Ngangkari facts for kids

Ngangkari are special traditional healers among the Anangu people. The Anangu are Aboriginal people who mostly live in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY Lands) in South Australia. They also live in the Western Desert region, which includes parts of the Northern Territory and Western Australia. In the Arrernte languages of Central Australia, these healers are called ngangkere. Ngangkari have been a very important part of Aboriginal culture for thousands of years. They help the Anangu people stay healthy, both in their bodies and their minds.

Understanding Ngangkari Healers

Ngangkari have looked after the physical, emotional, and social health of their communities for a very long time. The term "ngangkari" refers to the traditional healers of the Anangu people. These people mainly live in the APY Lands, which cover a huge area of about 103,000 square kilometers (about 40,000 square miles) in South Australia. They are part of the larger Western Desert cultural bloc of Aboriginal peoples.

To become a ngangkari, a person is usually "born into" this special ability. This means the knowledge and healing powers are passed down through families. Elders often choose ngangkari at birth and teach them important cultural knowledge. Ngangkari are given special powers called mapanpa. These powers help them heal both physical sicknesses and spiritual problems.

Before European people arrived in South Australia, the Anangu lived a healthy and happy life. They hunted, gathered, and ate traditional foods. Back then, ngangkari mainly helped with simple injuries like burns or sunburn. But after European settlement, many new sicknesses came. People were also moved away from their traditional lands. Because of these big changes, ngangkari have had to work even harder to help their people. They have also learned to adjust to these new health needs.

How Ngangkari Help Today

The ngangkari tradition is still very strong today. Ngangkari continue to help people in their communities. They also work in hospitals, nursing homes, prisons, hostels, and many other health services. Ngangkari often work together with the Western health system. This partnership helps them provide the best health and well-being care for their people.

Working with ngangkari alongside Western medicine has been very successful. For example, at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, ngangkari healers are popular with many different patients. They help with pain management and relief. For Aboriginal patients especially, having ngangkari involved can help them attend their medical appointments more often.

A Special Word of the Year

The Pitjantjatjara word ngangkari was even considered for the Macquarie Dictionary's "Word of the Year" in 2019. It was described as an Indigenous person who practices bush medicine. This shows how important and recognized the role of ngangkari has become.

Famous Ngangkari Healers

Some ngangkari are also well-known artists. For example, Pitjantjatjara artists Bill Whiskey Tjapaltjarri and Betty Muffler are both ngangkari. Betty Muffler is from Iwantja Arts. Her artwork was shown in the 2020 Tarnanthi exhibition. It was also featured on the cover of Vogue Australia magazine in September 2020.

Betty Muffler is known as one of the best ngangkari in the APY lands. Her healing powers have been very much needed. She has helped many people with the anxiety caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia in 2020 and 2021.