronomy found in Wardaman culture.
In August 2009, Bill was part of a show called The First Astronomers with astrophysicist Ray Norris at the Darwin Festival. In November 2009, he was featured in an episode of Message Stick on ABC TV, which focused on Aboriginal astronomy.
In 2020, a special group of astronomers named an asteroid after him. The asteroid, 7630 Yidumduma, was named to honor Bill for sharing Wardaman astronomical knowledge through books, TV, and films.
Images for kids
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Bill Yidumduma Harney and Ray Norris at the Darwin Festival
