Bill Yidumduma Harney facts for kids
Bill Yidumduma Harney (born around 1931) is an important elder of the Wardaman people. He is famous as an artist, a storyteller, and a musician. He is also known as Bill Harney Yidumduma.
Bill Harney lives at Menngen Station, which is near Katherine in the Northern Territory of Australia. This area is the traditional land of the Wardaman people.
Contents
Early Life and Learning
Bill Harney Yidumduma was born around 1931. His birthplace was Brandy Bottle Creek, on Willeroo Station in the Northern Territory. His biological father was an Irish-Australian writer named William Edward Harney. However, Bill was raised in a traditional Aboriginal community. His adoptive parents were Joe Jomornji and Ludi Yibuluyma.
Bill's sister was taken away as part of the Stolen Generations. This was a sad time when many Aboriginal children were removed from their families. Bill was able to escape because his mother covered him in charcoal. This helped to hide the lighter color of his skin.
From the age of 12, Bill worked as a stockman. He worked on large cattle stations owned by the Vestey Brothers. Between the ages of 13 and 19, he learned to paint. Wardaman Elders taught him traditional styles of rock art and body painting during his initiation.
Art and Tourism Work
From 1974 to 1994, Bill Harney lived in Katherine. He started a business as an artist. He also supplied didjeridus to help support his large family, which included about 60 people. Later, he became a tour operator. In 2004, he won the Brolga Award for Tourism. This award recognizes excellence in tourism.
Starting in 1979, Bill worked as an artist. He painted on both bark and canvas, using natural ochre paints. Many of his artworks have been chosen for the National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Awards. His art has been shown at Mimi Aboriginal Art and Craft in Katherine for a long time.
In 1989, Bill Harney had his first big solo art show at the Darwin Museum. The museum bought a large sculpture from him. In 1990, another exhibition of his work took place. A painting called Junganninna, which tells a creation story, was sold to Parliament House in Darwin. Parliament House in Sydney also bought one of his paintings.
Land Rights for Wardaman People
In 1999, Bill Harney helped the Wardaman people win land rights. They gained ownership of the cattle station at Menngen, which was previously called Innesvale Station. As of 2025, the Wardaman Aboriginal Corporation manages Menngen. Bill Harney is the chair of this corporation.
Sharing Aboriginal Knowledge and Awards
Bill Harney is well known for supporting and representing Aboriginal Australians. He has traveled internationally several times to share knowledge about Aboriginal cultures. He also appears often on TV, radio, and in films. He frequently talks about Aboriginal astronomy.
In 2003, he published a book called Dark Sparklers with Hugh Cairns. This book explains the astronomy found in the Wardaman culture. He has been a finalist many times in the National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award.
In August 2009, he was part of a show called The First Astronomers. He performed with astrophysicist Ray Norris at the Darwin Festival. In November 2009, he was featured in an episode of the TV show Message Stick. This episode was about Aboriginal astronomy.
In 2020, an asteroid was named in his honor. The asteroid, known as 7630 Yidumduma, was named by the International Astronomical Union. This was to recognize his efforts in sharing and promoting traditional Wardaman astronomical knowledge. He shared this knowledge through films, television, and books like Dark Sparklers and Four Circles.
Oral History Interviews
Bill Harney was interviewed twice for the Library & Archives NT oral history program. These interviews record his life story and experiences.
- Bill Harney Junior, LANT NTRS 226 TS 807 (interviewed by Francis Good in September 1987).
- Bill Harney Junior, LANT NTRS 2493 TS 9301 (interviewed by Jan Wositsky in July 1993).
