Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantatjara Yankunytjatjara Women's Council facts for kids

The Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Women's Council (also known as NPY Women's Council or NPYWC) is a special group that helps women from the Ngaanyatjarra, Pitjantjatjara, and Yankunytjatjara communities. These communities live in remote central Australia. The council started in 1980 and has its main office in Alice Springs. It offers many services to families and communities, and it speaks up for the women and their needs.

How the NPY Women's Council Started

The idea for a women's group began in the late 1970s. At that time, the Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara communities in northwestern South Australia were working hard to get the rights to their traditional land.

During meetings about land rights, the women felt that their voices were not being heard enough. So, they decided to create their own organisation. A big meeting for women was held in Amaṯa in 1980. It was led by a respected Pitjantjatjara elder named Nganyinytja. An elder is a wise and respected person in the community. Nganyinytja had been a strong leader for women during the land-rights struggle. People say that her speech at a public gathering in Adelaide later that year helped inspire the NPY Women's Council to form.

The very first meeting of the Women's Council happened in December 1980, in Kaṉpi. Mantatjara Wilson and Diana James organised it, and about 40 women attended. Tjunmutja Myra Watson was chosen as the group's first chairperson (the main leader), and Diana James became the secretary (who handles records and communication).

Where the Council Works

The NPY Women's Council helps people across a huge area. This area is about 350,000 square kilometres. It's where the borders of Western Australia, South Australia, and the Northern Territory meet. About 6,000 people live in this region.

The council serves women from three Indigenous groups who are closely related: the Ngaanyatjarra, Pitjantjatjara, and Yankunytjatjara people. The area they cover includes:

• The Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands in South Australia.
• The Ngaanyatjarra Lands in Western Australia, which include the Shire of Ngaanyatjarraku and Kiwirrkura.
• Places like Imaṉpa, Muṯitjulu, Kaḻṯukatjara, Aputula, and most of the Petermann Lands in the Northern Territory.

Awards and Recognition

The NPY Women's Council has received many awards for its important work. Some of these include:

• The Indigenous Governance Award in 2012, which recognises excellent leadership and management.
• Deadly Awards were given to the Tjanpi Desert Weavers in 2012. The Tjanpi Desert Weavers are a group of Indigenous women artists who create amazing sculptures from desert grasses. The NPYWC Child Nutrition Program also won a Deadly Award in 2011 for helping kids eat healthy.
• The International Sigmund Freud Prize in 2011, awarded to their ngangkaṟi program. Ngangkaṟi are traditional healers who use ancient methods to help people.
• The National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award in 2005, also given to the Tjanpi Desert Weavers.