Dolly Nampijinpa Daniels facts for kids

Dolly Nampijinpa Daniels (1936–2004) was an Indigenous Australian leader and artist. She spoke the Warlpiri language. Dolly also worked hard to protect the land rights of her people in the Northern Territory.

Early Life

Dolly Nampijinpa Daniels was born in 1936. Her birthplace was Warlukurlangu, which is north-west of Alice Springs. She grew up in the Australian bush. This strong connection to her homeland stayed with her always. For Dolly, home meant both the land and her community.

For many years, Daniels lived as a traditional nomad. She hunted with her family. Later, she moved with her husband to Mt. Doreen station. After her father died, they moved to Yuendumu. This area is about 300 km north-west of Alice Springs. Sadly, Dolly and other Warlpiri people were forced to move. Authorities took them to Lajamanu, another government settlement. But Dolly eventually made the long journey back to Yuendumu. There, she and her family settled down.

Personal Life

Dolly Daniels was very active in the Yuendumu community. She was a proud Warlpiri speaker. People knew her as the 'boss' for women's ceremonies in her area. Someone once described her as a person who "doesn’t talk much, but had a strong presence." They said she "knows who she is and what she’s doing."

Even though Dolly was a traditional Warlpiri woman, she wanted to share her culture. She learned other languages and rituals through her family. She used this wide knowledge to teach her own people. She also helped many non-Aboriginal researchers learn about Warlpiri culture.

Art

Daniels started painting in the 1980s. She worked with an expert named Francoise Dussart. She painted traditional designs on canvas. This style is now known as Aboriginal ‘dot’ painting. Her paintings followed old patterns very closely. But she added her own creative touch. This was seen in how she used colors and arranged the dots.

Her art is special because of its bright colors and detailed patterns. Her works celebrated Australian Aboriginal Dreaming and culture. They showed the Warlpiri ideas of ‘country’, ‘home’, and ‘camp’. She painted stories from her own Dreaming and her father’s. She said, "it is our story - Aboriginal people’s story." She was part of the South Australian Museum’s Yuendumu project.

Dolly wanted to share Warlpiri culture with more people. So, she helped start the Warlukurlangu Artists Association and Art Centre. She also became its first chairperson. This art center is still very successful today. It is one of the oldest Aboriginal-owned art centers in Central Australia.

Exhibitions

Dolly Daniels first showed her art in 1985. This was at the Araluen Arts Centre in Alice Springs. From there, she became famous around the world. Here are some of her major exhibitions:

• “Warlukurlangu Arts”, 1986 onwards, Yuendumu collaboration.
• “Yuendumu: Paintings out of the Desert”, March 1988, South Australian Museum, Adelaide.
• “Dreamings: Art of Aboriginal Australia”, 1988, New York, Los Angeles, Melbourne and Adelaide.
• “L’été Australien” 1990, Musée Fabre, Montepellier, France.
• “Frames Of Reference: Aspects of Feminism and Art”, 1991.
• “Top Heavy” Sutton Gallery, May 1993, Dolly Nampijinpa Daniels/Anne Mosey collaboration.
• “Biennale Celebration” , 1993, Sydney.
• Aratjara Indigenous Art, Kunstsammlung Norhrheinwestphalein, Düsseldorf , 1993.
• “Ngurra” (camp/home/country), 1994, Dolly Nampijinpa Daniels/Anne Mosey Collaboration.

You can see some of her work permanently in these places:

• National Gallery of Victoria
• AM Gallery
• Warlukurlangu Arts Centre
• National Museum of African and Oceanic Art, Paris

Influences

One important person who influenced Dolly’s art was Anne Mosey. Anne is also a well-known artist. They met in Central Australia in 1989. They shared ideas about how to show 'country' in art. They also talked about the cultural meanings behind these practices. They worked together on several projects that became famous worldwide. Yet, they always stayed true to their own cultures. Dolly’s family also played a big role in her life. Her younger sister Evelyn often painted with Dolly before she passed away.

Land Rights Activism

Dolly Daniels was also a strong land rights activist. She cared deeply about the rights of Indigenous Australian people. She fought for their right to access their traditional lands. This was so they could live in their traditional and sustainable way.

She worked closely with the Central Land Council. She was a key part of important land claims in 1976 and 1984. These claims helped return large areas of the Central Australian desert to the Warlpiri people.

In 2000, Dolly and her team filed a complaint. It was about the area around New Haven Pastoral Station. In 2010, the federal court agreed with their request. The court decided that the land was important to several landholding groups. Dolly Daniels had ties to these groups.

Publications and Community Service

Dolly Daniels wrote a Dreaming story called “The Magic Fire of Warlukurlangu”. It was published in 2003. This book was for young children. It retold a traditional tale from Dolly's Dreaming area. The book has helped teach non-Indigenous children about the Dreamings and their importance.

Dolly also served her community in other ways. She was a loyal member of the Yuendumu night patrol. Local people were worried about how Aboriginal issues were handled by officials.

Death

Dolly Nampijinpa Daniels passed away from cancer in November 2004. Her family was with her.